Please, don’t ask me why

Boys definitely grow up faster than girls. In fact, most girls never grow up.

Now, now, put down your pepper spray and let me explain: When boys are little, they go through the “why” phase. Every statement they hear is questioned. You must eat your vegetables. Why? So that you can grow up to be big and strong. Why? So that you can get a good job. Why? So that you can marry a beautiful girl and provide for her. Why? So that …

But then, one day, they no longer ask why. Because they grow up and they know why.

Women, however, never seem to reach the stage when they know why.

I was reminded of this – continually for the entire weekend, I should add – when the one that wears the pants and I went to the Impala motorcycle rally near Harties.

It started en route already when a group of bikers came flying past, one elegantly overtaking me at break-neck speed, on his back wheel only, while saluting the fact that I had moved over to give him more space.

“Why do they do that?” she asked.

I immediately explained that doing a wheelie at 160km/h requires a certain skill set. Doing it around a bend, while overtaking a car with oncoming traffic, is a different kind of challenge altogether. Giving the biker that extra 30 centimeters deserves a salute and he obliged.

“No. I mean why do they wheelie?”

Because they’re grown-ups. And grown-ups can do as they please.

Arriving at the Hartbeespoort Holiday Resort, we were greeted by the usual frenetic action. It’s a constant cacophany of music, revving motorcycles, burnouts and more revving.

Owning a motorcycle is very much like owning a parachute. One takes one’s parachute, straps it to your back, and jumps out of a plane.

If one owns a machine capable of hitting 11,000 rpm that can spin until the back tyre literally bursts, well, then it’s obviously the grown-up thing to do. Duh.

Danie Toerien

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