Comments on: Adventure Riding

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 06:06:00 +0000

Tom: Your question prompted me to post a bit of information about how I approach photography. You can read that post HERE.

Dan: Everything you said made perfect sense. Perspective, point of view, both physical and mental all are at work.

The Vespa is pretty easy to move through tall grass. In this place I followed the tracks of a truck or some other vehicle. The grass was matted down a bit. But I have ridden through alfalfa fields and it is fine. No chain or belt to catch things and as long as I don't hit any hidden groundhog holes or rocks I am ok. Can't move with breakneck speed that a dirt bike would allow but I make progress. I'm the turtle not the hare.

By: irondad

irondad — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 18:32:00 +0000

What I see in your photos here are perspectives. I don't know if you meant it this way, but I'm going philosophical for a minute.

I think adventure is where you find it. It's also affected by what you bring with you on the ride. In other words, the same ride can be nothing more than a blip if you ride it in a tank, for example. There's no danger because you could easily overcome whatever is in the way. Thus, no adventure.

The lone tree, the scooter looking so small in the larger picture, those things define adventure. If you bring less with you so that you have to rely more on your own skills and wit, you also open the door wider to having a true adventure. So it's not where you go, it's how you go.

Does that make sense? I'm trying to get this in before we need to leave for the Veteran's Day parade and I think it's a little rushed.

By the way, how hard did you have to work to get the Vespa into that tall grass?

Dan

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 14:22:00 +0000

Hi Steve,

I have been reading frequently and something I don't recall seeing you mention:

What kind of camera(s) are you using for your photography that you carry with you on your scoot?

Tom

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:15:00 +0000

gary: Thank you for your generous words and support. As I have said before it was a chance link to the video that the TV station did on your Baron in Winter riding last year that started this whole blog enterprise. Until then I was happily going through the day just riding to work.

I'm glad I could repay some of that debt.

punkelf: The authors you list certainly touch the spirit of this kind of adventure and there are others, my favorite being Edward Abbey. His essays in Desert Solitaire have affected this spirit in me.

The Rush Hour Rambling link on my main page takes you to Gary's blog. And he has other fine work in Dairy of a Cafe Racer. His writing and story telling abilities are great.

By: punkelf

punkelf — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 11:35:00 +0000

oh, and gary,

Post a link to where we can keep up with your adventures, please!

By: punkelf

punkelf — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 11:34:00 +0000

Steve,
this was an excellent post, and the link was a joy!
Many scooterists remark how our wheels of choice seem to propel us back to our youth, for some if seems to be the "hook" that helps form their obsession with this elegant means of transport. I don't recall anyone commenting before on how this rejuvinating phenomenon can lead to the pursuit of other mad adventures, escapades which rank alongside those of Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, Jack Kerouac, and Gary Snyder. Certainly there is evidence of it, the Cannonball Run, or PJ Chmiel's recent "rambling man" venture, for instance. But this is the first examination of a meme, which I am finding more and more alluring.

great work!

By: gary

gary — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 17:36:00 +0000

Steve, your blog has become my favorite place to visit on the web.

I was thinking about the whole adventure-scooter thing this morning, while riding through the first flakes of Winter here in Minnesota.

This Winter, I am going to concentrate on making the most of every riding opportunity, and recording my adventures to share with others.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Ride well,
=gc=