Previously written - forgot to post it 

Sunday, 1st  August, 2021

Here in South Africa our winter is basically done. We don't have severe cold winters, and in my younger days I would ride my bike through the whole year. But now that I'm 60+ I tend to rather ride in good weather. 

This morning the sun is warm, the skies clear, and it's a good day to ride. I roll the bike out of the garage and fire it up.  It's been a few weeks (6?) since I took the bike out onto the road.

I decide to just take a casual ride out to a location where the Sunday breakfast runs usually go, and see how the land looks after all this Covid lockdown, and the devastating effect it has had on restaurants and the like.

I ride slowly down to the garage (filling station)and fill the tank. The a slow ride through the suburbs towards the open road. My intention is to take a casual ride out and enjoy the sun and the open road.

As my back wheel rolls over the "line" that indicated the end of the suburbs, the throttle takes on a life of it's own! I can feel it turning in my hand, rolling up the skin of my palm. Faster and faster this beast accelerates, and soon I am nothing but a passenger on the back of this machine that has for so long waited to stretch its legs and devour the tar….. All I can do is steer it in the general direction of where it is I am planning to go!

Long sweeping bends are devoured at full tilt, cagers are overtaken in the blink of an eye, with some of them swerving to get away from this growling beast. I see the terror in their eyes as I pass by… Down the infamous satellite road, past the upside down house, and through the 3 way intersection. 

Suddenly I'm on the dam bridge, a piece of road beautifully designed just for motorbikes. Short straights followed by long 180km'h sweeping bends, followed by a straight, and another bend, and on and on…..over the dam and up to the stop street.

For the first time in the past 15 minutes, during which time I travelled  40km I feel like the beast is letting me take back control. We have burned through about a 3rd of a tank of fuel, the tyres are scuffed right up …..and the engine is pinging madly.

I get to the famous Upperdeck pub and grill / restaurant, Hartebeespoort dam, where there are dozens of other like minded bikers, enjoy a burger and a few drinks (non-alcoholic) …and then, then it's time to go back home, and my heart starts to thump in anticipation of another ride on the back of this beast.

First ride out after winter is always an experience. Can't wait for the next ride…...