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My Maiden Voyage with Empress Belinda!.
It was 6am, the sun was already shining bright and vibrant in the sky and the birds chattered excitedly as I looked out the window expectantly.
Today I was going on an adventure - a secret mission, known only to a select few. I slipped away stealthily, imploring the house to join me in my secret…. Not a sound was made except for the final ‘Click’ as the door shut behind me. My heart pounded as I tiptoed to my waiting carriage, which roared into life and fled away with me in an instant.
It wasn’t long before I was sat watching the countryside whipping past the windows. Initially I had rocked gently to the regular Kuh-chuh, Kuh-chuh of the train, but it soon picked up the pace, hurriedly chanting
“we gotta get Meesh to Leeds – Hurry up!”
“we gotta get Meesh to Leeds – Hurry up!”
My thoughts cast back – searching for a memory. “What bike am I getting?”… and I recalled the events of recent months.
It was July 2008 now. I had started riding motorbikes for the first time in my life Christmas 2007. I did not own a bike of my own, so had gone to a local training school to learn (mostly in secret!). From zero riding straight in to do my CBT! (I must be mad!). I was scared… but excited too. I listened carefully to my instructors…. I was right out of my comfort zone….. I tried hard, but just wasn’t quite steady enough to join the youngsters out on the road. Instead I stayed behind on the track and with great determination went up and down, up and down and round and round until I was too tired to continue. “Take heart” said my instructors “it will come to you”, and the next day I returned…. Going up & down and round and round until finally I was good enough to join the fresh batch of youngsters to GO PLAY ON THE ROAD!
Over the ensuing months I returned, somewhat sporadically, to complete my Direct Access training. Progress was slow with only the school’s bike to learn on and lessons being sometimes 2 weeks apart, but finally – success, I passed! The exhilaration of the conquest was enormous, but then there was emptiness – for I did not have a bike I could ride regularly!
A few weeks passed with just the occasional ride on a 125….. then suddenly opportunity knocked! My daughter’s boyfriend had bought a bike from Jordans in Leeds, but he hadn’t passed his test! My heart leapt with excitement and the words tripped quickly out of my mouth before I could stop them…. “I’ll go get it for you” I heard myself say.
……. So here I am, on the train, on my way to get this bike. I had no idea what this Honda CB something or other bike was! I just had a registration number and a contact name for when I arrive!
“Nearly there now, Meesh – not long”
“Nearly there now, Meesh – not long”
…chanted the train as it slowed a little on the final leg of my journey.
“Nearly there – don’t you worry now!”
“Nearly there – don’t you worry now!”
“We’re heeeeere!” Screeched the train as it came to a halt in the station.
I stepped off the train and waited a moment for my mind to catch up with me as other travellers jostled passed me. Almost trance like, my body moved on – impatient to wait any longer for my mind (after all it could be sometime before I came back to my senses. Lol!).
I yanked myself back into place and focussed my thoughts as I searched for a taxi to get me to my destination….. then, as if in a blink…. I was there!
The lady behind the counter spoke to me and I heard myself respond.. “yes, thank you a coffee please”. She continued to talk to some part of me – whilst the rest of me scoured the fine array of bikes all standing proudly in rows, shining and shouting - “sit on me!”; “try me”; “come on now – you know you’ll love me!”; “Buy ME!”
The noise of their calling almost drowned out the words of the assistant as she beckoned me to sign the release papers. But where was the bike that I was here for? Which one of these bubbly enthusiastic boys was it?
I followed the assistant through the show room and as we turned the corner there was an extra special sparkle as the light glinted off this stunning ‘beastess’, freshly polished and out shining the rest. It was a ‘she’.An Empress amongst kings -.bright, vibrant, sophisticated, strong and sexy -. A Honda CBR600F. “Conquer me and you conquer the universe” the Empress whispered to me as I drew near, eyes wide.
THWACK! Mind and body joined each other with a sudden jolt. “Holy Moses!” I thought (or words to that affect. Lol!)… “That is a BIG bike”.
Suddenly I remembered that I was a novice rider with less than 30 hours riding experience on ANY bike let alone a 600cc Sports bike! Gulp! And would I even be able to get on it? Would I be able to touch the floor? Oh, Sh*t! What have I let myself in for. Lol!
I think I must have gone a little pale, for I heard the assistant suggest a delivery service whilst looking rather anxiously at me. “No! No! Its fine” I assured her…. and was offered another coffee whilst I waited for the ‘Empress’ to be taken out of the showroom and prepared for me to take.
As I drunk my coffee I prepared my mind – I couldn’t afford the luxury of a negative thought for this journey and I had to park the internal screams of “Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t – what if I can’t do this?” There was no choice; I had only one way home. I had to seize the moment, to believe and trust in myself that I could do this – even if I didn’t have the experience, even if I had never been on a motorway before, even if I had never ridden a sports bike before, even if I didn’t have the right gear (helmet, gloves and jacket was all - otherwise it was jeans and trainers! – stop shaking your heads, I can see you!)
There she stood, looking proud and strong in the yard waiting for me. I was ready to mount her when I realised something else! The only way out was up a steep slope and immediately beyond was a main road! “Oh, hell! I was going to have to get this right first time!” - Enough throttle to get her up, but not too much…. And how would I know the feel of clutch and throttle with no experience? (“Oh! Oh!”…”Ssh! be quiet little fretful voice…. Just get on with it…. DO IT!”)
I whispered “Hi!” to the Empress and stroked her mane (fairing) as I stood astride her. She was going to stretch me in more ways than one! …. Beginning with having me on my tiptoes! ! I turned the key and she ‘purred’ excitedly. My heart beat loud and fast as I put my head up and tentatively eased her forward. She lurched a little and jolted to a halt as my ’reflex’ to brake was activated.
Phew! I puffed a little and took stock – staring straight up the slope. Then I went for it… “Whoa!” I heard her cry (or was that me?). Up we went, very quickly – time now for that reflex braking said my brain – and we stopped! In fact we stopped so well….. we stalled! Oh, no! This isn’t good - my feet can’t find the ground! … and ever so, ever so slowly the Empress bowed down to let me off…. but, she lost her footing too… and down we both went!
The Empress lay wounded on her side looking a little bewildered! I got up and ran over to her, my face cupped in my hands! (Now don’t laugh at me – this was very serious!) “Oh, Richard!” I declared out aloud. “I’m sorry. What have I done to your bike that I’m supposed to be safely delivering home for you?”
Several rather anxious looking assistants came running out of the shop to rescue……..the bike! (Lol!)… as I looked on somewhat bewildered and stunned myself (I know, I know… stop laughing now, you! Lol!).
With loving care and attention they took the Empress in and bandaged her up and fixed her broken wing (mirror). Then to be sure no further harm came to her; they took her up to the roadside for me and quizzically asked if I was ‘certain’ that I would be ok? (Lol!)
My knees were shaking, my heart pounding and my head spinning – but I was not going to let a little fall stop me! “YES” I said firmly. “I’m OK and ready, thank you”, and with that I climbed back on the Empress and slowly, a little wobbly at first, I began down the road to find fuel.
I could sense the Empress was a little unsure of her new rider, so I whispered to her and asked for her help. She whispered back “Fear not, for I shall be your strength… I am powerful, confident and loyal… I will not let you down. Just keep your head up, look to where you want to be, remain calm and leave the rest to me!”
Once fuelled, we slowly slither along the road, rocking gently from side to side as we smoothly snake around the roundabouts (well, almost… perhaps a little stiff on the right hand bends. Lol)…..then onto the M62 – the first Motorway experience of my life (on a bike).
I felt the wind suddenly push and pull me…. Trying its hardest to whip me up and off my seat. This was new! Cautious at first I hung close in the inner lane, buffeted by mocking lorries as they passed at speed, looking down their noses and laughing to see an Empress of the road going so slow! “Come on girl!” I thought to myself. “You have braved gale force 9 storms out at sea on a little 36’ wooden boat…. you can cope with a little ‘breeze’ now!”
I pulled of at the next service station to take stock. My heart was racing and the adrenalin was searing through my body. As I climbed off the Empress my body was ELECTRIC…. Man… every nerve ending from the top of my head to the tip of my toes was just ‘ZINGING’ with exhilaration. The Empress sat proud and silent and I felt myself growing ten feet tall as I strode towards the services for a drink.
Eager to continue my maiden solo flight… I mounted my Steed and pulled back onto the M62 moving onto the M1 heading for home. Again the wind pushed and pulled and tried to steal me away, but my Steed was strong and true and said to me “hold closer. Put your trust in me, believe in me and I will carry you safely where you desire”. This was when I learnt the magic of assuming the foetal position and blending in with my Steed.
Home she took me…. 4 hours of sheer sparkling magic and fear. With the trust and belief came the confidence to move to the middle lane and then the outer lane, whooping out aloud with delight and exhilaration. There were moments of shear terror too when my brain began to ‘think’ about what I was doing….. but I simply whooped and sang out loud and drowned the ‘suckers’ out of my mind. Like I said before… I couldn’t afford the luxury of a negative thought.
I arrive home, safe, sound and very proud of myself. My new bike (sorry my daughter’s boyfriend’s new bike!) was an Empress indeed… she had been like a beautiful snake taking me quickly, smoothly and stealthily through all traffic… so I named her BELINDA (of Spanish derivation meaning Beautiful Snake!). Welcome home Belinda!
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Originally Posted by micksylver
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