The Man on the Motorcycle

I have often written about how much I love the random things and encounters which I experience as part of my Walking Life.

Today would only prove this further…..

After one of my Adventures, and having put the dogs back into the van which was parked in the shade, I noticed an elderly gentleman riding on an old dirt motorbike towards me through the car park, not wearing a helmet.

I was parked at the very far end of the car park completely alone and therefore it could only be me whom he was coming to greet.

I wondered if he was going to ask what I was doing there.

His beaming smile put me at ease and I greeted him by saying that his old motorbike was perfect for a day like today, and that it looked like he was having fun.

He informed me that he had seen my truck parked up several times as he lived locally and had come over out of curiosity to find out more.

We hit it off immediately and spoke about the woods, dogs, the local area, the Alps and the importance of language, amongst many other topics.

At one stage he pointed at the headphones around my neck and asked what they were. I told him that they were bone conduction headphones and it allowed me to not have anything in my ears whilst either talking on the phone or when I listen to music in my free time or running.

He explained that he usually had a hearing aid which annoyed him due to it being positioned in his ear canal.

I asked if he would like to demo my headphones, as I slipped them around his head.

A quick profiling of my new friend and I decided that he would enjoy 🎶Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones🎶

Not only did he enjoy it, but he was drumming away on his motorcycle as we continued our conversation. He even asked me to turn up the volume as he appreciated the Keith Richards guitar solo.

After an unbelievably pleasant 10 minutes or so I wished my friend a fantastic day and off he rode, helmetless, down a nearby path.

I very much doubt that it will be our last chat together.

I am a firm believer that life is about experiences over material goods. Clearly both of us left energized and smiling, having shared a social moment.

Never be afraid of strangers, they normally have a fantastic story which you have not yet heard.

Doggies: Balto, Momo and Timon