As a fan of horsepower, two wheels and lean angles, eastern Ontario's Ottawa Valley and the area known as, Ride the Highlands has been a staple in my moto routine for years. I love the never-ending twisties, landscape, and hospitality; it's no surprise that Ride the Highlands is considered Ontario's best motorcycling playground by many. But as it often happens, you don't know how good you have it until somebody reminds you.
"Roads will never be built like this again in our lifetime."
"The men who originally built these roads had to choose the path of least resistance."
"Leaving us with roads that are perfect for motorcycles."
Wise words credited to Lee Perkins, as the Director of Public Works for Renfrew County and a rider himself, he's a man that knows.
So true; think about any recent road construction; everything in the way is blasted to go straight and flat. We are lucky indeed to have these roads at our disposal. What's even more fortunate is that a few of my moto friends and I are about to partake in their bounty for the next few days.
As I drop my bags at Sands on Golden Lake, home base for the next three nights, my day one of Ride the Highlands experience is in the books. I will say, if there is a more deserving place in Ontario of the saying, "Getting there is half the fun," I don't know where that place is.
With my Honda Gold Wing packed, I punch the destination into the GPS and press go. While most of the time I don't relinquish control of the day's plan that easily, knowing that in the Highlands, there is no boring way to get from point A to B, I let the electronic brain lead the way. And yes, getting here was half the fun and then some, thanks to the GPS sneaking in a bit of gravel to spice things up.
