There is a little over two weeks to go before we let the clutch out on our escapade where we ride a Triumph 1200 explorer and a Triumph 1050 Sprint ST from Oakland , CA. to Juneau, AK. We have bought all the gear (and I mean ALL the gear), we have planned a route and a timetable, I have got the bikes ready with full service and new tyres. We are ready to go.
I am ready to go.
Now.
This thing is in my brain and it will not stop yelling at me. MyMateChris talks about the little wind up monkey with the symbols that keeps clanging away in his head.
This thing is with me all the time. When I put my socks on I consider whether these would be good socks for the trip? When I walk past the bikes in the garage on the way to my car, I think about opening the garage door and showing the Triumphs to my friend for the first time. When my client is asking me about whether or not to get a soft close toilet seat, I find myself yelling. “BIKE TRIP!!!!“.
I am ready to go.
And there is still 2 weeks to go. Two weeks of pretending to care whether or not Manny has filled in his job sheets, two weeks of faking interest in my clients’ collection of Hummel figurines, 14 days of hot showers and soft beds.
But why am I so excited? Why do I even want to do this thing? By it’s very definition, adventure has adversity and hazard built in to it. I have a friend on stupid facebook (some bloke from school who I am not sure I remember) and he keeps giving updates on how long he has to wait before he goes on his Mediterranean cruise. No doubt, along with his wife, he will enjoy fine dining, cocktails by the pool, dancing to the latest chart bollocks and perhaps, shagging a bit.
My trip will not include any of the above (hopefully).
My trip will involve thermal underwear. Rain suits. Mosquito repellent. Bear Spray! I have had to fit air cushions to the bikes to help with the pain of sitting in a saddle for hours on end. We will be cold, wet, hot, tired (exhausted), we will be washing in cold rivers, shitting in holes and sleeping on the ground and not shagging at all (hopefully).
And yet, I can not wait any longer. And I would choose this over sitting on a lounge chair with a cool drink (all inclusive) with Beryl and Frank chatting about how good the the oysters were at last nights captains dinner.
Yeah, fuck all that. Give me fire grilled steak under the stars, give me coffee at dawn by the mountain stream. I will take the pain of the saddle for the awe of rounding a bend and seeing miles of forest and snow capped peaks and skies that go on forever.
And give me freedom.
Today, of course, Sparrow would be giving the name Black Pearl to a Thruxton or perhaps a Daytona 955i.
When Marmite Chris and I were messaging about this trip, we talked about our fears, dropping a bike, not getting along, not shagging etc. We also talked about what we are looking forward to. One thing that Chris mentioned was the “head space”, the joy of nothing to do each day but ride bike.
I have learned this about myself: for me to relax, I need to be 100% focused on the task at hand. I need to shut out the incessant noise of my over active brain.
When I cram my skull into a padded hat and shut the visor, I shut out the world. When I am on the road, leaning in to a bend, easing on the power on the exit, there is no room for Carl and her opinions on my pricing policy, I can not give any thought to who’s fault it is that the mega press tool is not in the shop, I cant even allow consciousness to include the dog training schedule.
I think about bike. I think about clutch and gear and traction and lean angle. I think about the possibilities of gravel or pot holes or deer in the road that awaits around the corner. 100% focus 100% of the time.
Unless I am on the freeway in which case I sing Meatloaf.
When I take off my gear at the end of the day I am exhausted and at peace, truly relaxed. When you add camping in the wilderness to this and the risk of being bitten by a squirrel, you have the recipe for a truly memorable trip.
This trip will be nothing like the one Facebook Bob and his wife will have. It will be unusual, I am sure it will be exciting and it will be somewhat hazardous and it will definitely be an experience, because, by definition, it will be……. an adventure.