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In Search of a Cinzano Umbrella

I was 43 years of age, staying in a Gite in France with another family. We are doing what we always do – walking around a local market in the sun. We decide to go for a coffee. We find a nice café, tables outside with Cinzano umbrellas up to shade us from the sun. Sitting near us are 2 bikers, leather jackets draped over their bikes It takes me back (a long way) to when I used to ride. Pack a tent and a toothbrush and just take off for the weekend, the good old days eh?

I take a look at the bikes, a big Yamaha, and a Honda that looks like the sort the police ride in the UK except it’s a deep green colour. I like this one, its got fitted panniers and looks like it will tour all day. I wouldn’t mind a dose of that! What a dream that would be! It says Pan European on the side panels so I presume that’s what it was built for?

Its 10 years later ……………

You get past 50 and somebody drops a big, metaphorical, stone on your head. In my case it was blocked arteries leading to Heart Bypass Surgery. – You wake up after that! Smell the coffee! Feel less immortal!

You start to get silly ideas about big journeys on big motorcycles, maybe travelling around France and the Spanish Pyrenees…………

Hmm? I’ve got a big, red motorcycle, sitting doing nothing, in my driveway, Oh and I’ve got the time as well. That sounds fairly easy to do. I could beef it up a bit by camping all the way…………

All my friends think I’m mad (midlife crisis or what?). Some are worried, some wish it where them………..

Well, I’m 7 days into now, camped by a mountain stream in the Pyrenees, drinking a cup of tea at 7.30 in the morning, watching the sun come up over the mountains…….

I think I’ll go for a ride on my motorcycle today……………………….

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