I'm taking an interest
in T. E. Lawrence at the moment for a variety of reasons, not the least
his motorcycling exploits. Here in a letter he describes the likely
outcome of a ride on his latest Brough Superior.
Correspondence with Bernard and Charlotte Shaw 1922-1926 (Woodgreen Common, Castle Hill Press)
Lawrence
was in Edinburgh in August 1926 visiting Bartholemew's, the famous
map-makers, who were producing a map for his Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
Tomorrow
morning I will see them and tomorrow afternoon I will be in Cranwell.
It takes 7 1/2 hours, on Boanerges,* going respectably. The
respectability is mine. Boanerges would go madly, if I would. Alas,
surely I grow old. Again and again, this morning, when we came to a
piece of road which invited ninety, I patted his tank and murmured
“Seventy only, old thing”, and kept to it. The excuse I gave myself was
that Edinburgh was a long way and that there must be no open throttle
ona long journey. Indeed that was once my maxim: but today I kept the
maxim without being vexed thereby: and that is significant. Or is it
only that I have ridden too many hundreds of miles this last week?
*Lawrence
called his first motorcycle “Boanerges,” a name given to the apostles
John and James by Jesus. It means: Son of Thunder.
© John Dunn.
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