motorcyclemeditation.com

Spring already on its way, the first sign in this neck of the woods being not bird or blossom, but rather the first appearance on a loud black Harley of a local hotshot.

Motorcycle prominent in the carpark, throttle blasted. Birds wheeling in panic overhead, small animals scuttling away, an entourage of adolescents pricking their ears. One minute of desultory nothingness, then another blast.

A five minute operation to dismount, take off helmet, remove gloves. Stretching, gazing about. Blinking as if emerging from hibernation, in bemused surprise at the strangeness of the world. Scratching a thinning pate. Walking around the motorcycle, seeing something, bending down, adjusting, straightening, stretching, yawning.

Finally, leaving the motorcycle. A lazy walk to the pub, tassels swaying on cracked black leathers. Occasional adjustment in stride pattern, britches hitched, abdominal pressure relieved, human replication of motorcycle’s thunderous detonation, this being at least the visual impression though fortunately too far away from me to be certain.

On to the pub, there to sit in company with other smokers, mostly men. Settling in for a four hour stint. Laughter abundant, more frequent and louder than justified by humour, more a proclamation to the world of what a good time is being had, a marker for subsequent shared recollection.

At some point, a procession from pub to carpark to admire the motorcycle. Prolonged discussion of winter’s labours, the motorcycle’s latest modifications, problems in getting parts, whether to get the latest model. Opinions divided. Occasional bright spark suggestions, more laughter. More stretching, more scratching. Back to the pub.

At the end, farewells, return to the motorcycle, a rerun of earlier theatricalities. A slow cavalcade, one motorcycle, down the street. The general lugubriousness disguising alcohol effects if such there be, not sure if any actual drinking is involved and besides home is but a half mile away.

Ah well, spring rituals, the annual motorcycle unveiling, all’s right with the world.