EUROPE TRIP, 1970, three
months
of great adventures!
Buffalo to Gatwick (on a turbo-prop!) with Joe. Ferry to Belgium.
Drove
to Ypres with British racing team at car rally. Given free rooms as
part of British team (met them on the Ferry), rode over race course
in
back of British team car (very exciting). Drove to Munich, Vienna,
Milan, down the coast of Yugoslavia (Split, Dubrovnic). Sat in with
a
local band in Dubrovnic and played Whiter Shade of Pale with them
with
minimal language communication but much enthusiam on both sides.
Arrived in Athens, very hot and dusty. Stayed on the Greek island of
Mykanos for a week living in a cave with many ants, a great view and
a
great community. Took ferry from Patras, Greece to Brindisi in
Italy, drove through Italy, over the Alps
to Switzerland to a Jazz workshop in Wengen. Back to the UK and
Canada.
Shipped the bike back by air in haste to get it home. Bike was
stolen
in Toronto outside the Colonial Tavern while Jonn was watching Doug
Kershaw. He has never completely forgiven himself for this ... his
favourite bike ever.
Brand new Norton Commandos 750cc bought in the UK with his
friend
Joe (right).
Jonn was particularly enamoured of the Norton on display which the
shop
initially refused to sell. However after a few visits, and "because
you're Canadian", they relented and took the machine off the stand
and
sold it to him. Cindy worked at the bike shop and was helpful
showing
off the local sights.
Jonn never liked pictures of himself in his youth, but now he is
more
appreciative of his younger self .. and wishes he had all that hair
back!
They made it to Greece on the motorcycles! This postcard was
taken at the Acropolis with British friend Michelle and sent back
to his parents.
