South of France, Pt 5

Today was dedicated to the motorcycle. I grew surprisingly fond of the Harley today, but more on that in a minute.

I knew I wanted to go to Antibes and possibly Cannes, but from there, I essentially just picked points on a map that looked like they had fun roads and nice countryside, connected the dots from there, and went about my merry way. Riding straight up (down? west, anyway) the coast, as close to the beach as possible, takes you through Nice along the Promenade des Anglais, through several indistinguishable and easily forgettable resort towns and to Antibes. Antibes is supposed to be beautiful, which it is, but I didn't explore it much. While I do like rolling solo, exploration of cities is much more fun with a travel companion.

I got to play a new game today I like to call, "Where in the absolute fuck am I?" I enjoyed the game so thoroughly that I played it several times, each time in a different location. Cities are kind of a foreign concept to me navigation wise - even in the US - and Cannes was no exception. Nevertheless, I found my way out and to the countryside, where everything makes much more sense and one feels less like a rat in a maze.

This is where the Harley and I really bonded. I was given ample opportunity to really wind it out, and I did, and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it to the point that I'd now say that I "get" the Harley thing, to a large degree, even if it's not where I hang my hat. Blasting through small villages with the pipes rumbling, bobbing through gentle turns with one hand on the tiller, waving back at the pretty French girls, it is impossible not to feel astoundingly alive. There were several points during my ride today where I realized that I was grinning like Lenny with his stupid rabbit. No fucks given, screw on the speed, both hands, drag that foot peg around the turns, passing truck after truck after truck.

The Ducatis and the real sport bike guys had no problem getting around me, of course, as is their right - I would do the exact same thing. I'm still very much a sport bike enthusiast. However, while I may have gone faster and hit those apexes just right on my Fireblade, I'm here to tell you that it wouldn't have been nearly as visceral and thoroughly fun an experience as I had today.

Valbonne, Roquefort-les-pins, La Colle-sur-Loup - these are among the towns I passed through. They're all charming little places loaded with history and ancient churches, the very picture of the French country village. Of course, some have been scarred with hideous new additions, but that is life. The essence remains.

I return the bike tomorrow morning, and then I'll be on a plane around dawn on Saturday. No St. Paddy's day celebrations for me.

I made some new friends last night whom I will be going out with again this evening... rowdiness level: last real night in France. Shit's gonna get weird, fam.