Already bruised by unrest in the Middle East, the markets continued to dive as the ocean swamped Japan. News of the scale of destruction and loss of life came like its progenitor, slowly but inexorably across the sea. In the lull between happening and consequence everything turned red in my portfolio and I struggled to understand the connection between another earthquake far away and the financial markets. This preoccupation was soon to be put in its place when I finally got to sit down in front of the news but until that night, two days after the event, I was rueing the slow puncture in my finances. This is not a recession, it’s a depression, I thought, and with that I put my current plans for an extended road trip on ice.
It’s as much about realism and duty trumping dreams of glorious self, as the more pragmatic pros and cons of the journey. All a bit depressing but I have to be realistic, I’m not 24 and not a free agent anymore - take note you twenty-somethings and get on with exploring the world in ways that adults might disapprove of. Safety is also a concern. I will ask the Biking Viking [TBB 5.8] if the unsurfaced roads in north east Iceland are navigable on a road bike in the summer. If not, I’ve plenty of time to rethink my plans. My only self-imposed deadline is to make a trip by the end of next year.
The Bullet was and probably still is manufactured in trials format and I’m interested in this from a right-tool-for-the-job perspective. Steve Wilson of Real Classic magazine has this to say about the Enfield Trials (article not dated), “Indian-built Royal Enfield Bullets have been in production for nearly half a century now. A mile on Indian roads is reckoned to be the equivalent in wear and tear to three miles on European ones, and that's a fairly convincing argument for them possessing the very-tough-as-old-boots character needed for off-road endeavour.” They do look compact and sturdy, and great fun, reminding me of where the whole bike thing started for me, at the motocross circuit near Narita [TBB 3.3].
You can probably sense the wheels clicking in my mind but it’s all the wrong way round. The Black Bullet was an unexpected arrival which has been leading me down a path ever since, now I’ve got the bug and I’m generating all kinds of off-shoots. I’m stupidly excited, for example, to see a working 1937 side-valve 250 on eBay, with fishtail exhaust and girder forks. It’s a rare beauty and I keep going back to look at it.
I’d pull my float out of the stock market and snap it up as an alternative investment, but quite where I’m going to keep the Black Bullet if we have to relocate (what with work moving and all), is difficult to say. If we can't afford a garage and there is no suitable shed, I guess Pete would look after it - it couldn't have a better home - but two bikes would be pushing it. Disregard for reason is a symptom of passion, it’s a delicious kind of struggle, but often with consequences for others.
I've taken a month of Mondays off to look after Poz, while Jane attacks an upcoming marketing assignment. If I get some time, I'm planning to launch a website to promote the story of The Black Bullet. It's been a while since I did any website design and I'm looking forward to it. Another interesting digression sparked off by the gift of this bike, for which I am thankful.
