I refuse to believe I’m the only rider who secretly leaps at the chance to go for a ride while feigning resignation and sacrifice in taking on an errand to a grateful spouse. This can’t be a deception.
This evening my ears pricked at the sound, “We’re almost out of coconut water”.
Sure, no concerned, loving, caring husband would ever, under any circumstance, allow their wife to run out of an essential element of a full life. From that noble and lofty place I stepped forward and proclaimed, “I’ll go honey!’
A few minutes later I was chasing the sun to the horizon dashing along the freeway towards Trader Joe’s.
Mathematicians have proven the shortest distance between two point is a straight line. Seems obvious that they weren’t riders. If they were the idea of the shortest distance wouldn’t have occurred to them.
Only 9 miles as the crow flies lay between my couch and the coconut water at TJs. Through careful planning and deep thought I could easily triple the distance. I refer to the conversion effect as Steve’s Third Rule of Enlightened Riding. Included in the rule is the postulation that level of physical, emotional and spiritual well being is directly proportional to distance traveled.
I’m too tired to write the equation.
Any little dirt track leading into the distance merits investigation. This stretch of pseudo-road reminded me of a question another Vespa rider asked me last week — is it ok to ride a Vespa on dirt and gravel? The rider was concerned with comments related to the location of the air intake and fear that a rider could take in a lot of dirt and possibly damage the engine.
All I could offer in response is that I have ridden a lot of miles on dirt and gravel. Hundreds of miles. Perhaps thousands. And no problems so far…
The weather at this time of year, and this evening in particular, is exceptional. The temperature dipping to 60F and below in the evening under clear skies and falling sun create a magnificent palette of color and tone in which to ride which makes it a little easier to deal with the heavy burdens of running errands.
More small tracks through the woods. This one ended at a locked gate. Fortunately the Vespa is agile and thin enough to pass through a human sized opening and continue or towards Trader Joe’s. The mushy forest soils that make up this part made me think again of how nice it would be to try out some knobby tires and the Vespa.
Coconut water??
For what? To water the coconuts in the backyard???
Bryce: No, we have bamboo in the backyard. The coconuts are in the house.
Years ago I fitted big milk crate on the back of my 50cc Cub clone. Then I convinced my wife how much we save on gas and wear and tear over using the cars. “What? Out of dog treats? I’m on it.” Although it’s not 27 miles, it’s still a reason to ride a couple of times a day and look frugal to my wife. Town is 4 miles away and I have 800 miles on the 50 this season so far.
Actually my long time girlfriend refuses to let me take the bike out for a errand. She knows I’ll be back in a hour or so.
I like your rule of enlightened riding.
And I have never, ever, found myself leaping at an excuse, erm, opportunity, uh, need to get the bike out…
*innocent whistling*
It tickles me a little bit how you went from being a purist to a top case a few years ago and now a front rack. That’s an enlightened pimping of your ride, as far as I am concerned 🙂
I don’t think you’re alone with this at all. Though I can’t use the “gas mileage” bit any more since we replaced the mini van with a hybrid. It gets way better mileage than the sidecar rig.
I should offer to go to Trader Joe’s. I think the closest one may be in Seattle…
For almost 40 years, I’ve been telling my wife, “Any excuse for a ride!” So coconut water is as good as any. Mine was always ice cream.
And a front rack on your scooter? How functional and European.
Richard:
our closest Trader Joes is in Bellingham. It’s only an hour each way on the Interstate, but the border lines can be 2 hours each way.
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Way to man up or rider up Steve….your sacrifices will be noted.
dom
kz1000st: Amazing the webs we weave to justify desire. I think I’ve used the “Out of dog treats?” gambit a few times myself.
800 miles on a 50cc scooter is pretty good!
Ride safe.
Robert Wilson: It’s terrible when someone figures out what’s behind the noble gestures. Now you’ll just have to work on epic rides related to some other kind of cosmic imperative.
Lucky: Innocent whistling. I like that.
Need is the operative term I think. At some level a lot of riders need, require a ride. I remember Charlie6’s wife Martha telling me how grumpy he gets if he can’t ride.
Maybe we all need to get grumpy without a two-wheeled fix.
Schnarpsel: My fear of pimping is what kept me from getting a topcase for so long. When I did finally put one on the scooter I could kick myself for being so stupid — it is so functional and useful.
The front rack is a different story and probably much closer to pimping than I care to admit. I liked the way they look and a deal emerged on eBay and I made an impulsive pimp driven decision. Now that I have it I see how useful it could be…
RichardM: A devious rider would have traded the minivan for a big extended cab 4×4 pickup truck. Much easier to argue for a motorcycle or scooter ride with one of those around.
Trader Joe’s has some good stuff but I don’t think it’s good enough to warrant a ride to Seattle…
Fred: I’ve made many, many, many ice cream runs on the scooter. And another broad, sugar fueled category is what describe to Kim as ” I need a tea biscuit”. She’s an avowed tea drinker and understands the ritualistic needs a tea drinker can develop. Earl Grey and sugar for me thanks…
bob skoot: Not much in the food category worth a two hour wait at the border in my opinion.
Charlie6 (Dom): Are you keeping a big book on riders — a sort of naughty and nice book? I’m curious as to when the presents arrive??
Steve
T’is not I that keeps count, it’s the motorcycling gods who weigh each rider’s actions or inactions and apportion good riding opportunities to the deserving….presents will be presented in the form of golden hours replete with fog and rainbows.
Ah, the front rack already finds purpose.
I totally understand, Steve – the front rack is on my list, too, actually… I think it looks fantastic – La Dolce Vespa!
Charlie6 (Dom:) I like your idea of riding presents…
Schnarpsel: Funny how certain things just strike a chord regardless of whether they make any sense. For me it was the front rack. Thankfully it has some function I am growing into but still remains a farkle most of the time.
I bet it will look cool with icicles hanging from it…