The Three Flags Classic: Calgary!

So, good buddy Marty and I completed the 2005 Three Flags Classic motorcycle rally and we were in Calgary. That didn’t mean the riding was over, though. We would stay two days in Calgary, and then plot our own course home to California. That part of the ride was great, too. This blog focuses on our two days in Calgary. Much as I like riding, after riding from Mexico to Canada, it was good to be off the bike for a couple of days!

Before diving into our time in Calgary, you might want to catch up on the ride. Here are the first six installments of the 2005 Three Flags Classic…

The 2005 Three Flags Classic Rally: the Intro!
The Three Flags Classic: Day 1
The Three Flags Classic: Day 2
The Three Flags Classic: Day 3
The Three Flags Classic: Day 4
The Three Flags Classic: Day 5

And now, on to our Calgary visit!

Calgary was fun. It’s a large and modern city, and we had a good time walking around and taking pictures. About the only riding we did in Calgary was finding a motorcycle shop and getting a new rear tire for the Triumph (you might remember that I patched it). Only one shop had the tire I needed, they knew I needed it, and they soaked me pretty good. It cost $300!

Some of the sculptures along Stephens Street in downtown Calgary, as seen through the Sigma 17-35 lens. I’d heard these were supposed to cut down on the wind noise between the buildings.

Interesting graffiti. Classier than the stuff you see around LA.

An interesting sculpture in downtown Calgary. It reminded me of one of the guys who rode with us on the rally.

A steam engine in downtown Calgary. I had a new super wide angle 17-35 Sigma lens. It was about a third the price of the comparable Nikon lens and it did a good job.

We spent two nights in Calgary, and we went to the Three Flags Classic banquet in our hotel. About a thousand people attended. I won a $100 Aerostitch gift certificate. It was great. Then they announced how many people rode each different brand of motorcycle. There were lots of Harley, BMW, and Honda riders. There were a few Suzuki and Yamaha riders. But there was only one Triumph rider, and that was me.

We had fun in Calgary. Like I said above, it felt good to be off the bikes for a bit. We spent time just sitting around in the hotel drinking coffee, we talked about many different things, and we solved most of the world’s problems. Then it was back on the bikes for the run west across Canada, with a left turn to head back into the US as we neared the Pacific. That’s coming up, folks, so stay tuned!

Want to never miss an ExNotes blog? Add your name to our subscribers’ list, and we’ll let you know each time we post an update. And, you’ll automatically be entered in our next drawing for a free copy of an ExNotes adventure motorcycle book!