2020. THE year. The year of, well, shite. And coincidentally the year of my 15th Anniversary for my wife and I. And if life is a bowl of cherries at home then it's time for presents! Or, if it's a bowl of over ripe bananas you may still get a present, ill feelings be damned, because it's been 15 years and both of you think "whatever", give me my present, I deserve it after 15 years.

 It went like this - Her: order something for yourself. Me: Tell me what you want and I'll get it. Done deal. Now I'm the proud owner of 

Joe Rocket Reactor Dry-Tech Saddlebags. My heart quickened a little at that sweet smell of water proof rubber when I opened the bag after opening the box. Quick turn around too, from Fortnine. Although, what didn't come with the order were instructions. Now, I'm a handy kind of guy but there's some strange additions to the bags, sort of 3 sided hard pieces, 2 of them, with net pouches on one of the sides. I'll figure it out. I've had soft side cases before. Can't say it was a positive experience, what with the fire that ensued pulling into the outer limits of Vancouver - but that's another story. Straps wrap over the seat, tie the bags down to a passenger foot peg, and Bob's yer uncle. Can't be that difficult.

 However, the hard pieces included are not mentioned in any document (instructions pdf), or on the web anywhere (that I could find), including the Fortnine website. Still a mystery; they may very well create a conversation among my fellow riders to see if someone can solve the puzzle, when we do a trip this spring of 2021, and mark my words, there will be a trip no matter what. Maybe a camping trip to get around using motels during Covid...

 I have already started to accumulate camping gear. The summer of 2020 was lousy with people buying up camping things - tents especially - whether they went camping or not is questionable. But it proved impossible to find a decent and particularly inexpensive tent anywhere. Later, in the fall, I found a used tent and it looks brand new, claiming it was only used once, for almost half what a new one would cost.

 I did borrow a neighbors tent to get out for a night of camping this past summer of 2020 and all went well. Myself and two others rode up to Sylvan Lake Alberta for a night. Weather was great and I found half decent secondary roads that proved to be somewhat scenic.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JDUK-JnXP8

 

 Now that I'm on this camping bent, there are so many other things I need and have compiled a list. Let's all hope the summer of 2021 proves far more entertaining and free.