Belt Drive Betty Homeward Bound From Wharf Rat Rally

Renee “Belt Drive Betty” Charbonneau traveled 19 days, covering more than 6,300 KM on "Black Betty" and spoke to more than 400 riders and community leaders in eight Canadian provinces on her Congo of F.I.R.R.E. en route from Alberta to the Wharf Rat Rally in Nova Scotia.

She arrived Sept. 1st in Digby to attend Atlantic Canada's largest outdoor motorcycle event. And she is now en route home.

The outspoken editor of the Busted Knuckle Chronicles newspaper is most known throughout the world as the author of the Belt Drive Betty Blog and editor of the Canadian travel-events website BeltDriveBetty.com.

Riding across Canada on her motorcycle, Belt Drive Betty met with dozens of motorcycle clubs and talked to many non-riders, spreading awareness of F.I.R.R.E - Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education. En route to Nova Scotia, she attended The National Motorcycle Ride for Dad 10th Anniversary Run in Kenora, ON and The Mother Daughter Ride for the SOS Villages in Butler, ON. She visited The Biker's Church and Biker Coffee Company in Ottawa; Chrome Divas in Ottawa and Montreal; and the high school bike builders in Bike Klub in NB.

She left Moncton New Brunswick at 6 am on September 1st - destination - St John New Brunswick and the Bay Ferry to Digby, where she met up with Bean'r and his crew from Florida, New York and Boston and made the 3-hr crossing. 

Betty is a woman who tells it like it is and she had things to say about the St John's ferry route to Digby.

 "I must tell you folks - St John is disgusting. It is official - in my books anyway - that the roads in St John NB are the worst in all of Canada - worse than any place. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. And the Bay Ferry - what a money grab - disgustingly filthy bathrooms at the terminal - worn out carpets on the floor on the Ferry and the cleanliness left lots to be desired there too and the same price for a motorcycle to cross as a car or pick up. $90 one way fare - 3 hour crossing. RIP OFF - complete and TOTAL!

"Shameful - had I known that's what it was going to be I would have ridden from Moncton to Truro and into Digby - seen some fabulous country and saved myself $40 and still been in Digby before the ferry," Betty reported. On her way home, that's exactly what she did.

On Tuesday, Sept. 7th she was riding from Digby to Truro - the back way with two members of the Canadian Lone Wolves,  Sea Dog the Magic Man and his lovely wife, Jocelyn.

 "The roads are not in the greatest shape so caution should be exercised," said Betty.


But from the Look Off in Blomindon you can see almost all of the Annapolis Valley - breath taking and stunningly beautiful!

Hurricane Earl may have kept some rally-goers at home this year because attendence at the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby was down from previous years. 

But Bean're made his own Fun... riding a go-cart around the Wall of Death.

For details about F.I.R.R.E. visit: beltdrivebetty.com/firre

The Bean're Bailout Ride To Wharf Rat Rally - Nova Scotia

DAY THREE - Yesterday on the Ferry to Nova Scotia with Bean're & crew. 3 hour ride, docked, and off to rally headquarters - photographer Jack Mcintyre, Thurs., Sept. 2, 2010 on "The Bean're Bailout Ride" to the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby.

All photos used by permission (c) Jack Mcintyre, bikerpics.org

where you can view a complete set of the ride and 2010 Wharf Rat Rally.

"Day one, we rode from our meeting place in Staten Island to Shorty's in Boston. Day two, we rode 400 miles to St. John, Canada, where we will catch the ferry today for Nova Scotia and the Wharf Rat Rally," said photographer, Jack Mcintyre.    

 CLICK TO ENLARGE ANY OF THE PHOTOS

DAY TWO - "We rode 400 miles yesterday after our stop in Boston at Shorty's, great people, great food!," said photographer, Jack Mcintyre. "Today is the day I'm really gonna start shootin while the sun is strong before the hurricane hits this Saturday."

Bean're and crew, on the road to Nova Scotia. "We rode thanks to Spectro Oil, serious riding, ass flatening riding," said photographer, Jack Mcintyre.

"And through all the record hot tempatures, my Spectro oil still looks and smells brand new! It really is the best!" said Kevin Bean're, pictured here leading the crew out of Boston to St. John, Canada.

DAY ONE - The Bean're Bailout crew, sponsored by Cycle Source Magazine, rolled into Shorty's in upper Boston on Monday night.

And there were some tired bikers.

DAY ONE - Photographer Jack Mcintyre's ride to the Wharf Rat Rally with "The Bean're Bailout" crew got underway Monday,  Aug. 30th 2010. The crew rode from this house in Staten Island to Shorty's in upper Boston.

Ride To Nova Scotia Wharf Rat Rally

A while back, Cycle Source Magazine announced a contest to "Win A Trip" to the Wharf Rat Rally in Nova Scotia as a riding partner with Bean're aka The Mayor of Fun.

My photographer friend, Jack Mcintyre saw that as a call to action!

"The moment I heard that I emailed Chris Callen of Cycle Source Magazine and stated that I would like to go along on motorcycle with Bean’re as a Photo Journalist."

Now it's one week before the rally and Jack will be heading out with Bean're to capture the action. "If I can get on the net in the evenings, I will post as many pics as I can because knowing this crew, it’s gonna be a blast," said Jack.

You will find hundreds of photos of Sturgis 2010 Rally, and look for photos of the Wharf Rat Rally at his photography website: BikerPICS.ORG.

Read More: Wharf Rat Rally - Sept. 1 to 6 in Digby, Nova Scotia.

Belt Drive Betty on Conga of F.I.R.R.E. to Wharf Rat Rally

Canada's Renee “Belt Drive Betty” Charbonneau mounted her bike Saturday morning, Aug. 14th in Grande Prairie, Alberta on a journey to “Light a F.I.R.R.E. of Awareness” across eight providences in a national motorcycle conga to the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby Nova Scotia – Canada’s Largest Outdoor Motorcycle Event.

The outspoken editor of the Busted Knuckle Chronicles newspaper is most known throughout the world as the author of the Belt Drive Betty Blog and editor of the Canadian travel-events website BeltDriveBetty.com.

Riding across Canada on her motorcycle, Belt Drive Betty will be spreading awareness of F.I.R.R.E - Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education.

The first leg of her journey was to Morinville, Edmonton then on to Lloydminister to meet with representatives of the Border Bike Rally and other motorcyclists in the area. She is due to ride as far as Saskatoon on Monday, where she and her husband will be meeting with members of the Saskatchewan Lone Wolves. They reportedly have members from all over the province coming out to learn more about how F.I.R.R.E. can benefit their riding community.

The Conga of F.I.R.R.E. will also be meeting with riding groups and community leaders along the way in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia:


The Saskatchewan Lonewolves in Saskatoon, The National Motorcycle Ride for Dad 10th Anniversary Run in Kenora ON, The Mother Daughter Ride for the SOS Villages in Butler ON, The Retreads in Thunder Bay, Liz from the Women’s Council and Shaun de Jager of Road Awareness in North Bay, The Bikers Church & the Biker Coffee Company in Ottawa, Chrome Diva’s in Ottawa & Montreal, the Bike Klub and Big Boy’s Toys in Moncton NB and Bean’re from Florida at the Ferry in St John NB – then in to DIGBY!
 

The Wharf Rat Rally in Digby, Nova Scotia was just a small event with about 750 motorcycles.

Today it is the  largest motorcycle rally in Atlantic Canada, attracting an estimated 80,000 people and more than 17,000 motorcycles.
 
"Our mission is to spread the message to riders about F.I.R.R.E. - the Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education," said Belt Drive Betty.

"We also want to spread the word to those who don't ride about who we really are as motorcyclists. So that when drivers see us from behind their steering wheels they see something more than a helmet, and gear - they see the person and the family behind that person. We want to ask them to take more care when they are driving their trucks, vans and cars.

"In far too many cases drivers of automobiles tend to be distracted and forget to shoulder check. They throw on a signal and start to move without realizing that the vehicle they are in command of is a weapon when not used with respect and care. Many times they just move - no signals, no warning. Our goal, our mission is to create some awareness...for and about riders."

Belt Drive Betty has one other personal mission -- To send one terminally ill child and their family to Orlando, Florida to the Give the Kids the World Village. "I would love to see a terminally ill child be allowed to be a child and their family be allowed some time to enjoy. I have seen so much sadness in this world and if I can help to spread a little joy - to see a child have their heart lightened...that would be fabulous!"

For details, travel schedule and to donate, visit F.I.R.R.E. Conga 2010.
For more information on Belt Drive Betty visit her blog at beltdrivebetty.blogspot.com

Win A Free Ride To Wharf Rat Rally 2010

Kevin Bean're is one of the most well know bikers attending most major events. Having been proclaimed "The Mayor Of Fun" describes Bean're perfectly.

This photograph of Bean're was taken at Daytona Beach 2010. "I have seen Bean're at Daytona for many years and you will always find him either having a deep discussion or hittin' the road to ride with his friends. People like Bean're are why I love the biker lifestyle," said Tom Tobin of Dreamweaver Photography.

"From Cycle Source magazine and The Wharf Rat Rally- a chance to win an all expense paid trip to ride your motorcycle along with me from your house to Digby, Nova Scotia for the Wharf Rat Rally, Sept 1-6, 2010," Bean're announced on his new fan page: Everything Bean're

The 5th Annual Wharf Rat Rally, last year was dedicated to Brad Ruel aka 'The Wrench', a celebrity bike-builder from Florida who passed away earlier in the year.

Five years ago the Digby, Nova Scotia Wharf Rat Rally was just a small event with about 750 motorcycles. Today it is the largest motorcycle rally in Atlantic Canada -- attracting an estimated 80,000 people and more than 17,000 motorcycles.