Sometimes you don’t need to go particularly far to get away from everything. I was feeling a wee bit down with life and the weather was far too nice to sit in the house thinking about it, so I got Lora out and we disappeared into Galloway Forest Park for a while.

The forest is only about 12 miles from my house, which is one of the things I love about living here. Within a relatively short ride I can be surrounded by mountains, forests and almost nobody else. Add some of my favourite music and Lora underneath me and that’s sometimes all I need to freshen the senses and calm the soul a little.

Into Galloway

After getting petrol I headed out along the Straiton road, past Grimmet Hill and over the pass towards Straiton. There had been another wildfire in the area, which was a slightly less pleasant thing to see, but otherwise it was a beautiful day for riding. The further I went, the quieter everything became, and before long I was leaving the villages behind and heading properly into the forest.

This was also the first longer ride I’d done with Lora since getting her back on the road. Our first ride had only been a couple of miles and the trip into Ayr for her MOT had been more about getting somewhere and making sure she passed. This time there wasn’t really anywhere I needed to be. I could just ride.

And I was starting to feel comfortable on her again.

Getting My Confidence Back

The new tyres were beginning to scrub in by now, which made quite a difference. On our first ride they had felt like ice and I barely wanted to lean Lora at all. They were starting to feel much better now and I was gradually becoming more confident in the corners.

I’m still taking my time. Four years away is four years away and I’m not interested in pretending I can immediately jump back on a superbike and ride exactly as I did before. But every time I take Lora out, a little bit more comes back naturally and I think I’m beginning to stop analysing everything I’m doing quite so much.

Lora herself was running beautifully. No problems, no dramas, just mile after mile through some amazing scenery. I was very proud of her.

Lora and Scotland

Once I climbed further into Galloway Forest Park, this became one of those rides where the scenery was really the whole point. The roads disappear between huge hills, forests and glens and there are stretches where you genuinely feel as though you’re in the middle of nowhere. There were logging areas, piles and piles of timber and, naturally, the occasional idiot driver to remind me that civilisation hadn’t completely disappeared.

But most of the time it was just me, Lora and Galloway.

I think Lora looks particularly beautiful running through this scenery. There’s something about an old green ZX-9R against the mountains and forests that just works. Lora and Scotland seem to complement each other rather well, although I may be slightly biased. 💞

I stopped for a drink at one point and discovered she’d also managed to get herself filthy. Dirty feck. 😂 Apparently that didn’t take long.

Deeper Into the Forest

I carried on through the big hills towards Shalloch on Minnoch and Stinchar Bridge, and this was really where the ride became what I’d needed that day. There was no particular objective and nothing I had to achieve. I wasn’t chasing a destination or trying to cover some enormous distance. I was simply out riding my motorcycle through Galloway on a beautiful day.

Sometimes that’s enough.

Life can get on top of you occasionally and sitting at home thinking about everything doesn’t necessarily make it any better. For me, getting outside does. Riding through scenery like this, listening to music I love and concentrating on the road gives my brain something completely different to do for a couple of hours. The problems haven’t magically disappeared when I get home, obviously, but they don’t feel quite as loud anymore.

That’s one of the reasons these little adventures matter to me.

Still Experimenting With the Microphones

I was also continuing my experiments with the DJI Mics. I’d more or less sorted the helmet microphone problem from the previous video, so at least this time I managed to record myself properly.

The microphone underneath Lora’s seat was another matter. I’d forgotten to take the toolkit out, so that was rattling around and making a wee bit of noise. There was also still some resonance coming through from the drivetrain. Lora had a brand-new chain and the cush drive was slightly out of balance after I’d had everything apart, so the microphone was exaggerating noises that aren’t really noticeable when you’re actually sitting on the bike.

As the chain stretches and beds in it should settle down, and I’ll readjust it at the weekend. The microphone positioning is definitely getting better though. Slowly.

Just What I Needed

By the time I headed home I’d covered about 34 miles and been out for around two hours. Again, it wasn’t some enormous expedition. Galloway Forest Park is practically on my doorstep and I hadn’t even travelled particularly far from home.

But that wasn’t the point.

I’d gone out feeling a wee bit down and returned feeling much better. I’d spent a couple of hours with Lora, ridden through some epic Scottish scenery, listened to music and watched the mountains and forests pass by. The tyres were beginning to feel better, my confidence was coming back and Lora had completed her first proper longer ride without a single issue.

Four years is a long time to be without something that makes you happy. I’m starting to remember just how much I missed this.

Sometimes disappearing for a while is exactly what you need. 💞

Ride Details

Date filmed: 11 April 2025
Bike: 1998 Kawasaki ZX-9R C1 “Lora”
Location: Galloway Forest Park
Route: Dalmellington, Straiton, Galloway Forest Park, Stinchar Bridge
Distance: 34 miles
Ride time: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
Total time out: Approximately 2 hours
Items forgotten: None

Camera: DJI Osmo Action 4
Video: 4K 25fps, Wide Angle, RockSteady
Audio: DJI Mic 2 helmet and under-seat microphones
Mount: Neewer GP19 helmet chin strap mount
Edited in: Adobe Premiere Pro 2024