"I'm not anti-social; I'm pro-solitude;)"
Hello World!
Chances are if you're here, you've met me on the road or seen my crazy lo-fi helmet cam YouTube vids of my adventures to the Arctic Circle, and you're wondering who the hell does something like that. I'm a motorbike-riding vegan chef and author who, despite loving the solo ride, also loves to share it with you here. I also love to share great food along the way, so if you're on my route, lemme know and I'll stop in and cook up "One Meatless Meal" for you and your friends.
I've had a lifelong passion for travel, and in my twenties, used my job as a Toronto-based flight attendant to see the world.
When I moved to Alberta in the early '90's I opened Fossil Face Cafe, Banff, Canada's first vegetarian restaurant, where I spent the better part of six years in the kitchen developing recipes for my loyal local and international clientele. To say that it was hard work would be an understatement; so when I sold the damn place - burned out and bitter - I never thought I'd miss it.
Now, years later, I admit I do. I miss the community that sprung up around it. I miss the quirky and sometimes neurotic regulars, who felt enough at home to walk right into the kitchen and lift the soup lid to see what was on. I miss the alchemy of the kitchen - there would be days I'd cry into the Winter Vegetable Stew and customers out of the blue would start to cry; or days I was so full of joy, I could see pure delight mirrored back on the faces of my customers when they filled up on Organic Grain Burgers and Vegan Brownies. People were strangely drawn to help me, and I made lifelong friends through the inevitable struggles of running a small business.
I first began riding motorbikes as a passenger on the open winding roads of the Rocky Mountains. The bug caught and stuck like a bee in my boot, and it wasn't long before I needed a machine to call my own. So I learned to ride on a little used Honda CB500, then quickly graduated to a 750 Nighthawk, whom I loved, but never named, because before I could become too attached, I fell in love with Henk the Buell. That was in the spring of '98, and to this day, he and I share the most successful relationship of my life.
I rode solo from Vancouver to Toronto way back in 2000 and thought I'd never do anything like that again because it rained all the way and I had no option out in the open between Cow Town and the Nickel Belt but to be pelted around the Trans-Canada by prairie downpour, or to tuck in behind 18-wheelers and pray (that the trucker would see me and also that he wouldn't). But somehow, two years later, I found myself riding solo back again - a break-up that had me once again pining for the freedom of the road.
I took a five month odyssey with Henk in 2005 (another break-up, same relationship) from southern BC around Vancouver Island, over to Bella Coola, then north all the way up the Alaska Highway to Dawson City in the Yukon. It's there that I learned to play poker. The bug caught and stuck like the nuts on the flop, and it wasn't long before I was playing big multi-table tournaments. (And losing.) And now, four years later, I've realized that most poker players are trolls and that if I'm going to change the world, it won't be from a seat at a poker table.
I left Henk in a hellofaplace called Rifle, Colorado, in November that year when it was time to go home to Toronto and I'd run out of above-freezing days ahead of me to brave crossing Kansas and New York State.
In 2006, I did it again. Up the Alaska Highway, up the Klondike Highway, solo to Dawson City. Then again in 07, I rolled solo all the way from Venice Beach, California to Dawson, changed bikes and rode with a pal to the Arctic Circle and beyond - then all the way back again. Yes, I've been hit by the Spell of the Yukon. It's a potent charm, and overrides just about every priority in my life come July.
I attempted the same epic adventure last year, spent 4 fabulous days on the road between Venice and Christina Lake, then in a flash of lightning, Henk blew up and I was grounded. After 110,000 kms, he finally decided he needed some tender love and care.
Over the winter he had open heart surgery performed by the amazing Dr. Scott at Kaotic Custom Choppers in Grand Forks, BC. I only saw photos, but I hear he's good as new. My Christina Lake friends are afraid to ride him because he's giving off the aura of a dog loyal to one master.
While Henk was having open heart surgery, I was busy writing books, helping people clean up their diet, hosting Animal Lovers Brunches and LOVE cafes in my Venice garden, all things that open my own heart and feel more like play than work, and all things that I'm excited to share with you as I journey through the universe again in August.
Stay tuned for blogs, vids, & some exciting news from firehorserider!
Preparing food and riding: my two lifelong passions, ways for me to practice, forms of meditation, each with its own lesson I can apply to everyday life - like going with the weather, striving for balance, keeping healthy, surrendering to things over which I have no control, always searching for truth and beauty and authenticity, and having a destination in mind, but loving the journey most.
May the great spirits bring you guidance and a safe journey.