07/05/2017
Wheels and Waves is a rider's event. There are things to see and do, but those things are difficult to reach, or remote. Unless, of course, you have a motorbike.
Such was the case with the Art Ride. Located in Basque Country, it was some 40 miles from Biarritz. Crossing from France to Spain doesn't have any border restrictions--but the language changes. Even with Bluetooth in the helmet, it's a serious challenge to deal with traffic in roundabouts and best-guess what word matches what you're hearing in the speakers. It's not an easy jaunt.
We got to it having to use the highway, which is not the proper asphalt for a motorbike. Coming back we wanted something else. Idling by the side of the road, we tried to figure a better route, and it wasn't going well.
Then, suddenly appeared an apparition on a BMW. With fervored Aussie energy, he inquired if we were heading back to Biarritz. We were. He had the map set, Bluetooth running, and was all about the coastline view on the way back. He said his name was Robbie, and we all agreed to fuel up in Spain. And with that, we were gone.
The ride back was insane. Flat out white-lining through traffic, leaving sweat on oncoming busses, jumping curbs, and never stopping. It was a whirlwind ride worthy of the best GoPro video, with fantastic (if slightly blurred) views of quaint villages and crashing waves along the coast.
We made the ride back in an absurdly short time. And then he was gone.
I don't use a GoPro, and certainly didn't take my hands off the grips but once: this image is the only proof that the Aussie navigation angel existed. Im pretty sure that if he was real at all, he was . And if that's right, thanks Robbie for an awesome ride!
