Julia on a bike

Laura and Larry live in Kamloops, British Columbia. A city of almost 100,000 inhabitants surrounded by the Thompson River, Kamloops is above all the gateway to the Okanagan Valley, famous for its desert landscape, rugged terrain and vineyards. And more sadly, for the frequency of forest fires that ravage the region every year.

Both are new motorcyclists juggling irregular schedules and three children to live their passion to the full, with the band they both co-created.

After she was a passenger for as long as she can remember, Laura became a driver late in life. One day in July 2022, she proposed a short ride to Larry. Enjoying the Kamloops area in the setting sun, visiting their favorite bakery and leaving with a sweet pie – the local pastry shop – the proposal was nothing unusual. But for a Larry tired by a trying week, it was impossible to accept. « For the first time, I felt dependent, says Laura. I couldn’t force Larry, he was driving. I swore I’d never be in that situation again, and decided to register for my driving test the very next day. » Several hours of driving later, a test passed and a Honda Shadow 750 purchased, Laura obtained the precious sesame. That was in April 2023. It would take her a few months and increased confidence, at the helm of a smaller-displacement Yamaha Virago 250 donated by her partner, before she, in turn, set off in search of those unique two-wheeled sensations. And her first motorcycle camping trip, this time on a Honda Shadow 750.

Larry is a young father who, after several years in the restaurant business, swapped his expertise as a cook for the transport sector, ensuring that he could be at home every afternoon to help with his children’s homework. He puts on his boots and helmet whenever he can, for a solo or duo ride on his 2009 Harley Davidson Electra Glide. Nicknamed « Captain », though not a leader on his motorcycle outings, he has never lived in a biker environment, and it was almost by chance that the idea came to him. « I was talking to a friend who owned a motorcycle, and a few minutes later I called Laura to tell her I was buying my Harley« . For his partner, the idea is not at all extravagant. And for his seven-year-old daughter, it’s Christmas before time.

Laura and Larry ride mostly in groups, and know their region like the back of their hand. With their group of long-time friends, they cover long distances whenever possible. Men, women, young and old, everyone finds their place and can count on another member in case of a setback. Or breakdown. Before she got her license, Laura was in charge of driving the van and trailer that followed the procession. « We drive Harley Davidsons, so there’s almost always a breakdown, she laughs. And we’d rather be able to load the bike onto a trailer than call a tow truck. » A fair thought when you consider the distances in Canada and the difficulty of accessing certain campgrounds. Their group also includes a mechanic, Trevor, nicknamed Tank. Every Friday, or almost every Friday, it’s reunion time in his workshop, so that everyone can learn how to carry out minor repairs or understand the mechanical workings of their two-wheelers. While Laura is not yet able to make any adjustments to her own Honda Shadow, she is constantly observing and enjoying her role as apprentice alongside Larry.

Continuous learning is what brings Laura to life. And it doesn’t take any less for her, who just happens to keep a lot of people alive. The 2023 motorcycling season is coming to an end soon, but with winter upon us, she hopes to see many sunny weekends in her calendar to explore in her turn, and go beyond the borders of British Columbia.