One Man+Two Wheels = Purpose in Life
Leo forever changed my life on a brisk fall Gatineau evening of 2011. He ignited a fire in my soul; I love motorcycles.
My mom had neglected letting me know Leo was coming over, and like a typical preteenager I was watching tv in my underwear. All of the sudden I heard the doorbell ring and saw a tall African man standing there. After supper, he told he told me while living in Taiwan, he and his brother had been chased by the police on motorcycles. I was sitting with my mouth open intrigued. I wanted more motorcycle stories.
Leo and I continued emailing and texting even after I moved back to Saskatoon. Our conversations led to me purchasing my first motorcycle, a Honda VT500C Ascot. I didn't even have my license yet!
That same night I changed the carburetors and got it running. I recorded a video and sent it to Leo. He congratulated me enthusiastically and called me a young mechanic. It felt good!
The next day I sold it for more than it was worth. Leo was just as excited as I was! From that moment on, I was hooked.
I realized then and there I wanted a motorcycle career.
I turned sixteen, and with my driver’s license, my mother's approval and Leo’s blessings I signed up to get my motorcycle learner’s license. This was one giant step on my path to a motorcycle career.
Later that summer, I realized I not only wanted to ride and fix motorcycles, I also want to write about them. I am going to be a road test editor for a motorcycle magazine.
To travel the world and test motorcycles, now that’s a job! To have a mentor like Leo, that's priceless.
