“Dutch Mason Blues Festival” Truro, Nova Scotia or bust!

It’s Saturday, August 2nd at 1 a.m. Thunder, lightning, and beloved rain. Back to sleep…5 a.m. — another bout of rain, lightning and thunder. The ‘rain makers’ are up and getting ready to roll. At 6 a.m. we are saddled up and on wet roads heading east/southeast towards the Peace Bridge Fort Erie, ON with an excellent show of lightning ahead. Yikes!!

We are enroute to “The Dutch Mason Blues Festival and Motorcycle Lifestyle Show” in Truro, NS. August 8-11/08 regardless of weather. My husband and I are on an adventure!

“Get your motor running…head out on the highway…”

We decided to go back out east since we haven’t made it back after our honeymoon in 1983—the year I got my first bike. We were thinking about July, but after reading in Mojo the line-up from last year’s Blues Festival, I knew we would have to change the date. We briefly spoke toGlenn at the Toronto International Bike Show in April, and you hinted that Bonnie Raitt may headline—GREAT!

We rode like the wind through NY, VT, NH, and ME. Boarded the ferry (‘The CAT’) at Bar Harbor, ME to Yarmouth, NS with a bunch of other riders and vehicles. Giddy up! Our travels brought us along the southern shore of Nova Scotia, and of course we did the Cabot Trail around Cape Breton. Great views when we weren’t in rain and fog. Some of the roads were disappointing and hazardous in many spots for bikes. Cape Breton road crews were desperately trying to fill voids where the roads had washed away or were on the verge of being washed away. We saw a bull and cow (moose) in Cape Breton Highland National Park. They were having records rainfalls and we were right in the middle of it. At work the joke is, find out when Beth and Scott are booking holidays and adjust yours accordingly. No kidding!

We reached Truro, NS on Thursday the 7th and were ready to rock and roll, until Sunday. We hung up the helmets and got to know the town on foot with the help of a shuttle service which took people back and forth to the festival courtesy of Truro downtown merchants — thanks drivers Rod and Bob. That was a much needed service if you happened to pull a few tabs and enjoy some cold ones.

The music was great all weekend. The entertainment tore up the stage and gave their all to the crowd of all ages. Everyone blended together for a show that got us all tappin, shakin’ and wigglin’.

The festival is only four years in the making, but the performers were top-notch, and the motorcycle portion has lots of room to grow.

Heading back to reality (home) we made our way through New Brunswick on the Fundy Trail and other roads that were patched up quite well. Hats off to the road crews of NB. We then headed through the States again and passed through where a tornado had hit in NH between the time we passed on the way to the coast. It had decided to cross section some homes and cottages. We ran into a torrential downpour and wind storm about 20 km from home. We thought we would be able to get through one day without our rain gear on. No such luck.

We toured just over 4350 km in the 12 days of off-and-on rain. It was a great trip regardless. Rode in 2 countries, through 2 time zones, 4 states and 3 provinces without any problems worth mentioning except my security system on my bike decided to go through all the different sirens while travelling through the countryside in Nova Scotia.

My ’02 1100 V Star Classic ran great and my husband’s 2000 GL 1500 pulled our cargo trailer without effort and kept our gear dry and safe.

When I returned to work the following week, the sun started to shine (of course) and someone asked if I would have preferred to drive my truck instead of the bike, or would I have preferred to be a passenger instead. I just smiled and didn’t feel the need to explain. They wouldn’t have understood anyway.

I thoroughly enjoy the interesting, informative and entertaining articles along with the humour of Mojo. Keep them coming. I learn something new and review good habits with every issue. Safe riding everyone,

PS: I learned to drive on a Triumph in the late 70’s. Owned a 1980 Yamaha 400 Special, 2000 750 Shadow ACE, and my my current bike that I bought just for this trip.

Whether you have been riding for 5 days, 5 months, 5 years or 5 decades, it’s good to see you out there ladies. MMM