It seems like a long time since I've been in front of a keyboard for fun....about bloody time I say. To fill you in, obviously I am on a trip...destination somewhere in northern France...to start...after that I am not quite sure yet. Should be interesting as I am definitely going to knock off a few bucket list items. So I'll see if I can keep you entertained,
 
I am currently winging at 35,000 ft over what looks to be the rather mundane flatness of good ole Manitoba. It has been a while since I've been there and it still looks as flat as ever....and mucho glad I am not there. Managed to get upgraded on this leg to ole Montreal, leg one of two..next top London. I did manage to get an upgrade on this leg and I can report the plane no longer has any Baileys aboard and in my opinion they need to stock more on my flights....the selection of red wine is making up for it but not the same....why oh why has Air Canada forsaken dark rum. Me thinks I may need to write a rather scathing email to the boss of this outfit as trying to find alternatives sucks.....but I digress.....
 
For those not in the know...its been a rough year for moi...not all bad it had some doses of good stuff, but all in all a bit bizarre. Now it would seem I am coming up on an anniversary of a life changing event. I think we all have had at least one....mine was a doozy from all reports and frankly I am very tired of life changing events..... My lil bike accident and dad passing away, well I am happy to report that I am doing okay, only one surgery left on me knees (right after I gt back....sorry boss) and if all goes well I should not keep thinking my stairs have loose nails when I go up them. Zoe kinda makes an ewwwww sound every time she hears me knees......part of the reasoning for going on this trip was related to this accident...kinda like falling off a horse....gotta get back on.  
 
So to catch y'all up I got me new bike early spring (Loooovvvvvveeeee it), just got back from an awesome rip through the mountainous states via bike a few weeks ago (had a loaner bike....long story but BMW had a recall on mine so they gave me a loaded 13 RT to bum around in on their dime...all is forgiven just got my bike back on Tuesday in time for this trip, for those looking there is a slightly used RT that is up for grabs now I only put about 15k kms on it in the couple months I had it). Still not sure how but I managed to shred a set of tires by the time I got to Moab.....I just can not get a break that way.....  
 
So at some point not too long ago I was sitting in front o me laptop....dark rum in hand....way too much in me head (rum that is)....and I got to looking for a cheap flight to somewhere.....well if I did not luck out and find one to cheery ole London. Still blows me away I can get to Europe for cheaper than Toronto. Now in me inebriated state I gots to pontificting about where I could potentially go from there. Then my internal bucket list folder slowly slid open with a groan..needs some grease....a file popped up....labeled "Flanders"....I swear sometimes I think my grey mass works better in that state......did a quick hmmmmm recollected that its the 100th anniversary of the commencement of the Great War to end all Wars (WWI). It would seem a plan was developing. A quick email...guess what got me a bike ..... BMW K1600GTSE.....seems I had a discount from last time I used my London connection to rent a bike. So to sum up....this trip is working out to be financially stoooopid to not take, and I get to try out a K1600....I am betting I will still prefer the RT when it is all done though.
 
So here are me thoughts.... I have been wanting to check out the ole war sites for quite a while....its a huge bucket list thing. No time like the 100th to honor in my own lil way those that did scrifice the ultimate. I've not really a plan....except that if all goes well I should be picking up a bike from downtown London....ackkkk if me words stop making sense....it may because of either the wine...or the screaming lil gaffer a couple of seats over...just the right frequency to have me looking at the window for escape options....and that is with noise cancelling headphones. There is a reason Benadryl and graval was invented...and I suspect the coldstomach icks were the last thing in the inventors thoughts, I bet he was sitting on a plane....near a rather loud lil one....just saying..... I have been known to partake in guzzling it when I can not sleep not done graval much but folks tell me it knocks them out on the plane...it works....and no hang over... just saying.... where was I, seems I have yet again digressed.....oops.
Okay I got me train back on the tracks. I got a real late start to packing sort of got going about 10 last night I think......probably forgot my helmet....and curse of curses. A tradition was broken, sadly Andy couldn't give me a ride to the airport...I get that he has a life not revolving around my needs but...he is my lucky travelling token. He has always gotten me to the airport on time. So I am hoping this does not cause chaos for me. Time will tell....it just seemed wierd driving me self to the airport.... either way all went well, was up late said ta heck with it and went to bed. The ironic part of it all is that its a bike trip...the idea is to take as little as possible...yet it is painful to figure out what to take it seems.  
 
So woke up at the crack of whatttt it can't be time to get up yet....and commenced to will myself to get it packed up. I can report...I think I got what I need but probably forgot things like helmet, rain gear...yada yada. Won't know till I get there. I did phone the rental outfit and joy of joys....the bike is raring to go.
 
So I get in to London at about 7:30 am local time and straight to the shop to get the bike...quick refresher on riding on the wrong side of the road, must remember left turns easy right turns wierd....and for some reason I am sitting here wondering ccw or cw around a traffic circle....lol. I can not remember. But yay....I will be able to split lanes...wahoooo for that. It seemed to be the only logical way to get aroung in london last time. If stuck in traffic scoot between or around it....makes so much sense. I would love to start a petition in Edmonton to allow it.....beats staring at bumpers. So once I get there and get the bike and figure out up from down if I'm not too messed up as I suspect a no sleep lonnnnnnng day followed by driving through central london...an interesting time when having your full facilties. Anyhoo if all goes well I shall be off, first stop Ypres, Belgium.......hmmm actually Dover.....the Chunnel...then Ypres.....but I might end up in Dunkirk....see what I mean....lots to choose from...eny meny miny moe. I shall try to inform those that are amused by my adventures abroad as I am sure I will find a few pubs to sit down n gather me thoughts of the day....current thought....should I or should I not get poutine in montreal....do I need a heart attack....hmmmmmm... oh goody goody they are serving the fresh baked cookies...gotta go.....
 
Well, I landed on time and wandered into the Maple leaf lounge and this one has a chef and a bartender on the main level. So....ended up in a weird Mojito Poutine loop.....do not think that combo was meant to be ..... but it worked out.....the bartender was pretty cool and we got to talking...me butchering French and he laughing his ass off at me. Least I can entertain...and this caused him to dig deep and find a bottle of dark rum tucked away...soooo you can guess what happened there. What didn't help next was I staggered upstairs and found the port. Saving grace was I could still tell time....and only had a bit of it to catch me flight. So with me best "Mmmmerky boooouuuukuts!" I gave a wave and staggered off....I still seemed to have a mastery of the language it would seem.