The Pot of Gold (and Why Americans Hate Canada)

Distance travelled: 357 km
Maximum speed: 123 kph
Temperature range: 8.0 - 13.8 C
Motorcyclers who waved: 0
Motorcyclers who didn't wave: 0

Typically, when on holidays, it is just Nan and me. That being the case, generally only one of us appears in pictures from our holidays and that is usually Nan because I tend to be the picture-taker. The exception to that is when we are motorcycling because Nan is taking the pictures from the back of the bike.

There was once a time when we would return from holidays and the uninitiated might reasonably believe that Nan was on holidays by herself given that I would rarely appear in any picture. It has occurred to me that maybe Nan was just embarrassed to be seen with me but I eventually concluded that that is probably not the case.

That situation has largely been corrected however, when I see a couple where one is taking a picture of the other or when a couple are trying to take a selfie, I immediately feel their pain, so I offer to take the picture. Hence:

The Gang of Four.

I saw these four gals trying to arrange a picture of themselves at this very lovely lookout so I offered to step in and they could all be in the picture together.

Now, in learning a very hard lesson some 28 years and one month ago, which is that no matter how cool, trendy or stylish your glasses are, at some point in the future they are NOT going to be cool, stylish or trendy because, as we all know, fashion is fleeting. Therefore, when you look back at those pictures there is almost a certain probability that you are going exclaim out loud "what was I thinking? ".  Therefore, when I am taking pictures for people, I get them to take their glasses off so that they will be saved from future embarrassment. I also get them to take their hats off because a hat will either obscure their faces or cast a shadow.

I realize that this is a long setup but you will see why it is that Americans hate Canadians.

Anyway, the gals pose for the picture but grumble about being instructed to remove their glasses despite my telling a funny anecdote about how I learned the lesson the hard way. The gal who grumbles the most is wearing her glasses AND her sunglasses at the same time. As if that wasn't going to create a future wtf moment.

When we are done, they thank me. We set about taking our own group shots and afterwards, the four gals are standing about so we ask them where they are from and where they are going. Three of the gals are from various points in Minnesota and the other is from Florida and they are heading back south across the border.  We explain that we are Canadian and on the last hour of our one week motorcycle circle trip around Superior.

Then it happens. One of the gals pipes up and says she hates Canada.

IMMEDIATELY my hackles are up. She is a guest in our country, I have just offered to take their picture and engaged them in polite conversation about their visit so that their experience will be better and now my impulse is to do something that will land me in the slammer to do hard time.

Choking down my incredulity, I ask why. It seems she was just in Wal-Mart in Thunder Bay and wanted to buy $2 worth of antacid and handed the teller a US $20 bill. The teller handed change IN CANADIAN DOLLARS, SO SHE HATES CANADA. Forget a future wtf moment, I was living in one. I said, ,stating the obvious, "If I am shopping in the U.S. and I pay with Canadian money, will I get change in Canadian dollars?". Doh.

Then the gal from Florida tells us how bad is the Canadian health care system because she knows quite a few Canadians who spend the winter in Florida and they all say the Canadian is terrible and way worse that the US health care system. A health care system that excludes one third of the nation's population is better because they get to choose their own doctor. I think she must mean from a list provided to her by her insurer.

This was our own group shot, one of the few with all five of us. From left, Bob and Cathy, our tour hosts and organizers, John, Bob's lifelong (literally - I saw a picture of the two of them when they were 3) friend from Ottawa, Nan and me.

The viewpoint shot.

It is plain there is no point getting into a debate and end up in jail. However, I can't resist getting in one more point, which is that the reason Canadians wintering in Florida are complaining about the Canadian health care system is because they are waiting for a hip or knee replacement. However, they never complain when they have a heart attack or have been in a car accident. She has nothing to say.

The rest of the ride back to Bob and Cathy's is without incidence - even the border crossing. It has rained off and on through the day but for the most part, it is all good.

Getting instruction from Bob about the route.

To my amazement, Bob and Cathy have put on an amazing display for our return to their place. Not sure how they pulled this off but as we are riding down the highway, there is a spectacular rainbow over the highway just before we turn off to their neighbourhood.

The view gets better as we approach the house.

It is a fitting end to the ride. I remark that it is one of the best rainbows I have seen because the colours are so vivid and it turns into a complete double rainbow, then Bob reminds me about what was truly the best rainbow ever, which we both saw when we were on the Utah on Motorcycles ride five years ago. That was a 360 degree rainbow, which was possible because the sun was shining down into the grand canyon from behind us.