The Canadian Legion of Riders year started out in February. To kill the winter blues we held a fish fry at Legion Branch 70.We sold memberships and swag, had a few 50/50 draws and fed around 200 guests. It was a good evening and a great way to get people out and reacquainted.
The rest of the winter went by pretty good with a few people out and about on their bikes, with some bragging how they rode every month of the year - unheard of in our part of the country.
The Canadian Legion of Riders took part in many charity runs over the summer starting out with the Ride for Dog Guides and the Border Bike Rally in Lloydminster Father's Day weekend, while some members went to Saskatoon to participate in the Ride For Dad.
In June we also held a bikes and burgers fundraiser at the David Liard Campground where the Saskatchewan Lonewolves, Women In The Wind, Bordertown Hog, CAV, Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group and ourselves were interviewed for an upcoming Access Cable documentary about motorcycle enthusiasts.
The day was great. The weather was on our side, the homemade burgers and fries were well-respected and we made a few door prize draws before everyone hit the road on their way back home.
Meanwhile throughout the winter and up until July, the executive were busy planning our annual Ride For A Vet charity run: getting all the licences, permits and support from the local municipalities; booking the tent, bands, production and caterer; renting and getting fence, port-a-potties, tables, chairs, booze and ice; lining up other service groups like Legion Branch 70 for the pancake breakfast and registration, Meota Lakeshore Lions to tend the bar, Battlefords Air Cadets for the teardown and clean-up, St Walburg fire department for manning the check stops; and contacting local media and photographers.
Without all their help, this event would be impossible to hold. The CLR has always prided itself on the motto "if we have to pay for services it may as well go to other non-profit organizations."
The rally itself was attended by 136 riders who rode the northern route, stopping at local museums and campgrounds to draw their poker cards, take in the venues and enjoy the scenery this route has to offer. Once back the riders lined up for a pulled pork supper and checked the door prizes for their names. Winners of the show and shine were announced. Others enjoyed a beverage as the hands were tallied and the judges looked for a match for the hidden hand for a 2012 Heritage Softail supplied by Redline HD in Saskatoon. Unfortunately there was no match; maybe next year.
It's amazing how a day goes by when you host an event like this. The next thing you know, the crowds start passing through the gate and the bands are hitting the stage and the party starts a-rockin.'
Unlike a lot of other events this summer the rain stayed away until around 2 a.m. Then the clouds opened up and the rain came down which made it easy to disperse the crowd to their respective beds for the night. The next morning came quick. Before you knew it the tent man and air cadets were there for the teardown and by 2 p.m. you would have never known there were 800 of our closest friends rockin' the night away on the grounds.
The very next weekend saw 11 of us making our way to Two Hills, Alta., to unwind at the Run to the Hills rally in support of the Fallen Riders Monument. This was our first year in attendance and we really enjoyed this eminent old school biker event. From in front of the scenes everything seemed to flow as the day progressed, keeping us busy with all the goings-on and the comradeship of the fellow riders.
This event is a little hidden gem of an event that I'm sure will grow each year as people start to recognise it. This weekend was special to the CLR because this past year we lost two of our own and saw it fitting to attend the memorial service they held Saturday morning before the poker rally.
In August we had a corn roast, again at the park. It was another beautiful riding day that brought about 100 motorcycles out from all directions. We served corn on the cob and roast pork buns. I wouldn't have wanted to count how many cobs some folks could eat; some just couldn't resist it once it came dripping with butter out of the slow cooker.
The highlight of our year for me personally was when we rode to Wakaw to meet some veterans and partake in the Wounded Warriors motorcycle cavalcade. Escorting these veterans to the Saskatoon Airport was something I will remember the rest of my life. What these brave men and women have endured to protect our freedom and rights is why we Ride for A Vet.
We joined several other riding groups and individuals from all over Saskatchewan. I'm sure close to 300 motorcycles escorted these veterans from Wakaw to Saskatoon. Passing groups of people gathered along the side of the highway cheering and waving the Canadian and Saskatchewan flags was touching, then riding through the heart of the city to the international airport where they departed home from their weekend of fishing in Nipawin. Rest assure we will be participating again if this event turns out to be held annually.
And lest we forget, we attended Remembrance Day ceremonies, marching and laying wreathes at the RCL Branches 70 and 9 and at the Gold Ridge Centre native veterans' ceremony.
Currently Bridges Chev in North Battleford has a $10,000 non-profit give away for organizations to take advantage of. It works like this. If the entered non-profits reach a combination of 3,000 votes, Bridges Chev will split the $10,000 amongst those who have entered according to the percentage of votes each club has. All you have to do to vote is go to Bridges Chev 's Facebook page, click on the $10,000 challenge, click view entries, then stroll down to the Original Nine Riding Assoc. and click vote. It's that easy.
Well another year comes to a close and, from our fundraising efforts and support from our members and fellow riders, we are happy to announce we have raised $7,000 for the veterans' unmarked graves project, bringing our total to $22,000 in the past six years.
Our goal is not complete, with 12 graves left to mark, but with help from Belt Drive Betty introducing us to Sven Bernard from the "New" Johnny Pag Canada, we are raffling off a new Johnny Pag Spyder to be drawn for at next year's Ride For A Vet charity run. So keep an eye out for us at bike/tradeshows throughout Saskatchewan this winter, stop in to our booth and say "Hi."
Ultimately our goal is: To support our veterans, troops, scouts and cadets in wartime and peacetime.
