Wings of Desire
Cold, raining and the approach of night — individually each reason enough to stay home and safe. Yet off I went on the wings of desire, a swiftly craved ride striking me from the warm embrace of a reclining chair, mind sudden burning with one thought — to be on the road.
It’s been weeks since I’ve been on the Vespa, illness sapping strength and desire and rendering me a mortal, non-riding man. How dim that life…
And suddenly the desire to ride flamed again. Who can ignore that call? Even if it leads to a field of soft mud…
Fading at the End of the Day
I’ve walked this sidewalk in Boalsburg hundreds of times in all weathers and times of day; with dogs and friends, view cameras and Leicas. It’s home and I’ve yet to tire of it. Can’t fathom to call to stop the Vespa and stand again looking; as if it’s the last night of my life.
I can only think I’ve been inside for too long.
Pragmatism
A fuel light on the Vespa’s instrument cluster returns me to earth and the local Sunoco station to add some high octane fuel to the tank. Part of me wants to keep riding — east or west, it doesn’t matter whether other than to stay on the road. But there’s business to attend to that I can’t, or shouldn’t ignore. The cold, damp air has started a cough, another pragmatic reminder that a swiftly craved ride may mask another goal — completely recover from the illness that’s dogged me for nearly two weeks.
So off home in the dark for food and work and chores — each made a bit more handsome as seen from the vantage point of smiling rider.
The call to ride is the inner desire (as I heard it said) “to feel yourself traveling through time and space at the twist of a throttle”. If we ride, then when that desire comes calling it’s hard to resist. Everyday can be an adventure of a lifetime whether on a scooter, Triumph or any other motorcycle.
Sounds perfect to me Rick. I’m trying to keep everyday an adventure, even if I can’t ride!
One day at a time!
Yes sir.
I definitely understand the craving. It’s bad when Winter starts fading away, but also after a few days of inclement weather that I just didn’t feel bold enough to face on two wheels. There’s just something wonderful about hitting the road, and like many other things, one appreciates it most when one can’t.
Glad to hear you’re up and around. It’s been a hard slog.
Isn’t it nice to be able to get out again after a long break? I felt that way when I was laid up in 2010.
I think I recognize that building in the Boalsburg photo!
OK, trying this again:
When you gotta ride, you gotta ride
It’s like a call of nature. Was watching Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday last night and there’s a scene at the beginning where he and Joe Manganiello are sitting on a motorcycle and Joe says “Hear that?”. “It’s the call of the road.”.
It’s snowing right now but I hear the call…
Hi, Steve,
Glad to hear you’re getting nearer to healthy riding… great news.
The other day, as the days tend to go sometime, I was feeling “yucky.” Decided to go for a little scooter ride. As I got on the streets and out into the county for maybe ten minutes, I realized I was fully in a wide open grin mode. My gosh, riding has some power to do that! No particular destination, the only restriction being that I told my wife I would be home in one to one and a half hours. And, no particular happenings to contribute to the experience except for the scooter and the warm spring air.
Viva la scooter!
That’s the same experience I have riding. It does change your outlook on things. Can’t cure the common cold though. Yet. Perhaps Piaggio is working on that…
“Ya (sic) gotta do what you are called to do…”
Illness will surely be a a barrier; in my own case
never did return to riding after my series of illnesses.
And now that winter-like conditions have returned
for a few weeks (at least ’round here in Southern Ontario),
can understand
the draw to your two wheeled steed.
May your physical and yes mental recovery continue.
It’s a winter wonderland this morning. I had grand plans this weekend dashed by snow and cold weather. Oh well. A person needs to adapt and accept.
Ha ha! Funny that you stopped in front of the chocolate store.
I have to have Kissell Motorsports look at that problem. Seems to always stop at places I really shouldn’t favor…
The only thing I crave more than riding is breathing.
Funny but that’s kind of true isn’t it. Riding is kind of mystical work.
Beautiful scooter, love the pictures. Thanks for the post!
Thanks Dean. You carry scooter tires?
This is timely. The scoot has been down because of clutch problems for the last 3 weeks. I had to interrupt reading this post because my parts just arrived. I saw a meme the other day that summed up my feelings pretty well; “I wonder if my bike thinks of me as much as I think of it.” Glad to hear you are feeling well enough to be on 2 wheels.
It is amazing how much of my consciousness is taken up with the idea or memory of riding. There are days when I wonder if that’s healthy.
Thanks for the well wishes. I’m at 85 to 90 percent recovered now (in my gut feeling wellness meter). Good enough to ride.
Steve, I’ve been quiet for sometime.
At this moment it seems I need to let you know I’m unable to ride right now. A little issue with brain tumors. There is a good chance I’ve not taken my last ride, but only the future knows and as we both know, the future doesn’t give up its secrets easily. I have malignant melanoma. There is no cure, no stages, just treatment. So as with all “chronic” conditions we will see how it goes. That said, there is no longer much slack in my life’s leash and I’m okay with that. Life is a continuum. I’m determined to live it all the way out with kind ferocity. Your reflections on facing your heart condition and your own changing circumstances have been most appreciated. And, this post, for whatever the reason was most special to me today.
I’ve always loved your blog and have made a point of telling you so a number of times. And I wish to tell you so again.
~Keith
Keep riding. Keep writing. I’ll keep reading. I’ll be here. Just quiet.
I wonder but don’t prod when I see someone’s blog posting suddenly stop. There are certainly myriad reasons, personal and otherwise why it might happen. When I saw things slow on “Did He Ride Today” I wondered. I’m sorry to hear you have to wrestle with health issues. I hope you find a pathway open to you that can bring you back on the road and hopefully find some of that riding peace and tranquility that many of us experience.
“Kind ferocity” — that is a compelling idea. I hope I can find that quality in me. Thanks for sharing that and your kind words about Scooter in the Sticks. I plan to keep writing and riding until I can’t — whenever and however that day comes.
Don’t be a stranger and best wishes to you.
Yes, that craving…in my city-slicker days, it would mean rolling out on one of the bicycles once it at least seemed like the rain was letting up a bit (there’s a reason two of my three bicycles have fenders, regardless of any momentary notions of cool/uncool), and the late-afternoon light was the sort of overcast that invites the solitary over the hordes – the streets and roads would be largely empty, which works dandy for me. As I’ve said before, not an antisocial thing, just a desire to roll contemplatively. It’s pretty much the same urge that makes me hit the road in the morning before many people are climbing out of bed, although I’ve largely restricted that to warmer parts of the year since my 40s (old age, y’know?). I’m still searching for my “rhythm”, as it were, on the Vespa. At the moment, too much stuff is in flux – moving out of the house temporarily while work gets done, sorting out our new temporary digs, , scheduling that road test (and, yikes, registering to vote) – and Melody is right there in the mix, but to reluctantly quote a Carpenters’ tune, it’s going to take some time. I will take a spin shortly, chilly as it is right now.
The riding life definitely becomes easier to see (an experience) when the harsh weather leaves. At my age it’s not just riding that’s affected but practically anything involving being outdoors. Finding the rhythm you describe can be a challenge sometimes. Here’s hoping the weather ceases to make that so hard to find!
Everything always looks better from the back of a scoot or bike. I have felt this craving before and more than once decided to venture forth. On those occasions I have been rewarded with a flood of well being.
“a flood of well being”… Perfectly stated — that’s what it is. Something happens during a ride that just makes everything feel and seem better. Maybe it’s like the movie Star Trek Generations — we’re all Soran trying to get back to the Nexus.
Hopefully we won’t go as far as Soran to get it. 🙂