check I still had four limbs in the right places ( always a good caveat , no use having one limb torn off and slung over the motorbike ), then mount their steeds and set off again .
We took in the fabulous Painted Dessert , giving an injection of optimism and wonder to the day , it was exactly what I needed . Steeling myself , all I had to do was keep the accelerator taught and steering straight , simple stuff .
I kept reciting my mantra as a tricky patch caused me to fight the steering wildly , my mind casting me back to some long-forgotten memory of wrestling a particularly irascible jumper when I was three sheets to the wind , trying to find the exit to push my head through . The more I tried , the harder it became ! Before I realised , I was speedily approaching a cattlegrid on a crest . I embodied Evil Knievel hitting that thing , rising into the air like a salmon . Enough time elapsed that I marvelled at my new found flying ability , only to see a pothole the size of Kansas waiting on the other side . As the wheels came down , the tyres kept their motion , scrambling out of the hole fiercely . I couldn ’ t believe it ! I continued on for half an hour or so , rounding another few corners , but no sooner was I recovering from the shock I was due another . We reached bitumen .
Parking up the motorcycle on the side of the road where the others greeted me , the relief was enormous . I lay on that smooth surface and kissed it , wondering if I ’ d ever have to leave its silkiness again . And just like that , two familiar shapes sped past right in front of us at the junction . Unexpectedly , Richie and Dave gave a shout and we all headed to a café in Marla for a chat . Or rather , everyone else did . I was ashen , and noticeably quiet for a few days ! When reminiscing , I ’ ve always wondered if it was just my lack of experience or bad timing in terms track-grading , but Justin and Steve enjoyed themselves immensely and I was really lucky to have them with me ... RR
Richard loves adventure , loves travelling and bikes , loves overlanding . His book , An Antipodean Adventure , available on Aamazon , explores an overland journey by two mates driving a Land Rover from London to Sydney .
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