Just limping along

The Beast, promising adventures and open roads ...

A year-and-a-half ago I bought a beautiful, battered Yamaha XT350 from a missionary who was leaving the country. The old nag had done her fair share of hard labour it seems – like an old cart horse just plodding along towards retirement. But I nicknamed her "Killer" and “the Beast", hoping a strong name would spur her on to a few more years of dedicated service.

I bought her bright funky stickers and a lockup box for the back, replaced her brakes and had a new red saddle stitched.

But after a few months in my stable she was in serious need of a service, because of a strange rattle in the engine, and way too much white smoke emanating from the exhaust. The staff at the reputable bike shop downtown was incredibly friendly and very helpful, but this is Madagascar - parts were manufactured and scrounged, and after rebuilding the engine she was put back together with the same seals, the same gaskets, and a whole lot of hope. 

Months later when I found hot oil spraying onto my left foot whenever I went beyond my little neighbourhood, I took her back in for a service. Once again the parts couldn't be sourced, but work was done and I was assured she was right as rain. But, unfortunately, she's not. She is still haemorrhaging oil and almost asphyxiates my neighbours and me with her clouds of white exhaust fumes every morning when I coax her awake.

She’s looking more and more like I feel right now – a bit sorry for herself.  The Beast is limping; Killer still has some bite, but I fear the worst ...

I don't know what I would have done without her and so (sadly), in honour of the old girl, I share this poem (based on one I wrote on Facebook when she was in the shop having her innards worked on last year) - 

Stripped of most stickers ... and limping

Ode to an old friend

She's taken me places, 

has whispered about adventure, 

wind in the hair (!) 

and wide open spaces 

yet to be discovered...

She's stubborn. 

She's irritated me, 

with her old-girl eccentric quirks

but in the end she's served me well – 

with a growl, grunt and roar 

about how we should live our lives – 

Loudly.

But now, 

Staggering,

Suffering from severe smoker's cough ...

And broken apart ... 

By a country that knows how... 

The Beast is on her last legs. 

The Old Girl has eternity in her eyes... 

I'll miss you my old friend, my trusty steed

When you go ... for good

[Insert tears here]

Oily, dirty, leaking, but still going...