Cold weather, snow, ice — winter, it’s robbing me of the will to ride, sucking away the riding life and condemning me to a life behind the wheel. At least that’s how if feels. I don’t know how riders who put their machines away in September and don’t get on them again until May do it. I can only assume their souls are already gone, casualties of like in the north. We’re ice people.
Thank god I was able to ride today if only for awhile, it recharged dead part of me, so what does it matter if the scooter took a tumble in the snow…
The past few weeks have been dark.
A friend asked how my life has devolved to a minivan. With a straight face and in earnest I told him it’s a perfect vehicle; comfortable, spacious, useful. Looking in the mirror that evening I wasn’t sure if I said those words or if some hollow man living inside was responsible.
Sunday morning trips to Saint’s have seen no signs of the Vespa in a month.
I could ride, have ridden in all but the worst of recent conditions of snow, ice and temperature. But the desire is gone, not even a flicker of the old pull of the road. Instead some insidious, pain in the ass voice keeps whispering of risk and danger.
It’s hell to get old.
Snow in town, a signal to leave the Vespa at home. The old defiance is gone, the revolutionary voice quiet. What kind of life is this?
Hot Earl Grey tea seems ordinary when I arrive warm and relaxed after a ride in the van.
I feel strangely disconnected from things when I’m not riding, reduced to the voyeur in life, watching but not participating. Paul and Gordon are working, on this morning a review of prints made from Paul’s recent trip to Sicily.
With my point and shoot camera I’m the unenthusiastic tourist, content to watch the little screen display a life. Winter, what a marvelous excuse to do nothing.
So many mornings the road is covered with something that tells me to leave the Vespa in the garage. A lot of mornings. In past years this would not have stopped me but I sense a fragility of body and spirit right now that makes it easy to melt into a bucket seat with heat at my fingertips.
This morning temperatures soared into the 40s and reaching towards 50. Junior and I made our rounds and as I watched him I realized he doesn’t let the weather get to him, especially when I get out the big ball that won’t get lost in the snow.
The Vespa has been lost in the snow.
By afternoon the sun had warmed the world and I just had to go for a ride. A short one. A ride to re-establish a connection to the scooter. So here I am, on the road and happy.
Everything is melting and water is everywhere. When the temperature drops below freezing tonight there will be a mess of ice and obstacle. Who knows if the Vespa will move again at dawn.
For now I just have to be careful and not let the exuberance overtake good sense. Like the opportunity to learn that the Vespa will run while laying on its side, the result of plowing through the snow and stopping to take a picture without thinking about the centerstand sinking into the mud.
Oh well, the snow was soft.
The weather forecast shows more snow and cold not far off. I’m so tired of it all.
Something has to change. (Cue Dom)
I’m guessing that you may already know of one thing that you have complete control over changing (cue Dom).
and so cued….
Steve, I feel the ennui you’re feeling….weather is fine around here these days and yet, riding or the will to ride for pleasure eludes me. No ice, no snow, clear pavement and sunshine….my R80 remains in the garage. Attempts to rekindle the flame fail miserably and the soul-sucking commute to/from downtown denver, even on Brigitta, is just that….soul-sucking and same as the cager experience, but without protection of a cage.
Kudos for taking the scooter out….as to dropping her on the snow, no big deal, as you saw, it’s soft. If it makes you feel better, at least you weren’t sliding down a snow-covered hill, watching your R1150RT sliding down in front of you, pivoting on it’s right side jug. THAT, was interesting.
The 2014 rig has been delayed, due to weather issues on the east coast, now not leaving jersey till March 4. Figure mid-march by the time I have a sidecar rig again.
I’ll be lucky to get some snow on the new rig before Spring is here….
Perhaps, I’ll go riding tomorrow….perhaps. Is it the lack of a sidecar rig, or a bigger issue with me….it plagues my mind.
Sorry, no “happy happy joy joy” from this side of the empire…..
dom
This winter over 2013-2014 has been a winter of old times. once thought past.
We in Ontario and you Pennsylvania, we all have had our dose of interesting weather. You could maybe take the Honda Ft on your Sunday morning journey, more fun than the Honda van. Then too you keep looking behind you to ensure age and the fraility of age does not catch you.
Maybe look forward and just ride…
This winter over 2013-2014 has been a winter of old times. once thought past.
We in Ontario and you Pennsylvania, we all have had our dose of interesting weather. You could maybe take the Honda Ft on your Sunday morning journey, more fun than the Honda van. Then too you keep looking behind you to ensure age and the fraility of age does not catch you.
Maybe look forward and just ride…
Steve, you still have a bike to ride. It’s been so long since I sold the GTS, the guy I sold it to had it on Craigslist (he crashed it shortly after buying it from me, and I didn’t have the two grand he was asking for it, anyway).
While my ancient Ford Escort is still plugging along, my errands take me past a used-car lot, which at the moment contains a very clean early-2000s Dodge Grand Caravan, offered for $4,850. It appeals to me, not only for the reasons you cite, but because there’s more than enough room to carry one of the P200s or Stellas I see offered for sale at bargain prices, in distant cities. And it will pull a trailer…
__Orin
Scootin’ Old Skool is NOT dead!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hang in there Steve! Spring, and clear pavement, are on their way. My noble beast has been in the garage all winter, looking sad and gathering a layer of dust. I feel sad when I pass by to clean out the litter box for my other noble beast, but I’m reassured by the longer days and slightly warmer temperatures that I’ll be riding again soon.
— Patefermente
Steve, cheer up!! At least you get to ride a little. The only joy I get from my bike is pulling into the garage in my wife’s car and seeing the reflective strips on the bike cover light up in the headlight beam.
Besides you have Paul back fresh from the continent, doubtless brimming with questionable tales of improbable experiences. That should fill the void nicely.
Well, Punxsutawney Phil did predict 6 more weeks of winter weather back on the 2nd, so this continuing assault of winter comes as no surprise to those of us former Punxsutawnyites who know that Phil is infallible. The six weeks will end soon, so we can all hang in there for good riding weather which will be here very soon. For year-round riders like you Steve, I am sure that passable riding days will be here even much sooner!
Hang in there! The joy of spring is right around the corner and will be all the more sweeter after this “never ending” winter of 2014!
Hi Steve ,
Had the clear sun on my back yesterday ….. Spring is on its way!
Regards
Len
This is why 500,000 riders converge on Daytona . . . in two weeks. If you lack a week’s time, you can fly down for a long weekend. I’ve even driven down for just a two day stay. Worth it. Rent a scooter when you get there.
Chin up! The last dregs of winter always are the hardest to swallow; especially as mother nature teases us with brief warm spells.
Spring really is on the way =)
Steve, we in the frozen north have not ‘dead souls,’ but ‘resting’ ones. While the motorcycles are in storage we are taking a rest. A rest is okay provided one does not sit still so long that all others think we are dead and given that we are still replying to blog posts we are most definitely not dead.(PS loved the scooter napping in the snow, obviously has a bit of seasonal affective disorder, needs more rest!)
Steve, I feel your pain! I, too, feel like I am hooked up to a battery tender – a strange type of human life support with a low volt charge until Springtime brings riding weather again. In Georgia we get some ice and small amounts of snow, even 32-0 temps but it is the temps of 35-45 that make us think twice about scooting out again. Why? All that Flu Bug in the air here. Not quite cold enough to kill it off and so risking the dreaded Flu Bug keeps riding at bay. Once in awhile I can catch a good day or two before the latest storm front moving in. This last weekend was one of those times. Mid 60s, crisp and sunny! Perfect riding weather and RIDE I DID! Every spare moment of the entire weekend ~glorious~ Today, snow and rain mix, the storm front is upon us. So, like you, I wait.
Yes, Daytona! Or if that’s too late in the game, you could start getting excited by planning for a ride to AmeriVespa Scooter Rally in New Orleans June 12-15 http://amerivespa.org/ which coincides with the finish of the Scooter Cannonball Run from Alaska to New Orleans http://www.scootercannonball.com/ My apologies if you already knew of these events. I’m new to your blog! – Shane
The operative word here is, dormancy. Shussh.