Johan on his café racer
Sheila on her scooter
Not Glenn. Why hasn’ t he given up and traded his helmet and chaps for an easy chair? Some people just aren’ t wired that way. He’ s ridden in every province in Canada and every state in the United States, and he drives twelve months of the year— you could say he’ s driven. This past February, he drove seventeen days in a row. His Honda Goldwing trike sported winter car tires in the back and an all-season tire up front.
In summer, he’ s a member of the Wild Rose Wings— originally all Honda Goldwings, but now open to all motorcycles. Every Wednesday night is“ ice cream night” where the riders take the backroads for a lengthy cruise that always ends at a central Alberta ice cream shop. The Wings ride on Sundays as well, but Glenn attends church and must take a miss.
When asked if he felt safe on the roads, he assured me he was.“ For me, when we go on group rides, others ride side by side, but I ride as a single at the back. My reaction time isn’ t quite what it used to be. As well, I always have my high beams on in the daytime, especially on single lane highways. Approaching vehicles need as much warning as possible because we’ re so much smaller than cars and trucks.”
“ Motorcycles are for everyone,” Glenn continued.“ I’ d advise anyone considering them to take a rider training course.” These courses are offered throughout the province, but Glenn is only familiar with the two-day session in Red Deer. Riders can learn on either two or three wheels and only five students are permitted per class, which
maximizes time for interaction with the instructor and on the motorcycles they provide. It costs just under $ 800, but Glenn says it is well worth it to make an informed decision. The FPM Motorcycle Rider Training Program follows the standards set by the Canada Safety Council, allowing graduates to ride in any province.
I thanked Glenn for sharing his story and was amazed by it, but I wondered if he was a“ one and only.” In many respects he is, but there are other seniors who can be models for the rest of us.
Johan Steenwyck is 69 years old. When he and I walked the front nine at River Bend Golf Course recently, l asked what he did for other activities.“ I love riding on one of my two motorcycles,” he told me.“ One is a café racer or cruiser, the other is an adventure touring bike. Last summer, I took an Edelweiss Bike Travel trip across Iceland. I’ ve also had rides in Alaska and Baja, Mexico.”
My wife’ s cousin, Sheila Baumbach, rides her wheels daily. As the picture attests, it’ s not a motorcycle, but it is her lifeline to the outside world. Both Johan and Sheila prove they don’ t let age stand in their way. If Richard Boone of Paladin fame were alive today, his calling card might read,“ Have Gumption— Will Travel.”
AUTUMN 2026 | 25