Motor-bike ride to Kandy from Colombo

 

The motor-bike ride to Kandy from Colombo.

Derryck owned a powerful NSU motorbike during our medical student days. It along with Karthigesu's BMW motorbike and Sella's Triumph Tiger 100, were marvels of  engineering at that time. One day Derryck announced to all and sundry that he was going up to Kandy from Colombo, on his motorbike. An equally jolly Karalliedde wanted a lift on the pillion of the bike. They took off and got to the outskirts of Colombo, and the old Kelaniya bridge was crossed with Karals getting mildly anxious at the way Derryck was riding the bike, through congested traffic.

The journey was estimated to take about  two hours. Once passed the Kelaniya bridge Derryck picked up speed. No helmets were worn those days. The more Derryck picked speed, the more anxious Karals got. He hung on for  dear life anticipating  a spill on the road  any moment. Speed traps were unheard of in the  1960s and Derryck was more confident of the road-holding ability of his bike, with the extra load of Karals behind him. Overtaking heavy vehicles in a jiffy, Derryck pushed on, appreciating more and more the power and pick-up of the engine of his bike. Half way they stopped for tea and a much relieved Karals, pleaded with Derryck to take it  easy on the road. Derryck laughed it off in his usual style. Now came the steep climb with many sharp bends, on the road to Kadugannawa. After tea they came to  the parked motor bike. One touch on the self starter button and the engine came to life with a soft purr. It responded  to a twist on the throttle with no misfire. Derryck remarked  ' Machan, the engine is running beautifully'. A very resigned Karals told Derryck to take it  easy on the climb up to Kandy, where the road was tricky to drive on. They got  back on the highway and the speed gradually picked up. The sharp bends were taken at  speed, with the trousers covering the bent  knees  scraping the side walk. Karals hung on for dear life and committed himself to the Gods for their safe keeping. They passed the row of cars, parked by the side of the road, cooling their engines after the  climb. The NSU's engine was performing like a charm. Through the famous rock tunnel at Kadugannawa they flashed by and barrelled through Kadugannawa town. They later crossed the Peradeniya bridge and stopped at Getambe where Karals dropped some extra money, thanking the Gods for having given him a safe journey. A few minutes later, Karals was dropped at his home. The ever laughing  Derryck shouted out 'Machan, when are you getting back to Colombo?' meaning  to give him a lift back on his NSU. Karals replied that he was not sure when and waved Derryck good-bye after  thanking  him for the ride. More than 50 years later Karals gets the shivers when he recalls that motor bike ride with Derryck.This time it is accompanied by a big laugh recalling the risks taken.