There was frost on the roof of my house and on the windshields of the cars as I started up Rosie this morning.  I had a T-Shirt, heavy cotton shirt, electric vest and lined leather jacket all done up nice and snug.  Dark colored blue jeans with leather chaps to protect against the cold.  And of course my helmet, heavy winter gloves and boots.  It was just a bit after 9:00AM.  After checking the tire pressure (had to put a couple of PSI in front and rear), oil level and making sure all lights worked properly, I headed out of the garage, shutting the garage door behind me.  My breath rapidly condensed in the morning air as I adjusted the volume on my Radio.  On the way to Harvey's, I had to pass over a couple of bridges and I noticed that they were damp as the frost was coming out of them.  My thermometer said it was 1.9C while the radio said it was 1C, in either case, it was not too warm.  But, the sky was blue, and the forecast promised temperatures up into the mid teens.  Arriving at Harvey's at 9:30, there were only a couple of other bikes there.  But when I opened the door there was already a large number of GWRRA folks gathered having breakfast and chatting.  It was obvious that not everyone was going to be riding today.  The ride today was scheduled for Drumheller.  I was personally interested (even though I had been out there a week ago) because Drumheller had just unveiled their "millennium project", a Statue of a Tyrannosaurus-Rex, THREE TIMES life size - just gotta see that!

  After much talk (and a not insignificant amount of warm beverages), we left Harvey's.  The temperature had soared all the way up to oh, about 6.5C or so.  The electrics were plugged in, the heaviest gloves were located and put on.  If you ever wanted to know why motorcyclists wear black leather, this day would answer your question - that black material absorbs a lot of radiant heat from the sun, compensating for the cool temperatures.  We headed East out of the city towards our eventual destination of Drumheller with 3 bikes and 4 people (Wes, Holly, John and myself).  Across the top of the city, onto Deerfoot trail and North for a few kilometers, then due East on secondary road 564.  For the next hour or so we saw very little traffic.  The crops are all in now however in some places the farmers have piled their grain in a large pile outside.  We couldn't figure out whether this was a real good crop and they didn't have enough room or exactly why the grain was outside but there it was.  Secondary road 564 is one of those interesting roads that suddenly ends at a "T" intersection requiring you to take a jog and then get back onto the road.  A quick "jog" north on highway 21 brought us back to 564.  This section of the road has been repaved very recently and shone deep and black.   Beautiful smooth pavement!  Continuing East, we climbed up a bit of a bluff where you could see for some distance.  To the North we noticed some kind of weather system that seemed to be moving in.

  At the end of 564 we swung North on 840, dropping into a little valley and touring the metropolis of "Rosebud" (must have at least a couple of dozen folks living there).  This road heads straight North and ends at highway 9 where we again turned East, following highway 9 until we began the drop into Drumheller.  The temperature had been climbing throughout our ride and had hit a high of 9.7C on my thermometer.  I had turned my electric vest on 3 or 4 times but with the sun radiating heat into my black leathers, I didn't need too much additional heat.  Now, dropping into the valley, the temperature drop was like a slap in the face.  We lost 6 degrees in a couple of minutes and really noticed it.  We followed the road straight through the lights and followed the signs to the visitor center.  There, stands T-Rex!   OK, you've seen Jurasic Park.  Now, TRIPLE the size of that monster and you've got what you see at the visitor center.  You can pay a couple of dollars and walk up the inside of this guy and apparently get a great view - none of us had wanted to do that on this particular day.  This guy is so large that you have to walk across the street to get a picture of it!

  We left T-Rex to all of his admirers and went out for some brunch riding back to a restaurant near the entrance to town.  After getting some warm food and some warm beverages and soaking up some warmth, we went back out to the bikes to find the temperature up around 13 or so - dramatically warmer.  Over to the Esso for some fuel for the bike (why doesn't Drumheller have a PetroCan so I can get points? (sorry Bob but we did help your pension plan out today)).  I had been out to the Blieriot ferry a week ago so I got to lead on the way back.  Back past T-Rex and just before we go across the bridge to get to the North side of the river we are stopped by a most unusual sight.  There is this truck and in front of the truck is a long skinny metal structure (sorta like a ladder on its side) with a number of wheels on the bottom and some sorta measuring device in the middle.  This thing must be 25 feet long or so but the most unusual thing is that there is a man walking beside it.  Two guys inside the truck, one guy walking (quite quickly) in front beside this metal measuring thing.  I figure the walking guy was helping to steer the contraption.  Once over the bridge, we take the left turn (West), towards the Royal Drumheller paleontology museum.  Passing by the turnoff to the museum, we continue on until we arrive at the "littlest church".  The sign says, "seats thousands but only 6 at a time!".  The road continues on through the valley for awhile, winding past an interesting looking golf course, then heads up out of the valley.  Suddenly, you are completely out of the valley and are confronted with dozens of oil "rocking horses".  They seem to be more plentiful here than in just about any other location I've seen.  Continuing on further North, then swinging East, you come upon a "T" intersection where a left turn has you heading back downhill towards the valley.  On this stretch, the land looks the same as it did coming out of the valley BUT, there isn't a single rocking horse to be seen - curious!  The road narrows, the grade steepens, the sign says to slow to 65KPH and then the curve is in front of you!  This is a downhill curve and although you may be able to take it faster, 65KPH is a much safer speed to take this corner at.  If you go in too fast, you'll have zero chance to recover.  Then, we are at the ferry.  If you haven't been there for awhile, this road is all paved now and the ferry is new.  It is slow, luxurious in the sunshine as we wait for it come back across.  Ride onto the ferry, go across the river then back up the other side.  I just love the way I can be going up a hill and slowly roll on the throttle, the sound of that flat six increases, a little vibration comes through the highway boards and my speed picks up.  Up, Down, round some corners and suddenly we are back on a main road (575), heading West, back home.

  Again, riding on secondary roads we see little traffic.  The temperature has stabilized at 13.9C on my thermometer.  Don't need the electrics and I'm glad I'm using gloves a little bit lighter than before.  Sitting back, CD Player on, riding along at 100KPH, watching the hawks (there aren't as many as a week ago), bright sunlight, fresh smell of earth as it is being plowed under - one of those rides that gives meaning back to riding!

  We continued on West, the Ride Leader "missed" his turn left so we ended up having to take highway 2 back south into Calgary.  Lots of traffic, had to really watch out for what was going on but still a pleasant ride.  Arrived home in time to gas up and even wash the bike before putting it away "until the next time".

  Riding weather in mid October in Calgary is a crap shoot at best.  Today we rolled the dice and won in a big way!