Day 275 – 33rd Vancouver Christmas Toy Ride

275/365 (Oct 2, 2011) – Last year we went to the Toy Run and donated, but we didn’t ride. This year we did, both donate and ride, that is. I was apprehensive because I don’t really like group rides. I sort of max out at about four riders, anything more and I get uncomfortable since egos tend to get in the way, and I can’t predict what people are going to do on the road. I like being able to predict so I can always be ready for anything. So to take part in a ride that involves three or four THOUSAND riders was a “bit” of a stretch for me. This is the MOTHER of all group rides.

We rode out to Coquitlam Centre Mall and were astounded at the sea of Harley’s. I knew there were a few sport riders from BCSB that were going to be there, near the Starbucks (of course) and so we circled around trying to find a few sport bikes in the sea of chrome and black leather. Amazingly, we stumbled across a familiar face, one of the moderators of the forum, a couple of fellows we’d met in Squamish a few weeks before (Claude and Marc) on the speed limit ride, which we took photos of and tailed up to the Starbucks in Squamish.

It was pretty apparent when the ride was starting, or rather it was deafening! We glued ourselves to Claude and Marc, and followed as Claude bulldozed his way into the masses of bikes. He disappeared, but Marc’s white VFR was easy to keep in sight, and I did my darndest to stay within two inches of Kirk’s back tire so I didn’t get separated from him. Although, it was probably pretty obvious we were together since the sport bikes made up probably less than 1% of the motorcycles there. Somehow we squeezed out of that parking lot together.

We made it out of the lot together and it quickly became apparent that somehow we had landed relatively close to the front of the pack. All along the route police blocked off intersections and held back traffic. People waited along the streets and waved and took photos and videos. It was sort of strange to be part of a parade. I had a big Harley behind me (surprise!) and he had a lot of fun blowing his air horn at all the spectators. Took a few blocks to get used to that!

I had one heart stopping moment where the line bogged down and we all ended up in first gear, and then it took off….and I accidentally shifted into neutral, I thought I was going to wear that big Harley on my tail!

All along East Hastings many riders had set up as traffic blockers and were dressed in Santa suits. It was fabulous! And how often do you get to ride through every red light between Coquitlam and the PNE grounds while police wave you on?

Wherever there were children waving I waved and hit my horn. This whole thing is about children, kids whose families don’t have enough money to have a toy for them at a time of year that every child should have the opportunity to unwrap something. I had everything I needed as a child, every child ought to have that. That’s what makes this ride so special. It brings together riders that normally wouldn’t ride together and gives them a common cause. Very cool!

When we pulled into the PNE grounds we parked alongside Marc and Claude and went inside to make our donation and collect our pin. Then we went up into the stands and watched the number of bikes swell. Some people take it to the nines, full costume, pets, toys piled high on their bikes. I love it!!! Even more fabulous was the fact that all differences were set aside. Sport bikes, cruisers, enduros, dual sports, scooters. Normally rides that don’t associate, were all parked side by side for a common cause. Everyone was smiling, laughing, donating.

I saw a bike that I recognized as a woman who rides on the North Shore, but couldn’t see her anywhere. We saw a couple we’d met last year and seen at the ride last October, but they disappeared into the crowd.

At about 11:30 we decided to head out and go for lunch in Squamish before heading back and out to Surrey for a party at the motorcycle school I learned to ride at. The ride to Squamish was great and just as we were about to leave a trio stopped at our table and an older woman said “I know you two!” We had met her with her husband and bother-in-law at Starbucks (surprise!) in Port Moody the previous October. Today she was with two friends, one of which was the comedian of the day. They sat down with us and we had a side splitting visit. Then, again, just as we were about to call it quits and head off, the couple we’d seen but not connected with at the PNE grounds showed up. They joined us and we stayed longer. Eventually we bid our goodbyes and headed home. Lots of pockets of bikes riding, probably many from the Toy Ride taking advantage of the sun making an unexpected appearance before the wet sets in this evening.

A (we thought) quick stop in Horseshoe Bay at (surprise!) Starbucks, and just as we were about to leave, a fellow pulled in on a retro Triumph and arrived at our table. We had met he and his wife the previous fall here, we had thought they were totally cool as they’d just bought the bike and are both into their 70’s. He joined us and we had a great visit.

By the time we were ready to go we realized there was no way we were getting to the PRS party and so we went home and did a thorough bike wash, chain clean, & lube, before heading in for a bowl of soup and a few glasses of wine.

What an awesome day. Didn’t go as planned, but most of the time that means the day is better than what you thought it would be.