Monday morning in the South East of Calgary dawned it was 5.45am and a strange noise was present. It was no longer in the 30'soC as rain had and was still falling and we were off to yet another Stampede breakfast with the Premier of the Provence of Alberta. Well plans change it is wet & cold the breakfast is outside in the cold concrete canyons of downtown Calgary, very little shelter or seating. Plan B is a well known Australian advertising campaign for those who want to drink so they won't go on to drive.

Actually it wasn't a true Plan B as it was to happen after breakfast in anycase.

Where is that piece of paper now?

Those following my progress will remember that the visit to Golden ended with a slip of paper being handed to me with two names and a 403 area code number.

Paper notes that have taken years to gain and countless intercontential journeys can't be lost and so it was recovered from the lounge where it has tried to escape down the back. Must take more care I tell myself as I dial (403) xxx-xxxx and only two rings later it is answered wiith "Yes"I quickly reply is that xxx Yes well this is Christopher from Australia "I just wanted to know if today is still on. Yes, how far away are you about 30mins" ""Well be here by 10am as I have to be out by 11am."

So off I drove , yes drove, the Indian is all clean ready to ride to Swift Current SK, Brandon MB and on to St Paul MN USA over the next three days some 2000kms so today's visit could be the only opportunity to visit this very special location in Calgary.

Fighting off construction (road works) morning commuter traffic and the weather, Tom Tom told me we would arrive in 30m but acting on prior advice I took the earlier side street and proceeded down a small narrow alley and pulled up beside an non descript blank wall with one very strong door, no windows, no names only the street number and it matched my piece of paper exactly.

We ( I had my hosts husband with me) knocked once, then again and yet again, no reply would this lead turn out the same as my 2016 effort (persistent fellow I am considering it involves some 45000kms of travel to be back) I got out my International phone and dialed the 403 number. The door opened a man then stepped back inside. Well right place or not I stepped inside.

My xxx I was surrounded by immaculate old motorcycles, a BSA Gold Star infront of me, to my left a Ducati 996, to my right a Yamaha RZ500 or to some a RD500LC and I could not step forward as a genuine first edition Honda Monkey bike blocked my forward progress and then I would have had to step over a 1960's Honda or even ealier.

I negotiated a route to the man who had opened the door put my hand out and said "Hi xxx"He answered no I am Mitchell I work her xxx told me you were coming so I let you in I have to go back to work now."

Where to start I immediately spied some of the bikes I have a Suzuki RG500, A Honda NS400R, then the door opened and two men walked in talking about the purchase of an early MV Agusta, I tried as a MV collector,to listen but at the same time not listen in on a private conversation, didnt happened, "Hi fellows my Name is Christopher and one of you is expecting me" xxx shook my hand and continued his talk before about the MV. I wonder if he doesn't want it would I?

Talk ,name & addresses exchanged one party left and xxx said "times short"lets start with the bikes closest to the door.

We moved into the centre of the room, he talked history and facts without a pause until "Say xxx tell me about your Yamaha TZ750 as that;s how I finally tracked you down." "Came from a US Yamaha dealer who never raced it", my mind slipped back to the UK and my visit in 2011 to Padgett's of Batley and the brand new TZ750 still in the crate and Agonstini's space Daytona TZ750 opps his story not mine.He continued I had a couple COUPLE of Honda RC30's (gee most people have never seen let alone owned one but you had two, well at the end had a few actually in their day but he (the other collector) wanted one so we arranged some swaps, then it got refurbished at various locations and brand new unobtainable (well stretching a little) parts and that's it sitting here but it's going on loan to another well known museum next summer"

The RC30 I checked out a Vin number in the low, very low, double digits too!

"Follow me"We did into room after room (including a basement full of antique pushbikes) motorbikes mostly Japanese but a sprinkling of Spanish, Italian & British sat mostly fully restored other good just awaiting final trims.

Thinking we had finished as we were led back upstairs and into the office, Nope follow me and out a side door into another set of rooms where at least 30 motorbikes were parked Is that an early Yahama, A monkey bike, a CB350 Honda, a CB360T, an immaculate Black & Brown Honda CB500/4, a CB1100R sorry can't stop follw me outside. Wow a compound lined on three sides by containers. One is opened and a quick peek is that a set 70's Yamaha Trail bikes, more early Honda's and opps door is closed come.

We follow a maze of small alley ways and back onto the street down where a seerviceman has parked his van up against a door a few words are spoken the van moves a door is opened and we walked inside.

Immediately a difference two hoists both with antique cars on the upper level as well as parked underneath. He shows us a Honda S600 car Ï have a pair but starting on this one,"we are told. More bikes about a dozen sit in the area a Harley XR1200, a BMW,a Suzuki but very soon, ÿu won't be interested in these they are my every day modern riders,let's go back to the office."

Back in the office the computer is taken away from the employee and an image of a 1916 Indian Board tracker appears, "thats coming by next summer, its an exactly reproduction, a fellow in Edmonton makes them to order. Well I have to go great seeing you enjoy your trip."

The door opens we are back in the alley and soon drive some 50m to the main street.

I look at Ernie, "do you see what I see", "Sure Christopher it's the shop we visited last year saw 4 bikes and were told. No idea of what collection you are talking about tha's all we have."

So in 12 months my search covered 50m and jackpot behind well secured non marked door stood that elusive collection, sure glad I come back and are persistent in my hunts.

That's why there are no photo's, no addresses, no complete phone numbers, no names we were clearly told Ït's a private collection, we are not open to the public!"

postscript: I failed to mention one conversation."You will hopefully come back and see what I have done and see my Indian.!" Do you think I would turn that down not likely, say Mr Lane & Mrs Lane would you be interested in returning from Europe 2018 via Canada.