FAST FRIENDS

New bonds form on the road between Val-d’Or and Timmins

By Gordie Bowles

Q: What do you get when you mix together two HOG^® chapters from two different provinces?
A: Well, you get a rip-roarin’ good time!

Bad jokes aside, when the Abitibi HOG Chapter was planning a ride from Val-d’Or, Quebec, to Timmins, Ontario, last summer, they reached out to the Northeast Ontario HOG Chapter for some travel and lodging advice. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

Abitibi Chapter member Stephane Papineau contacted a rider from Timmins whom he had met at the beginning of the riding season. “He replied immediately,” Stephane said. “They offered to help and so we agreed for both chapters to meet up … it was a beautiful weekend and we had a very good time.”

As vice-president of the Abitibi Chapter, Stephane is tasked with organizing some of their rides. The collaboration with the Northeast Chapter made the trip much more convenient and enjoyable.

“We had the idea to travel to Timmins, and I was the one chosen to organize this ride,” Stephane said. “I remembered seeing a HOG patch on the vest of a guy from Timmins at our dealership, Abitibi Harley-Davidson in Amos. So when I got back home I went to the Timmins Facebook page and sent them a message.”

Stephane mapped out the route with the help of a new friend. The two groups met for lunch at the mid-point between the two cities – Kenogami, Ontario – then rode together back to Timmins, where they socialized and some joined for dinner. The next morning, a few members of the Northeast Ontario Chapter guided the Abitibi riders out of town.

The two groups agreed to meet up again, this time in the Abitibi area for a ride and a social event.

“This is why we love to be HOG members,” Stephane said. “We ride our motorcycles and meet new people who share the same passion.”

Amen to that!

Check out this video from the ride.