The countryside in May
Sheep. A ruminant animal that defines New Zealand to much of the world. The basis of our economic wealth. An efficient means of converting cellulose into useful protein for human food and warmth. The subject of many a tourist photo. A contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. An animal I know way too much about. Thank you Massey University (the real one, in Palmerston North) and the sheep and cattle sectors of New Zealand. I am unworthy and forever in your debt.
In the words of a Tui poster, it’s amazing how a ride in the countryside puts one back in touch with one’s rural heritage. More likely that too much time restricted to one’s thoughts and imagination in the confines of a Shoei helmet is deeply delusional. A state not helped by whatever that song was that you hadn’t been able to shake in the past 300km.
My my, at Waterloo Napoleon did surrender
Oh yeah, and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
The history book on the shelf
Is always repeating itself…
A great thing about a motorcycle, compared with most other forms of transportation not directly based on the shedding of human perspiration, is that it involves you in the world through which you’re travelling. Robert Persig has a better way with words that I. But to paraphrase him, motorcycling puts you in the scenery, rather than just looking at it through the windows of a cage.
But such a phenomenon does not bridge New Zealand’s growing urban/rural divide. A phenomenon that cuts both ways.
'Cause I feel too much to let you go
I'm hurting you and it's hard I know
To stay and fight for what we've got
Knowing it'll never be good enough
'Cause you and I are dangerous
We want too much and life ain't that way
Don't ask for more
You'd be a fool
Haven't we already broken every rule…
I came to a realisation yesterday, as I languidly carved some of the Rangitikei region’s better roads, that The Next Big Thing for New Zealanders is all about us. Developing a shared vision, for ourselves and the generations that will follow us, for this magnificent country we’re proud to call home and how we all should live in it. Being respectful of these wonderful, yet fragile islands, and of each other and our diversity.
This journey starts with understanding. Of ourselves, at a deeply individual level, and of the perspectives of others with whom we will be sharing this odyssey. But this voyage into the future will be painful: eggs and omelettes. And this is why many will not be keen to fully engage. Life in New Zealand is easy and creates complacency. But the lifestyles we enjoy and aspire to are not sustainable. We ignore this at our peril.
We need to have the right song in our heads for the next stage of our travels as a nation. Together.
“Jesus, Hitcher. What was all that about?” I hear you ask?
Reflections from Saturday 6 May 2006. Wellington to Taihape for coffee and jeans. Perfect autumn riding weather, not too hot or cold. No wind. Up via Shannon, Palmerston North, Colyton and Cheltenham. Home via SH1, with a detour at Levin to give Beemer $20 for her correct prognostication about the time it would take to repair a crashed ST1300. Thanks to Beemer and Mr B for the tea and hospitality. Almost exactly 500km ridden. In the words of Richie Benaud, “Marvellous!”
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Very poetic Hitcher, I think?!! 
What did he say? 
Originally Posted by Drew
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