Tuesday 28 November 2023

The Maiden Voyage of Ramalama and Shakalaka

There two young bicycles, Ramala and Shakalaka, identical twins they are.

In order to tell them apart one needs a Ding Dong, the other a Boom boom. 

Itching and twitching to seek out adventure and wild roguery, to discover their true identities they gathered their necessities for the road and left propelled by their peanut powered riders (that's us that is).

For days through soggy wet sand they cycled. The wind and the rain in their faces, the sand in their bearings and rainbows to greet them at the end of each day.

They arrived in Rennes at La Petite Rennes where Ramalama found a Ding Dong and Shakalaka picked up a rear view mirror.

Oh the joy! We are begining to tell them apart! 

 

It rained and it rained and it rained. The wind blew and it blew and it blew in their faces. All the way from Rennes to Belin Beliet and all the other places.

Soggy wet picnics and flasks of hot tea kept us going! 


Gilbert, the hero who escaped from the clutches of the thieves!

He is happy to be dry and on the road again, flitter fluttering in the wind, enjoying the views.

Aaah the open road! It leads... Where does it lead? He doesn't know yet.

 

Wherever they stopped, Rama and Lama, Shaka and Laka attracted the attention of cute little kitty cats!

Things are looking up! 

Two cats! Two punctures!? Is there a link? We can't find one. But it is certain that our twins will need a tyre upgrade before too long. 

The wind it was outrageous! The storm raged and the trees fell, scattered across our paths. Over and over again we took detours and carried Ramalama and Shakalaka over the debris and the trunks. 

 As always, here the random bicycle art. Some abandoned night club graffiti and an impressively stylish retro cyclo accessoires logo. 

 Hop hop, back on the road!

We are always looking out for signs of the elk society. Beuglons en coeur! Bellow with all your hearts!

Giants will walk the earth once again! 

The signs lead us on for 3 weeks and 3 days. A total of 1214km in 21 days of cycling, mostly in the rain, 3 days of sheltering from the storm and a couple of days rest to give our little bottoms some relief from breaking in saddles.

We have visited old friends, made many new friends and discovered new places to do our show come spring.

But for now we have arrived at our winter quarters. 


When they don't have chores to do like fetching water and going shopping, Ramalama and Shalkalaka are safely tucked away at the bottom of the stairs. 

Our legs have been stretched back into walking position, we have gathered our senses and Sylvia is in the directors chair ready for the remaking of Jonny Jeegante & The Bici Benshi. 

 

And where is Kevin you might ask!?

He is  in the dressing room, dreaming of the all singing and dancing Carmen Munchita Cabaret.

But more about that another time.