Emerging from the Flu
After eight days of the flu the world is coming back into view. A walk in the garden this evening with the dogs, noticing the forsythia blossoms in the shady deer den — a private place where Kim and I can sit with journals and tea. Until today I could only slog through the space solely in duty to canine companions. Still coughing and feeling a lack of energy it’s heartening to notice there are beautiful things in the world.
Photo Courtesy of Triumph Motorcycles
Triumph Dreams
Forced to bed, drifting between delirium and reality, I spent some time thinking about motorcycles — the Triumph Street Twin specifically and how it might fit into my Vespa riding world. In an email exchange with moto-journalist Frank Melling he shared an illuminating comment:
You can ride a Street Twin coast to coast, and risk your license all the way, and the bike would eat up the miles. Equally, it is as a docile as your Vespa and will amble around in third gear at 30mph without a complaint.
I’m pictured those words for days and wonder what the future holds…
Imploring Action
Junior showed remarkable patience with my lack of attention during the past week. He’s also attuned to my recovery and senses a change which can only mean more action and activity. Good for him. Good for me.
Wrenching Coming in to View
It’s time. In the short term I need to repaint the muffler, change the engine and hub oil and filters, new sparkplug, and check the other fluid levels. And a couple months out I’ll need two new tires, belt and roller change, steering adjustment and a flush of the coolant. Not sure at the moment what I’ll do and what I’ll leave to the professionals.
Tapping Into Young Energy
With just 14 months under her paws, Lily the Hammer is bristling with energy and a cheerleader striving to keep me moving. That youthful energy is contagious sometimes — for me and her Uncle Junior. She doesn’t want anyone slowing down.
Things are coming back into view — we’ll see what a new day brings…
Glad you turned the corner! Flus are AWFUL.
It’s a long sweeping corner with lots of gravel, potholes and cross traffic!
I’m glad you’re feeling better! That writer’s input on the Triumph is certainly compelling.
He does have a way with words. Makes me want to get on one of those Triumphs…
Boy how the world appears in front of us when we feel down from illness or stress from anything. It is wonderful to be free of those two negative influences. Wishing you a return to your happier times. Enjoy your next ride.
Thanks Brent. In a day or two I should be ready to ride again — physically. Hopefully. Fingers crossed!
Glad you’re doing better. Seems you went further down than expected. Never fun.
Wrenching goals sound manageable, other than changing tires. I’ve got a similar list, but waiting for weather that I actually enjoy hanging around in. May be a while with patches of snow still on the ground. At least nothing pressing. I hate being scooterless until a gremlin is found.
Yeah, I was worse than I let on. But seem to be over the hump now.
Wrenching — I have a love/hate relationship with it. Right now I’m leaning toward the hate side…
Glad the recovery is coming along nicely, as to the state of order of those tools though….
If you judge a man by the state of his tool chest, well, I would hate to know what you think of me…
Steve, is it just me, or have you been thinking about (mentioning) that Triumph quite a bit for quite a while? I wonder if your readers have been thinking about Steve Williams on a Triumph, and all that thinking has been sending vibes into the cosmos.
I almost shudder to mention it, but (glances right, glances left, and then whispers) have you considered replacing the scooter?…
I have been thinking a lot about Triumphs lately. Perhaps it’s something in the air, the water or those vibes your describe. There are worse things to be thinking about right???
As far as replacing the scooter — I can’t see ever not having a Vespa GTS in my life. I can see trading the one I have now in for a new one but I don’t see replacing it with a motorcycle. There are just far too many things a scooter will do that a motorcycle won’t…
High fever fuels thoughts of new bikes… It’ll probably pass.
As you had stated earlier what do you want to do that you can’t do with the Vespa?
My thoughts concerning motorcycles revolve around desire (I just want one) and business (expand engagement to scooter-phobic readers) in anticipation of retirement and finally getting around to publishing a book or two or three…
There are a handful of bikes I sort of love — several Triumphs, a couple BMWs, the HD 883 Sportster, KLR, DRZ650…
Who knows what the future will bring.
The Speed Twin looms again. Little of this would be necessary with that bike.
“In the short term I need to repaint the muffler, change the engine and hub oil and filters, new spark plug, and check the other fluid levels. And a couple months out I’ll need two new tires, belt and roller change, steering adjustment and a flush of the coolant.”
Plus it is a fabulous companion and looks incredible. It’s my wallpaper on this computer.
Scooters are good fun but the maintenance issues are always hovering nearby. I’m glad you’re rising from the ashes.
If I were thrashing a Street Twin in the winter slush I would be saying, “replace chain, repaint rims, clean exhaust, replace oil, etc. There’s always something isn’t there?
Two hours of focused work will probably take care of the Vespa (except the repainting of the muffler) .
I’m like the Phoenix right now, rising but still coughing…
Happy you are feeling better, flus can knock you off of your feet. Glad you are able to get back into your old routine.
Slow but sure I’ll be back on the road.