The Harley Chronicles

First Things

“Thursday. As early in the morning as you can make it”

It was Monday, January 7, 2008. Ginny wanted to know when to set up the appointment with the lawyer to discuss the developer encroachment upon Holly Hill, my parents’ old property. The lawyer was in Fairfax and I was already thinking ahead.

Jon had called me on Friday to let me know that my bike had shipped that day from the Harley factory in York. After four months of impatient waiting, periodic calls and visits to the dealership, a December build date that had happened on schedule, and increasingly worrying about winter weather as we moved into January, my new Harley was almost here. Jon didn’t know when exactly it would arrive at the dealership – that depended upon the driver’s route – but it should be in any day. Jon averred that I should be riding it by next Saturday.

Optimistically, I put in for vacation on Thursday and Friday. And my instructions to Ginny to make the appointment with the lawyer as early in the morning as possible on Thursday were to give us enough time to get down to Orange afterwards, should the stars align.

Sometimes a plan comes together.

I got the call Wednesday afternoon. The one I had been waiting all this time for. Jon called my cell phone to tell me that the service department was setting up my bike as we spoke, and that I could probably pick it up that evening if I wanted. I was just heading into a can’t-miss two-hour meeting at work and I flashed through the possibilities of getting home in time for Ginny and I to get down there before they closed.

The calculation didn’t take long. Not going to happen.

But that momentary disappointment was more than offset by the knowledge that my bike was here, was ready, and that I’d be picking it up tomorrow. I do confess to having a tough time concentrating during that meeting!

We were finished with the lawyer the next morning by 11. As we drove back to Warrenton from Fairfax, the sky darkened and finally began spitting a few rain drops. I had hoped to beat the incoming front but that clearly wasn’t going to happen. It would be a wet ride back home.

No matter.

I already had all my gear together – both my riding stuff and the paperwork I’d need. So we were only home for ten minutes – long enough to change clothes – before we were back in the car and on our way to Orange. A final forty five minutes of delicious anticipation.

Jon met us at the door. I introduced him to Ginny, who after a couple minutes of looking around, and making sure I had everything I needed, headed back out to the car. No reason for her to hang around while I did all the paperwork. “Be careful riding home”, she said, giving me a hug.

Yeah, I got me a good one…

Back to the business at hand, Jon handed me a nicely made cloth shopping bag with some goodies in it. Then he walked me down to Accessories, where he handed me off to one of the gals in that department.

“What size t-shirt do you wear”, she asked, disappearing into a back room to return with a black Waugh’s shirt in extra large. After laughing that I didn’t need any other accessories just right then, she walked me over to Service.

“Come on back”, smiled Kevin Fincham, leading me behind the counter and through the door to the interior bay where a dozen or so bikes were lined up.

My heart leapt at the first sight of this long-awaited motorcycle. In the preceding months, since placing the order, I had had more than one occasion of doubt. The Pearl Gold White is not a common color choice and I wondered more than once if perhaps I shouldn't have gotten the Vivid Black instead.

Any doubts evaporated as soon as I saw it. It was beautiful!

During the next ten minutes Kevin walked around the bike, showing me this and that. Most of it was similar to my other bikes and so there weren’t any real surprises. But like missing the words of a pretty girl because you’re so smitten by her presence, I did have a little bit of trouble paying close attention.

It truly was a striking motorcycle.

Back upstairs, I was handed off to one of the ladies who take care of the purchase paperwork – tag and title, insurance, payment and financing. In twenty minutes we had all that squared that away. Kevin popped his head in the door and she handed him the fresh tag. He disappeared to make that final addition to my new bike.

I’ve bought a bunch of new bikes in my time. But this was easily the most pleasant motorcycle purchase I’ve ever made. Waugh’s left no stone unturned in making the whole process a memorably positive experience.

Gathering up all my riding gear, I shook Jon’s hand one last time and walked around the side of the building to Service. My bike was parked outside, by itself, under the awning. The light drizzle continued, but I didn’t care. The moment I had waited for for so long had finally arrived

I fought the feeling of urgency to get underway, to do this thing. I took my time stowing my gear, taking a few moments to retrieve the Nikon DSLR I had brought along and taking a few photos of the virgin machine. Then taking my time in zipping into my Aerostich Darien pants and jacket. Finally donning my full-face Arai helmet.

The magic began as soon as I thumbed the starter.