A roller coaster ride

Head down steep hill to main road. Halfway down, come face to face with car coming up. Jinx off up someone's driveway. He goes past. He does not say thank you. Head into town, up the mountain, down the other side, twisting, turning, hairpin bends, 2nd gear most of the way. Come face to face hurtling bus on wrong side of road. He's bypassing cordoned off area, collapsed retaining wall being repaired. Where are men with Stop Go signs? Tea break? Screech to halt. Squeeze past. Heart pounds, palms sweat. Smooth ride through town, flat, breathe easy.
Directions; after coming out of town, look out for hairdresser sign at 2nd mirror (lots of these because of many blind corners). Turn sharp left onto narrow road going up hill. Bakery on right ensures correct route (very few street names here and no house numbers). Up, up, up, steeper, more twists, sharp turns between huge boulders, road petering out...finally, pile of burnt rubble (also in directions) and there is Birgitte, waving from veranda. Her house is perched on a lumpy little hill (lots of big rocks under the grass), has lovely view of St Anne's island. We have black coffee (she hasn't been able to get milk - still a shortage) and delicious chocolatey biscuits, which fortify for drive home. Warning from Marcus: DO NOT try to avoid huge pothole on right, as tyre will go off into gully on left. Hold breath.... whew, wheels still on track. Head down hill. Squeeze into layby to let someone drive on up. He says thank you. Decide on scenic route to avoid 'rush hour traffic' in Victoria. Calm and comfy, fairly flat, two way luxury, liven up by acclerating to 40kms per hour. Still lots of twists, turns, solid white lines. Someone has stopped at one of many little shops. Traffic backs up. One by one, we daringly sweep out over white line, break free. No-one hoots. Exhilirating now, traffic thins out, driving up east coast. Stretches of beach and ruffled milky turquoise sea flash past. Twisting, turning, rising, falling, feels great going round North East Point. Into familiar territory, head down west coast toward Beau Vallon. Well known markers whizz by (50kms per hour); Copra House, Sunset Beach, Northolme, Mike's Store. Glimpses of beaches far below, then same level as my Speedy Silver Bullet. Home stretch, slow down, first gear, surge up short turn off into 'our' road. Heartbeat steady, slow, but hang on, here comes a car down the hill. Roll back down hill off to one side. Car gets past. Smile and wave, smile and wave. Stay in first for very steep bit, flattens, widens, whoopee into 2nd. All is calm. Swing wide, get good angle for going between walls. Check mirrors, good, haven't bumped either side. Orange garage doors, heart soars, home sweet home. Ride over.