Of Flying, and Frying and, of course, ultimately Dying – but not yet.

I spent the last week in the province of Quebec, seeing the sights and drowning in music. Bikers can be other things too, writers, musicians, plumbers, blood donors and blood couriers, cops and robbers. Because I was there to listen to the first ever production of an opera written almost 200 years ago, I met several musicians and conductors. Of course none of them had ever heard of me and none of them rode bikes. I would have liked to be introduced as a writer, but what fascinated them, what they really wanted to know about, was my journey round the world. I had to work hard to get my books into the conversation. One of them, Louis Lavigueur, dashed from the dining table to bring back a newly minted copy of “Zen and the art…” which he was planning to give to a relation who did ride bikes. At last I had an opportunity to explain that I, also, had written a book. I told him that it was probably Pirsig’s book that gave me an extra boost because it was published just a year before “Jupiter’s Travels” and so far as I know it was the first book involving motorcycles that achieved critical acclaim among reviewers of literature. Up until that moment, it seems to me, anything to do with bikes left an oily smudge on the desks of book critics.

I had to admit to Louis that I had never properly finished reading Pirsig, though I had started several times. My problem was not with the writing, but with the idea of Quality being substantive rather than descriptive. Jim Martin, who does the Adventure Rider Radio Podcast, wanted to do an episode about it, but it involved my having to read it again, properly, and up to now I haven’t had time. Or maybe I did have time but was somehow reluctant. Actually though, later in the year I might feel more like it (Jim, are you listening?)

This year is a big turning point for me. At 92 I think it’s time to say goodbye to my bike, and I’m finally selling my place in California, which is going to occupy me for most of July. There are only 3 acres left of the 40 I once had but it has three houses on it, two of which I built myself, and a huge amount of stuff which will have to go because I have no room for any of it.

I will have to fly there at the beginning of the month. I’ve only just flown back from Canada. On Thursday I have to fly to England, for the Adventure Bike Rider Festival at Ragley Hall. Too much flying ain’t good for ya. I’m beginning to feel it. But I went to the rally last year, they made it very comfortable for me. And I get to sell books and meet the people who read them.

My good old XRW964M will be there, and in one of the panniers I expect to find a frying pan. Not long ago I got a message from a man whose father had just died. Apparently among the things he left was this frying pan which, he said, he had stolen from the pannier of my bike when visiting the museum in Coventry where she normally sits. The son has, he says, recently returned this frying pan. We shall see when I open the pannier.

Maybe, when enough people have crowded around next weekend, we can have a Grand Unveiling. But I don’t think they’ll let me fry an egg. Will they?

PS: The man who’s dad lifted the frying pan has just sent me a message. He’s not a biker, but he says he hopes to be there at Ragley Hall to meet me. If he does come we really must fry an egg.