A day in the life of an R850GS – Part 1
It’s early in the morning. It’s dark. It’s cold. I’m surrounded by others, yet I’m alone. She’s far away from me. Every night she leaves me for another. I see her going inside her apartment with this guy after he parks his companion next to me. I think he also likes me, but sometimes he makes fun of me. I know I’m not young anymore and wrinkles are appearing on my face, but I’ve got a will to live. To keep on riding till there’s nowhere left to ride. I think she likes me like that. I would even dare to say that she trusts me, and that’s a big thing to say.
She told me yesterday that we would hit the road together so here I am, a yellow BMW R850GS, just waiting for her to open the garage and smile. It’s a sad story really. She used to only have me, but with those crazy ideas of her to travel around the world she also got herself a younger, smaller pair of wheels. Apparently, women like them young! Who would have known! Anyhow, after having her to myself for more than a year I now have to share her with a rival. A tiny bugger with red flashy colours parked just in front of me. A little Honda CRF250l, or at least that’s what I’ve been told. Even at my age I can honestly tell you, it’s an ugly little chap.
Wait a moment, I’ll have to stop there. I think I hear footsteps coming towards the garage. Ahh, there she is! And the sun is shining. What a day! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind going out in the wind and the rain, but if we are honest, we must admit that nothing beats an icy blue autumn sky. Mist lingering above the fields. Leaves in every colour frolicking about and rays of sunshine dancing in the puddles.
Come on, pick me! Stop standing there and just role me outside. I need some fresh air you know! Ahh, there that guy is. It seems like she’s taking him with her. Oh well, that’s fine for me. Maybe he’ll take some more pictures of us. That would good! I feel handsome when he does that. And she says that he’s pretty good at it so I believe her. The past few weeks she always takes that red little fellow when she wants to go muddy and wild, but I hope that today she will have the courage to do the same with me. Before we always did this together, but now she’s scared to break my bones. Or her own bones, I can’t remember what she said exactly. I should really start listening instead of wandering of in my own thoughts! Damn it!
Ahh, there we go. Finally! Of course, I missed her chitter chatter about where we are going, but I’m sure I’ll find out soon. From the first moment I can feel that she’s in a good mood. She corners more smoothly and while babbling about in her helmet she waves her hands in the air to explain what she is saying. Ohhh, I see some dirt! Let’s go there! Come on, to the left! I can do it! It’s just a little shortcut to the big road. Yes! Here we go! She is standing up. Now it’s my turn, straight ahead and wiggle my bum. Red coloured dust, rocks lying around and a little mud. Let’s play it dirty! Towards the puddle we go. I hear her laughing. Like a little girl playing in a puddle with her red wellies and her big toy. The water splashes and I know that today is going to be a great day.
