Random Tour Thoughts from an early riser.

Woke early excited to be on the road, but a peak at the darkness outside has sent me to the computer instead.

Not a safe thing to share dark roads with the moose. There are warning signs at every curve all over Eastern Canada. With their dark body colour and body mass at a height to cause disastrous impact, they are a real danger on the road.

Bill Parkes, from Nova Scotia told us that the Highway Department in their wisdom had erected large life sized plywood moose along the side of the road , but it resulted in roadside havoc. Semi's were careening all over the road. Cars screeched to sudden stops leaving strips of black down the road. It was decided to alter the signs and outline these D.O.H. moose in reflective tape and give them reflective eyes. Although, we have been told moose are one of the few animals that do not have reflective eyes.

We've ridden in the rain a fair bit. It's not as terrible as it sounds. We have pretty good gear and are comfortable. It's also part of the experience and it's best to go with that. But, after a few hours when the wet starts to seep in around the neck and crotch area and you can't see and enjoy the countryside, spirits sag.

Yesterday in the rain, I thought about my grand-mother. When I was a child we immigrated from England to rural Quebec with it's harsh winters. I can remember my Nan singing.... "Oh Canada. We hate your blooming weather!" I sang a verse out loud in her memory.

People have asked us if we get bored riding and we both answered no. We've also been asked if we have bike to bike voice communicators. When Grant answers no, the men all smile and elbow to rib congratulate him. The truth is Grant and I are both essentially quiet people who enjoy the time to ourselves. Not that I wouldn't have loved to be able to yell into a mike when I spotted the whale on from the Cabot Trail. Or when a sign has been missed (I too have been guilty) and we're headed in the wrong direction, frantic horn beeps ineffective as the miles passed. Or when a bathroom was desperately needed.

So how do we pass the hours? We've discussed it and shared that we: listen to music, sing out loud, practice French, think about entries for the blog, plan trips for next season, think private thoughts and simply enjoy the ride.

I've been making a study of biker waves. As bikes pass one another, their riders almost without exception, wave. It's the done thing. Some riders don't. but it feels rude and cuases me to grumble in my helmet. But maybe it's just not easy for the other rider to take their hand off the handlebar at that moment. Maybe they are distracted or simply plain fed up with all the waving.

Still, study has shown there are several categories of waves;

Low Energy Waves

- the one I call "Too cool for school" which is hand low about 25 degrees from vertical. Variations are index finger pointing at the ground or hand held flat and parallel to the bike.

- arm extended at about 45 degrees, hand limp, no eye contact

- the couple of fingers barely off the handlebar acknowledgment, clearly a safety call.

Moderate Energy Waves

- most often, the open handed palm out. Variations... hand stationary or a good old friendly wave.

My two favorite waves from the tour have been a fellow spotted on our way east, seen on a fine sunny morning who gave us a good old open palm, enthusiastic, grinning ear to ear, shake of the hand. It communicated his joy in the day. A shared wasn't it good to be alive and on our bikes in this spectacular scenery. Grant had seen it and felt his good energy too. We both still carry it with us.

We passed a group of men clearly full of beans, who each waved in a different way as though they'd rehearsed. One of them gave my other favourite, a double palm forward (must have had a throttle lock) both hands waving embellished with a full grin. Kept me smiling for a mile or two and I smile now remembering.

Very often, it's the little things people do to share their good thoughts and energy with another human that are meaningful.