It had been 15 years since I found myself suddenly divorced and carrying a 30 kg bag of Quikrete on my chest. Back then I had turned my attention for the first time to motorcycling, and to a cross-country odyssey in particular: Wouldn’t it be cool to ride my newto-me Suzuki Marauder 800 across the Golden Gate Bridge? And maybe heal a little?
Life and recovery began taking me places I could not have foreseen, much less orchestrated including, over time, a new partner, a larger family, and the tiniest involvement in the motorcycle industry. To now be retracing my journey up the Pacific Coast Highway felt both a little triumphant and entirely different. This was part of a long-term test ride of Suzuki’s V-Strom 800DE, an all-new adventure steed, and I was awash in gratitude.
Sunny skies saw me rolling north through Malibu, where I ogled the towering palms and savoured the salty air. The PCH hugged the scenic coast, but because a row of expensive homes with expensive views left the rest of us nothing to see but their expensive garage doors, I detoured east at Pepperdine University.
OCEAN COMFORT TO CANYON HEAT
Malibu Canyon Road twisted and rose rapidly from sea level to 300 metres as two jubilant riders on sports bikes blew past me, trying to scuff their
