Dances with Elephants, Part IV - Riding solo. 7/31/2006
On Sunday, I decided to make a run to the elephant sanctuary. It was more or less a spur of the moment thing, so I didn’t have time to ask if anyone else wanted to come along. Riding solo is something I haven’t done in a long time. I had just about forgotten how much fun it is.
There was a time in my riding career when I only rode solo. I didn’t feel the need for company, or having a riding buddy, for backup, conversation, or otherwise. I loved the feeling of the open road, just me and the machine, with my thoughts bouncing around inside my head. The bikers version of meditation, or a close approximation thereof. And yesterday I revisited those old feelings. I fired up Bikebike II, and headed off down the road.
The thing about riding alone is that you have to be self sufficient. You have to have the ability to self diagnose problems with your bike, should they happen when you are on the road. The ability to carry out minor fixes depends on you having a reasonable number of tools and parts carried on board. Mobile phones, while ubiquitious these days, are not necessarily within coverage area, especially when you start taking the path less travelled. Hence, bike preparation before a ride is paramount.
Ensuring that your fluids are topped up, the chain, if you have one, is in adjustment and lubed. That the tyres are inflated, and not showing signs of abnormal wear. That the engine isn’t making worrisome sounds. Everything should be tight, and buttoned up. Small preventive measures, like taking a walk around your bike before starting off, lookign at everything with a critical eye, can save an immeasureable amount of grief later. The last thing you want is the bike failing you, especially in the middle of a speed run.
I got to the sanctuary, and met up with the head of the sanctuary, Mr. N. I have to preserve his anonymity, because Mr. N. is a government servant, and bound the the government’s Standing Orders with regards to making statements in the media. He is aware of this website, although he does not visit it. But I know that the Elephant Man does.
I dropped by to take a quick look at Mados, who was asleep in his pen. I didn’t want to disturb him, so I just watched him quietly for a minute, and walked off to get a drink. The circus was in full swing yesterday. The clerk at the counter told me that the sanctuary received well over 300 visitors yesterday afternoon. I walked around, and took some pics of the elephants in the enclosure.
Sunbathing elephant
I had a very long conversation with Mr. N., about his plans for the sanctuary, and the problems he is facing as head of the place. Politics, as always, rears it’s head whenever people sniff out an opportunity for themselves, as opposed to helping out because they can. As Elephant Man is fond of saying, “Give and forget”. Don’t give to seek some personal or professional gain.
I headed back out after a heavy rainshower. I decided to wait out the rain, because I had neglected to bring my rain suit with me. About 15 minutes after the rain started, Mr. N. was informed by his staff that a large rubber tree had fallen across the road leading into the sanctuary.
The sanctuary staff headed out with chainsaws and machetes to get the road cleared up. The one thing I have noticed in the elephant sanctuary is that the staff are ever ready to help out. Clearing that road wasn’t their job, but waiting for the relevant authorities to come in and do so would mean that the only road leading into and out of the sanctuary would be closed. Hence the sanctuary’s unspoken philosophy about “helping themselves, to help others.” And all this is done without expectation of recognition or recompense.
The run back to the city was done at very high speed, in the rain. I was late, because I had delayed my departure, and waiting for the tree to be cleared hadn’t helped matters any. I ducked behind Bikebike II’s tiny screen, and tried to make myself as comfortable as I could in the wet and cold. One of the little ZZR’s deficiencies became very apparent as I barrelled down the highway at about 160 km/h. The backwash from the buses and trucks was making the bike wobble and shift position, sometimes rather alarmingly, when overtaking. The lack of weight, and squidly tyres, along with a wet road, was playing havoc with Bikebike II’s roadholding.
I considered slowing down, which I had to do at certain sections where roadworks were carried out. But I pressed on, doing a non-stop run, door-to-door. The only time I stopped was at a toll plaza about halfway, when the horn went off. I guess the horn must have shorted out in the rain. I pulled over by the side, reached past the yokes, and yanked the horn wires out. I didn’t even bother getting off the bike, even though the tempation ot have stretch, and rest my aching arse, was great.
I got home safely, and as I emptied the panniers, and took my helmet off the seat, I gave the little bike a pat for a valiant effort on her first solo ride with me.
- Posted in : Dances with Elephants
- Author : thesnark
Comments»
“…and yanked the horn wires out…”
Sounds just like what I would do.
Yep…forgive AND forget..thats the way it is!
Too many throw their senseless comments and critics and yet do not visit the sanctuary OR even understand what the magnificent men are doing to help elephants survive in the wilds and at the sanctuary and yet too few come forward to actually dirtied their hands to help out.
The rig for little Mados will greatly make his current situatian many times better as well as for future rescues of small elephants trapped in moats, traps and natural holes.
PLEASE… pass the good word around, save some money and help us build the rig soonest possible as little Mados has the look of a beaten little elephant
Elephant is a beautiful word…
Everyone, please meet forestgump, a.k.a. the Elephant Man. He feels very passionately about elephants, and does not suffer fools gladly. This man has eaten dirt in far off places, about things that you will never ever read about in the news. He has my utmost respect.
…and I respect & vouch for The Elephant Man.
ANd those who knows me…knows that I don’t vouch easily for people.
hMx a.k.a Keith Khoo
hey, I saw an article on the elephant sanctuary that you went to in today’s The Star Metro center page. They mentioned about Mr. N and Mados and what they are doing there. I think its a good publicity. Now I know where the sanctuary is, kind of, I’ll try to plan for a one day trip together my gang to meet some elephants.
Vincester : Let me know when. I’ll meet up with you.
sure sure..i’ll let you know once the plan is out.