Can past love be kick-started after years on the road?
The Real Mackay by Dan Mackay
I’m learning to let go, and move on. Actually, it was easier than I imagined. Despite having been through so much together.
I’d known her for many years and we went everywhere together; out there on our adventures in all weathers, and all year round.
We were inseparable. It was a bond like no other. And then that fateful day when she had a catastrophic breakdown and things were never the same again.
I don’t mind saying, and please don’t think me superficial, she’d been a right looker in her day. But, with the years, came the inevitable wear and tear. I’m not so shallow to say that appearances are everything but I did encourage her, I will admit, to try and keep up appearances. But, ultimately, she lost her drive. Literally. Or, more specifically for a Yamaha XVS 650, the splines on her mating teeth and hub pinion on the final drive unit simply wore out.
I did everything to try and rebuild her but new replacement parts and surgery was just too expensive. And then I managed to source some perfectly good, albeit used prosthetics, from a garage on the Muir of Ord and, hey presto, she sprang back to life again. But I never did see her in the same light.
I’d had her for more than 20 years. We had clocked up many thousands of miles together touring every corner of the Highlands and Islands. We had passed through the Western Isles on three occasions. It was inspiring!
I had been endeavouring to pen a book about the meaning of life, but The Motorcycle Musings of a Mad Dog, a Highland version of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, never did get written. And I never did discover what the key to the whole shebang was.
But there is a happy ending to this story. Although, during the intervening period I had fallen in love with another Yamaha Drag Star, this time a ‘classic’ version – she moved like a burlesque dancer.
Funny how a chance conversation can set off a chain reaction which led another local biker with his own cherished stable getting in touch. And Jock, from Latheronwheel, a wild child legend in his day, turned up and a deal was done. The old gal has gone to a good home.
Jock, a real petrolhead, soon had that old Drag Star purring sweetly and running as smoothly as a sprinting cheetah. He must have the magic touch.
It is said that in his day Jock was a fan for the mustelidae. Nothing dodgy. He just liked ferrets and would take one in a cage as a pillion passenger to all the rallies. That and a dead rabbit.
Now the same Jock seems to be expressing an interest in my current Drag Star classic. His sheds in Latheronwheel are said to home about 20 motorbikes – sounds more like a harem. I mean how many does a guy need?
I wonder if he will entertain a swap?
Have I got it in me to let go one more time? To try anew one more time?
It’s Valentine’s Day, maybe I’m being too sensitive.