I was starting to fell a bit Willie Nelson ("Just can't wait to get on the road again...")
But those of you with similar amount of "life experience" as me (aka old farts) may recall that around 1968 Canned Heat had a hit with "I'm On The Road Again". And to completely cross popular music styles, to get back into the "mood" for scooter riding (as if I needed some help!) I've been listening to The Who (so I guess I would've been a Mod)!
So what's all this ramble leading up to? This morning I journeyed (via public transport) down to Scooter HQ to be reunited with my again pristine HD200. Why so long? Mainly 'cause I was slack and didn't put in my insurance claim until I was well on the road to recovery. I figured that the scoot and I would be ready about the same time.
Having not ridden for twelve weeks I had no intention of hitting the Pacific Motorway -- there were better roads to travel. After leaving Scooter HQ this morning I headed out the Southport-Nerang Road then the Nerang-Beaudesert Road. Through Canungra, Tamborine, Logan Village, Waterford, Browns Plains, and finally to the western suburbs. 130km on a glorious SEQ autumn day.
Got a wave from the first scooter I passed before I left Southport and I reckon my "nod return rate" from the bikers in the hinterland was around 50% which is pretty good!
I found I was a bit stiff at the end of the ride and had a bit of a headache from a) breaking in a new helmet, and b) having to get used to and extra 1.5kg on my neck. Felt pretty good on the ride and (thankfully) had no left hand hairpins to confront! The only drama was riding through Forest Lakes when a doofus in a black SUV decided he'd switch over into my lane (they obviously haven't improved in three months!).
So now I'm thinking of another Canned Heat song
I'm going up the country, baby, don't you wanna go
I'm going up the country, baby, don't you wanna go
I'm going to some place where I've never been before
Life's good!