Episode 67 : Where every bloke knows my name

A year ago, I took off on my first ever bike ride out of Madras. To nearby Mahabalipuram on a Splendor, then my only riding partner.

The feeling of having nothing to do, nothing to contribute when others regaled stories of their weekend jaunts, had begun to drag me down. I did not want to be at home on both days of the weekend. I claimed my friends were in places other than Madras, which left me a group of people whose interests and mine rarely overlapped. And overlapped just to make it worthwhile once in a while.

I digress.

On a sunny April morning in 2005, I took off on my bike. The ride was a change, but something still felt wrong. I sought company of like-minded people, but I was doing things alone. I lamented my inability to make friends, to find the right kind of people.

Two things happened then. One was the decision to get myself another bike just for travelling, but I hadn't decided which one. Another was a post by a friend on an anniversary ride of a biking club. And that settled things for me.

I began bike hunting in May. I bought a Thunderbird in June. I joined the MBMC two weeks later.

In July, I rode with the club to Belum in Andhra Pradesh. With the RTMC, we explored the underground caves in Belum.

We rode around Madras in August to celebrate 365 years of its existence.

We rode to Yercaud in October to celebrate another anniversary of RTMC's existence. I returned with a broken jaw.

I recovered and then RiderMania happened in January this year.

We rode to Pondicherry in March.

And then to Yelagiri Hills two weeks later. Just to have biryani at Vaniyambadi.

We are going to Coonoor at the end of this month. To celebrate another anniversary of MBMC's existence.

It is a year since I thought of making an effort to find the right people. To find people who know not just my name.

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows your name.

You wanna go where people know,
People are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows your name.

Today I can say I have found them.

Cheers!