There’s a method to this madness beyond seeing the sunset, making a few photos, or riding the Vespa. It’s connected to the Tasmanian Devil — the one always chasing Bugs Bunny in the old Warner Brothers Looney Tunes cartoons. To most people I appear calm, even tempered, and a few times I’ve hear”zen like” whatever that means. Inside it’s often a different picture with my thoughts, imagination, joys, sorrows, frustrations and more swirl like the cartoon devil, spinning madly with snarls and growls.
So it often is after a long day of burning mental energy the right medicine is to burn some more in sharply focused manner. If I was built differently meditation would work but I can’t bring myself (yet) to sit still. Riding coupled with chasing an image is perfect. The riding forces me to stay focused to remain safe and the visual puzzle related to finding a picture flavors the experience into a creative craving. Or so it seems as I write this now.
I was 15 minutes too slow getting on the road. The sun was gone and the dregs of light just weren’t right. Still, the ride served it’s purpose and the devil went to sleep. The rain from an hour earlier pushed much of the heat away and left the world moist, thick with possibilities, but remained elusive. The Vespa rolled over pavement and gravel searching, seeking, looking for the answer to the photographic puzzle in my head.
Never found the answer. And that’s ok because, as has been said so many times in so many places, it’s the journey that matters. And on this journey I was able to acquire two Hershey bars for a plan to be hatched later in the evening.
And now the devil and my dog Junior are asleep. A few small chores will transform the day into night and my mind into a quiet stream. A stream familiar because of a scooter and camera.
I feel like riding some more but that would just be selfish…
I think you got some great light Steve, though you say you missed the main show….good stuff!
dom
Charlie6 (Dom): Thanks — I am never quite satisfied, I suppose the picture in my head is impossible to produce. Or maybe I’m not willing to go to the lengths necessary to make it.
Steve, sometimes being alone inside your helmet is a great place to get away, if not hide from that devil but more often it’s a great place to find inspiration. Your photos are always inspiring. Love the golden ribbon of road in the fading light.
I really like the mood of the last photo next to the gas station. Looks very spy thriller-ish.
VStar Lady: You’re right about the inside of the helmet — it is a great place to escape.
thanks for the kind words about the pictures too!
RichardM: Never thought of Sheetz as a landscape for spies. I’ll have to look closer. If I were Jack Riepe I would craft a story to fit that idea…
Steve:
You’re too modest. You photos are visually stunning and probably better than what you would see with your own eyes, due to the moist reflections from the road.
speaking of Jack Riepe has anyone heard from him recently ? I miss him
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
ps: I miss you too
Hi Steve ,
Not a lot of time for a comment ….just like to say GREAT PICS beautiful skies.
Kindest regards
Len
bob skoot: I realize the pictures aren’t bad — just not what I was after. It’s an ongoing project to find the images in the world that live now in my head.
Riepe — he’s around — spoke with him about a week ago but he’s been busy.
len@RE-GLAZE-IT: Thanks!
What great photos! It’s great to see that you have found your “gumption” once again! I really enjoy the blog and appreciate so much all the time and effort you put into it.
Unrelated to this post, but not sure where else to ask this question, so here goes: After re-reading your winter riding posts, living as I do in Maine, the leaves are starting to turn and as a first-year Vespa rider, I am wondering at what point (temperature?) do you decide to put the winter tires on your Vespa? Could you perhaps address a future post to the question of how and when to prepare your Vespa to ride in cold temps? Thanks!
maestro: Thanks for the kind words about Scooter in the Sticks. Always nice to know people get something useful from it.
And thanks for the heads up about the winter riding prep story. I’ve put it on my list. It’s one of the areas I get the most inquiries and questions so I guess it might be nice to write it down…