Manifesting. A fascinating concept. Translating thought into reality. Done quickly and without a lot of ‘set up’ and planning. A beautiful idea. Which is of course why it is the way things work. It is the dance of the universe. Life happens because we say so. When we do not hedge our bets by keeping a foot planted on the brake whilst we lean on the accelerator…

About a month ago I had a few ‘hits’ that getting back on a Motorbike would be a good thing to do. I did my basic motorbike training in the UK about 20 years back. I do not know if the system in the UK remains the same but in those days you did your basic license on a 125cc, and then it was a whole new training to go up into the unrestricted class. I did the basic and was wistfully thinking of moving up and then a whole lot of other life swung into motion resulting in moving to Canada, exiting from Academia, Marrying, starting a family. You know. Life stuff.

Then I learned to fly and sorta kinda forgot about biking.

Then I sorta kinda got reminded about it. A few friends have got into biking over the last year or so. A few weeks back my eldest arrived home on the back of a friends’ bike as their whole family (who shall henceforth just be referred to as ‘the gang’) showed up on their bikes. Images and reminders kept showing up. And then a fully-developed vision involving arriving at a retreat in late September at Chilliwack Lake on a bike, and a corporate coaching gig involving showing up on a bike and stirring up seven distinct kinds of shit as coach before riding away into the sunset whilst the dust settles and the transformation just wrought from pure possibility and daring to speak without fear takes hold.

I took the hint.

So I make a first inquiry about getting some solid training and the options available. Nothing until August in Victoria. Hmmm… Looks like that will clash with my August road trip plans.

I put it on the back-burner for a couple of weeks.

Then two weeks ago I decide to book for August anyway and see if maybe there is a cancellation that would get me into training earlier. That was on monday.

Tuesday morning Vancouver Island Safety Council – the training organization – calls me and asks if I am up for doing their Novice course the next weekend – like in 4 days time. A very late cancellation had just happened. Of course I said yes.

I had borrowed the test preparation booklet from a friend a couple of weeks before and had not yet cracked the cover. I sat down and read it cover to cover in 2 hours (thanks Academia for the skills of focus and getting to the point…) The next morning I wrote and aced my learners’ test. Friday I bought a helmet (not skimping on safety gear). Saturday morning I was with eight others training in a parking lot at a local college (Camosun for my Victoria chums…). Oh yes…

On the sunday afternoon I bought a bike; 9,000kms – garaged – great shape… 2005 Suzuki GS500F. Yup that is 4x the CCs I first trained on, twice what I was doing my skills training on. Followed my nose straight into a beautiful deal for what I had budgetted for more of a bike than I imagined.

By the following friday I had added all the extra gear I felt I needed. Even though my prized leather jacket has now been christened on a bike – sometimes being seen and armoured (not just tres-cool and scuff-resistant) is the way to go…

Sunday I passed my skills test (MSA). Yesterday I lifted the restrictions off my class 6 Learners license. I booked my road test for August 15th. Traffic training next weekend. And an hour out on the bike each day this week to get ready.

My hill-starts need work. At least on the bike.

Part of me is wondering what the hell is going on. The other part of me is going – ahh – this is how life is meant to be. Look where you want to go. Lean in. Make it happen. Ease. Flow. Grace.

I know biking is not for everyone or in their comfort zones. My very recent experience is it interrupting the flow of a developing relationship. A very open conversation discovered that it and bikes would not mix. Ah well… Just a pop-quiz from the universe to test my resolve in following the compass of my desires and fears – which often point in the same direction…

What next?

And who will come with me?

Adendum

30th June 2017: Got back at 5pm from my Traffic Training Course with Vancouver Island Safety Council. A weekend spent on a Honda GSX (fun!) with a group of others developing their skills and stretching into being safe, skillful riders under the tutelage of excellent dedicated enthusiastic instructors. Was stoked enough after eight hours rider training to get on my own bike and spend another hour stretching myself. What a day!