This is the first motorcycle helmet I’ve bought since 2023, which is when I got one in Turkey, shipped it to Romania, and picked up a motorcycle there for a 90-day ride. My rental company kept it there for several years until we returned, but that helmet was stolen along with that motorcycle in May of 2025, in Sicily… But that was then, and this is now, and we’re just about to start a 9-day tour of Sri Lanka!

For several years we’ve been trying to get together with my friend Simone, who owns a motorcycle rental company in Sri Lanka, but it never quite worked out. But this time the stars were aligned, and Kathleen is wisely going to be following nine riders in our chase van, instead of sitting on the back. Over 9 days we will hit seven different cities, and we’ll see everything from ocean to mountains, from elephants to buffalo, and who knows what else! Stand by, I’ll be doing regular reports

Our first night was in the town of Negombo at the lovely Suraya Resort. Kathleen and I actually got there 2 days early so we could relax, and so glad we did! Those Chase credit card points we’ve accumulated over the years really paid off.

Simone’s rental company is called Ride on- Sri Lanka, and his slogan is one that I faithfully believe in: No stress