West Malaysia loop ride

I keep telling myself I’m not excited.

It’s just the next instalment of something we do each year. It’ll be spontaneous. It’ll be fun. I’m looking forward to it. But excited? No, not really.

But that’s not the truth.

The truth is… I’m excited. And I’m getting more so with every passing minute. My heart races a little when I think about it. Sleep has been slightly elusive — not in a stressful way, but in that way where your mind starts riding ahead of you, playing out the curves and the places you haven’t seen yet.

It’s interesting. After so many iterations of WMLR, I’m still excited — almost as excited as the very first one. The promise of adventure never gets old. It’s irresistible.

“The promise of adventure never gets old. It’s irresistible.“

Today, I packed.

I told myself I’d keep it minimal this time, and I’ve stuck to that. Other than the essentials — my toolkit and jump starter — I’m not bringing any other tools. My bike’s in good shape, and my riding companions are carrying theirs too. Between us, we should be covered. Riding in Malaysia means help is usually not far away anyway.

Clothes? Also light. Just one set for the evenings, and a plan to wash my riding base layers and evening clothes each night. I have a spare base layer set in case things don’t dry in time. That should do. And, as always, I’ve packed my sports towel — even though I’ve never had to use it. It’s become part of the ritual.

But I’m not just packing for the road. I’m packing for the soul too.

My watercolour sketching kit. My journal. My camera. These are the things that help me slow down — not just physically, though sometimes that too — but mentally. They let me take in the places we pass through, the colours, the quiet. They help me listen to the world outside, and the world within.

These journeys are rewarding because they shift the environment so completely. It’s in that shift that I find clarity, rest, and new perspectives. And I want to leave space for those things to come.

So yes — I am as ready as I can be.

The only things left unpacked are my iPhone and my iPad. Do I need the iPad? No. But I’m bringing it anyway. It’s handy for showing photos and figuring things out with the gang — usually over coffee. That’s my excuse. Haha.

So… I’m ready.