Day One

Yesterday was a bit of a long day. A day filled mostly with waiting. There was enough to do at work but something kept poking me in the back. Yesterday was the day.  The brand new 09 DL650 V-Strom was coming home.  I arrived at the dealership a bit early and drove past all the while trying very hard to spot the new scoot.  Didn’t see it. I drove a bit further as I planned my escape / figure out this new machine route with minimal embarrassment.  I’d spent several weeks consuming all I could about the bike. Part of that were stories of the delivery and nervous new riders dropping there brand new bike right in front of the dealership staff.  When it was finally time to throw my leg over the mighty Wee there was a sales manager, customer and a few others watching.  I fired it up, rolled off the pad and kicked it into first.  We were off. About half an hour later we rolled into the garage at home all in tact.

The bike has been a bit of a work in progress. I’ve spent 25 years dreaming, pretending, imagining and wishing I had a bike.  It started with the 1981 Kawasaki Z1-R.  I’d often pretend my Supercycle 10-Speed was that very machine…complete with all the appropriate noises supplied by me. 

There is a list of people who through no fault of their own are to blame in this new adventure. Rush drummer Neil Peart who’s literary works painted images in my head I felt I really needed to experience in 3-D.  Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman and their love of two wheels and the Long Way Round.  Adventures at a level I’ll likely never know but they added fuel to my imagination, dreams and goals just the same.  My Uncle Tippy who despite is name enjoyed years of successful motorcycling. He'd often leave his home in Quebec and show up on the front door step of our home in Toronto. I thought that was pretty cool. I can still see his Honda Interstate parked in our driveway.  I cannot complete this list without Michelle who bought the books and DVDs in the first place ensuring the flicker here actually caught.  I suspect now her thoughts have now turned to something along the lines of “I can’t believe he did it!” 

The Wee Strom is sitting in the garage and as soon as I’m home we’re off. Don’t know where and it doesn’t matter.  Cannot wait.