York Wings: Winter Fun

The York Wings membership encompassed all ages, from those who recently acquired legality to drive, to those who have been around the block more than once. Unlike today

We had better balance on two wheels.

where the average age of motorcyclists continues to climb higher and higher, back then it was still a young man's (or woman's) sport. Being Canadians, and possessing all this youthful energy, when the cold northwest winds blew, many of us traded in our bikes for skis and headed for the hills. During the winter, we would continue our congregation at Fullers Restaurant, only now our destinations would usually be decided upon beforehand. With skis on racks, in trunks, or on back seats, we drove to Horseshoe Valley ski resort. Although I think there were a few down hill skiers, most of us opted for cross-country skiing. Tom and Doug were particularly skilled and really fast. We only saw them before and after a day of skiing, and sometimes as a blur on the trails in between. I stayed with the intermediate level crowd and carried a performance-enhancing potion of Walkers cherry whiskey mixed with Quebec's Alcool (90%+ potent) in a wine skin. I found that with it I could fall uphill, or downhill for that matter, faster than anyone else.

Ski Bums from right to left: Norm, Peter and his wife, Dick, John, Doug, my sis Dorothy, and Tom.

The enthusiasm that we had for cross country skiing made for very short winters, and in what seemed like no time at all, the riding season was back and we were once again in the saddle letting the good times roll.