as we started on our travels we ran into Darren Fearnley President of the Sober Sons MC and Mark Masonville and some of the members of the Predators MC out of Toronto and Max Kochar who is the president of the club is also a contributing wrtier for the riders mag. We headed into the Parkette to look around at rhe vendors and what they had to offer and we stopped to talk to Kyle McKnight and a few of the other members of the Hells Angels MC Niagara Charter a bit before moving on. We headed over to Angelo’s for some food and a beverage but the menu wasn’t much for today so we just had a drink and talked with David Williams “Tiger” and his friend Dee and also Contributing writer Donnie Meeker before heading over to Powell Park than to the legion. I was surprised to see that there wasn’t alot of vendors in the park this year but we still took a look to see what bargains were there and that is where we saw Harley Guindon and Rob McDonald of Harley G’s and Giggles did some shopping and than we went on our way if your ever in the Oshawa area go and check out this store located at 201 Simcoe St South in downtown Oshawa ( or the shwa as it is also known as). We headed over to the legion in hopes of finding some food but no luck there as the fish fry was sold out but we had a drink and listended to some music from my buddy Chico Sanchez and his lady beofore heading up to the Norfolk Tavern where we finally found something to eat. After we had filled our bellies we strolled around down by the water and looked at some vendors and such and I also ran into a bro I haven’t seen in a while Jamie Duncan and his new lady and i also ran into long time friends and another bro Dave Lowe and his wife Marie it was good to see you all. As we got up the hill to the upper part of Port Dover and headed back into the parkette we ran into Michelle Semeniuk who rode all the way from the Barrie area for the event ( it is always good to see you) and than I ran into my bro’s from the Redemption 43 Crew in ontario of Disciple Christian MC ( whom I am now a supporter of) and I recieved my support cookie that day also and I am loving this journey and yes I am still a contributing writer for the mag GOD IS GREAT 888. After talking with my bro’s for a while we headed over to see the boys from the Hells Angels and Red Devils MC Hamilton Charter and talked with them for a while before saying our goodbyes and heading for the bike and the ride home....see you all in April. NWRA ANNUAL PASTA DINNER The North Wall Riders Asociation Steel City Chapter put on two annual pasta dinners one in the fall and one in the spring to raise money for various parts of the military. Again Giggles wasn’t with me I know right craziness, So I headed down to the Royal Canadian legion branch 58 on Barton Street with my mom and step dad to have some pasta and meatballs and gather with friends and family. When we arrived at the legion and the room where the dinner was taking place we were greeted at the door by Keven ellis and his wife Wendy, paid our entry fee and heaed into to find a seat and my step dad’s sister Sue and her husband Tim and we sat at a table and had our dinner. The legion was filling up with hungry people the pasta and meatballs were going out just as fast as the people were showing up. After eating I wheeled around talking to this one and that one before heading home for the night to stay out of the rain. All the proceeds for this event went to supporting veterans, cadets, and military families. Thanks again to the North Wall Riders Steel City chapter for another good pasta dinner see you at the next one. Guardians Of The Children Christmas Party I was invited to this event a few weeks before it was to happen and I told Dean the Sargent At Arms for the Guardians of the children that I would be there to support them. After helping Sue Kojic a good friend and contributing writer of the mag at a local craft show we headed out to Oshawa for the evenings event. After having something to eat we arrived at Neb’s funhouse in Oshawa we were greeted by two of the members (sorry I forget your names they have slipped my mind at this time), and headed inside where we met all the members and the kids they have taken in from various abusive situations. Neb’s funhouse is like chucky cheese on steroids it’s crazy; It has a bowling ally, arcade games area, a huge play area, a go cart track and midway rides. After being introduced to all the members it was time for some new “lil Guardians” to recieve their vests and get “patched in” and a group picture was taken ( sorry I didn’t have my camera for some The Rider’s Mag - Page 48
of these events this time). After the “lil guradians” were “patched in” it was time for the kids to go play a round of bowling so while they did that I wheeled around checking this awesome place out and talking with some of the members and I had a beverage as well. After bowling it was time for Santa to make an appearance and have some pizza and pop also. We headed for the other side of the awesome facility to where the go carts, midway rides and the play area is and the kids and members were having a blast and Sue and I got a chance to talk to Dean and some of the other members about some of the situations they have come across to get these children out of and it was heartbreaking but it was good at the same time to see them having fun. It was time for us to head home as it had been a long day so we said our goodbyes and heaed out. Well that does it for another column again I hope you all had a good Christmas and New year and I hope your 2018 is awesome and I will see you out on the road when spring rolls around and my bike will be painted as well pictures to follow.
Stitch (SwapMeet Sue) Let’s start off with my
name my name is Sue I really don’t use my last name because it’s very a little too unimportant to me! Some call me Swapmeet Sue and some call me Stitch. I was given up for adoption but the people who adopted me did not really didn’t want me. In high school I met up with this girl named Dawn she was my very best friend. When I was living in a group home Dawn and her family came to rescue me. I ended up with a whole new family, Dawn became my sister. She was living with her aunt Bev, as well as, her two cousins Luke and Michael. From that moment on I was part of their family and I belonged. We call each other brothers and sisters and her aunt became like a mother/older sister. Bevy passed away 2006 at the age of 48. Unfortunately Dawn passed away 7 years ago this Christmas morning due to leukemia at the young age of 39. Dawn’s cousin/brother Luke moved out west to Williams Lake in BC. I keep saying I want to go see Luke I miss him so much. When everybody passed away, I once again was left without a family except for my two nieces and I have been single for 10 years. I still see Dawn’s 2 girls every chance I can, they are my nieces and I love them very much! In 2009 I started doing Car, Truck, Van, and “YES” Bike Swap-Meets and shows, the other vendors at the shows started becoming my family which has put me into a whole new life and wonderful new Journey! In 2014 I started talking to Andrew Kruschel, Andrew runs a site on Facebook called Canadian Biker Community. Every time I would talk to Andrew it was to tell him what shows have changed or new locations or that show closed down so he made me and Administrator of the Canadian Biker Community. When I started going to the biker swap-meets and a new world of Family had opened up for me, (just like Stitch who was a lost alien from a different planet) feeling like I never really belonged I have found my family. A reason to belong in both worlds, swapmeets and biker world, I love them both!! I am making some incredible friends along the way… so let’s get started I first meet up with Bacchus Chatham M.C. 5 years ago for their first annual swap-meet! This year being no exception on November 5th 2017, their annual swap-meets are great! And no, I would not keep going back if they were not a good show. I enjoy this great group of guys very much and I enjoy the trip down to see them! Their swap-meet is always an added bonus keeping it a true swap-meet all bikes and bike related stuff. Truly a great success for them and so much fun! I am proud to make them my western part of my family. I also met up with Kathy Troiani, writer for the Deep South at The Rider’s Mag at their swap-meet. Special shout out to my new family (sister). I met up with the Chatham chapter at CK Fest this summer. I had been asked to hand out their flyers for the upcoming swapmeet (that happened on November5th). So I did it and it took me to a new chapter of my life. At
Biketoberfest in Welland Ontario I was handing out there flyer’s, and that’s when I met a wonderful lady by the name of Little Dean… Little Dean is the sergeant of arms for Guardians of The Children, Toronto chapter. She started telling me about what they do, who they are and why they do what they do. They sounded like a group that I would like to be involved with, but I wanted to find more about them. The Toronto Chapter currently serves communities from Oshawa to Hamilton and currently sits with 34 members and 17 Little Guardians. They had their Christmas party for their children on November 26th. I decided to take my friend Gregg Walker, (who I meet at one of the swap-meets) and myself to Oshawa to meet up with the Guardians of the Children Toronto Chapter. It was very gratifying; however, it was extremely heart tearing at the same time! All the children at the party had an amazing time; they acted and behave like children should! What a fantastic group of people the GoTC are, giving their time for the children to build a better tomorrow. I soon learned that at this party for the 22 children, (15 in attendance), there was other bike clubs () that had donated some money. All of their donations, to make sure that these kids had a fantastic Christmas. The two other clubs to be mentioned are; All 4 One Biker Church, and West Rouge . With all the help from all 3 clubs, everything was more than paid for. The event for the children started off with the circle of love, where all the kids received a stuffed animal that all the bikers hugged to fill up with love. Then the stuffies were given to children so they could feel safe. Two of the children were patched in that night, they got new jean jackets and patched in as the new part of the family! Santa Clause was there + presents under the trees, cake and pizza ,all the kids had a fantastic time! The kids got to go bowling, play arcade games, do Go-karting and go on carnival rides. All of this was included in the fun and everyone had a fantastic night! Some upcoming events: •March 11th, 2018 – a benefit concert will be held at the Rockpile Night Club, 5555a Dundas Street West, Toronto •June 2nd, 2018 – second Annual Empower the Children Ride will be starting from Pfaff Harley, 8779 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill •All money raised will go directly into supporting our Little Guardians. •facebook https://www.facebook.com/GOCToronto
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