Mass exodus to York and back

I have been to York and back on my bike, and HELL YEAH, what a great ride! It couldn't have been a more perfect day for a long one - it had clouded up and drizzled a little in the morning, but gave way to sunshine and mild warmth after we got out of the city limits.

There were 5 of us that left early from work. 3 guys on big bikes, me and another guy who rides a GT250R as well. I got well and truly left behind as they all flew off down the twisty road after the main turnoff on Great Eastern Hwy. I was going the limit and above pretty much the whole way there - something which felt surprisingly comfortable, thanks to properly warmed tyres (never happened before).

But the wind! It was mad, slap-you-all-over-the-road wind. I've never encountered wind like that, and certainly not at 120 km/h. It was like driving a one-man rollercoaster. Keeping the bike going where i wanted it to go was literally a consistent all-over physical endeavour. I can't even imagine what it would be like at 140 - 160 km/h that the rest were going. One day i'll find out, but it wasn't going to be today.

But what a feeling though. The others were out of sight for most of the main stretch into York, so there i was on my own on a mercifully uncrowded road, whisking between the shadows cast by the waving trees on a twisting road. Thrum of the engine under me, everything that is me rushing down the road, balanced on 2 rubber hoops and a motor encased in plastic. Miles of open road, endless fields fuzzed in lines like a Van Gogh creation by the speed...

It was incredible. Crazy wonderful incredible. Alive.

On the way back they stopped to let me catch up, so we could ride the highway back into the city as a group (which i can do. 110 and under is no problem, it's when it gets too much above that i start to feel unsure). Coming in to the urban traffic flow with a completely different perspective on my place in this metal, carbon monoxide spewing river flow; it felt like i'd shed some karma and been bumped a little closer to nirvana. My little bike was rumbling happily like a champion, after that cleaning-out her engine had been given.