Where am I heading as a blogger?
Remote Office
I’ve been on vacation for the last two weeks though couldn’t completely escape the need to occasionally tend to some business at work. I sat on this bench for two hours for three different phone calls before I could head off on a ride and work on the story that would become the Searching for Treasure post.
During my time off I’ve been thinking about blogging, riding and retirement. I’m already engaged in the first two. I could have retired seven years ago. Not sure when I’ll pull the trigger but I’ve been thinking about life after work.
There are three books I want to write and some online courses I’d like to develop. New projects and work that would keep me riding and busy. Motorcycle blogging.
Wonder if that means I will need to have a motorcycle?
Blue Skies for Riding
The weather has been remarkable during my time off providing opportunities to ride whenever I had a free moment. Two dump truck loads of decorative gravel that had to be wheeled by hand into various parts of the garden interrupted any riding with abandon.
This was one of those rides where I couldn’t keep my eyes off the sky. The clouds creating a mesmerizing texture of blue and white in air that was dazzlingly clear.
I’m constantly making notes while I ride that may make their way into a post, or more frequently becoming raw material for one of the book projects in my head. Writing a book is something I can get my head around. Producing, selling and distributing is a completely different matter.
Vespa Under a Big Sky
Pulled off the road on the way to Bellefonte, Pennsylvania to admire the view. Do that a lot. People stop sometimes to see if I’m ok or need help. There’s not a lot of stopping to admire the view outside of parks and designated scenic overlooks.
I’ve been thinking about motorcycles a lot lately but not for the normal reasons. As I outline a book there’s a question of content — specifically would there be more credibility to something I would write about riding if I was also on a motorcycle? For a long time I couldn’t imagine shifting gears divides the real riders from those playing with scooters.
What do you think? Would you feel differently about the things I write if you knew I was on a motorcycle from time to time?
Writing on the Road
Sat in Cool Beans Coffee and Tea to work on a story. With ear buds and the background sounds generated by OmniWriter I’m in my own little world. I don’t know how this happened but I love to write. The process of putting words together to form a picture is a fascinating exercise. I wish I were more of a storyteller but perhaps that will come with practice.
I can see myself retired. Riding more. Longer trips. Sometimes on a motorcycle. Working on books. Maybe selling a few to pay hosting fees for Scooter in the Sticks. Basically starting another career once the current one draws to a close.
It’s been on my mind. Becoming a full-time motorcycle blogger.
Maybe it’s a pipe dream.
Steve,
You aired thoughts of replacing the Vespa with a motorcycle as you consider becoming a full-time motorcycle blogger. I for one would urge you to follow your dream. I would continue to be an avid follower no matter what you ride and I know that your compositions would continue to entertain, inform and enthrall.
But I still found myself asking whether your new role really required a change of steed.
Your Vespa has facilitated most of your blogs and has seemed perfect in that role, being an easy-to-use, accessible, reliable, versatile and charismatic travelling companion. It’s evident also that you’ve achieved synergy with it and that this almost tangible bond has been one of the strongest features that attracted me to your blog in the first place.
I should add that I have no tribal allegiance to scooters as such. I ride a ‘conventional’ motorcycle (Tiger 800XC) but have also owned and enjoyed numerous maxi-scooters in the past. I can honestly say that by its ease of use, enabling riding spontaneity, the scooter wins hands-down. Granted, the riding experience itself is different on a bike – and I’m not saying that it’s necessarily better in all respects either – but I see no compelling reason for you to change UNLESS of course you yourself have a burning desire for a change.
Or would you be able to own one of each? Now that would be an ideal situation would it not?
I still look forward to receiving every one of your posts, Steve, and would definitely purchase a book of yours. Indeed, I’ve written to you before to urge you to consider publishing a compendium of works. I envisage a beautiful, illustrated coffee table book. A best-seller, even.
Two weeks ago I suffered a heart attack. Once everything had been stabilised and my stents installed, I sought out your posts of May last year. I needed some reassuring words and yours hit the spot. Your subsequent progress, and the way in which your appreciation of life has obviously bloomed, has been an inspiration. So please keep it up, and ride whatever machine floats YOUR boat. YOU are the main character, remember. I love your writing.
Thank you, Steve.
Safe roads.
Keith
Keith,
Thank you for your comments and insight, especially concerning your support for possible books. As I dream about things, balance work and family, and tend to myriad chores and errands it’s easy to have things sort of spin into a hard to understand mess — in my head at least. I think this latest post was trying to make sense of all that. But you’re absolutely correct — I need to focus on the things that “float my boat” whether blogging or choice of machine to ride.
Sorry to hear about your heart attack. Hope things remain stable and you embark on your new life with hope and vigor. The word “heart attack” inspires some bad thoughts. I found as I spoke more directly with doctors, other survivors, and did some research, it really helped me get my head on straight. Outwardly I generally seem relaxed about things but I can tell you the story being played out in my head was anything but. Knowledge has power though as does support of friends and family. I’m glad my post-heart attack posts had some value for you.
Best wishes on a positive journey!
steve
Steve we are kind of in the same place. I am retired in the sense that I am not working at the moment, but I have professional obligations that are keeping me busy, plus the work adapting to our new home. I too get a lot of pleasure from writing, but I struggle to find enough time to devote to it.
Maybe if we won a lottery…
As for the ride of choice, I am privileged right now with two bikes. The Vespa is by far my favorite. There’s something to be said for the Honda Shadow though. It’s definitely the polar opposite in almost every way. Diversity is good. It makes for more experience. More experience provides more grist for the writer.
I definitely see value in a motorcycle as providing grist for ideas and variation in writing. It’s perhaps the most important thing. It’s like when I wear a suit to work — everything is different from how people see and respond to me to the places I go. Maybe it would be that way with a motorcycle.
I have found that the convenience question of motorcycle versus scooter is involved. In my garage I have two scooters and two motorcycles at my disposal. I can hop on to the 150cc scooter and move off quickly as opposed to dragging out the 500 pound, 750cc bike. The weight makes the hauling out cumbersome. Shifting is a non-factor to me. Compare that to the other two. A 250cc Helix clone at 400 pounds against a 330 pound 250cc Rebel. The Rebel is easy to whip out and ride, the scooter requires a little more work to extract from the garage.
It’s a question of size versus size. A Honda NC 700 DCT would be the desired transition since it requires no shifting and has a cargo compartment. It would require more effort to move though than a 300 Vespa. It has a few more pounds.
Hopefully, if I ever add a second machine, they would be arranged in my garage so that no tinkering is involved to get either outside and on the road. My dream is that putting on riding gear remains the most complicated part of the ride.
Weight is also a consideration. Not so much for moving them around as it is on the road as I stop for pictures. When I was riding the BMW K1600 GTL I had to search out stopping points more carefully and making U-turns required a serious commitment compared to the Vespa. Lots to think about.
Your Vespa is my connection. Your blog is more of a group of disjointed thoughts and observations…..which I enjoy.
If you lose the Vespa, you lose me. I have no connection to motorcycles.
I had to chuckle when I read your comment. You’re probably the first person in all these years to characterize the nature of my writing as disjointed thoughts and observations. It’s certainly how I think of my writing. The Vespa is the platform on which they happen and it is unique.
I don’t ever see NOT riding a Vespa. It’s hard for me to imagine something more perfect for what I do. A motorcycle however would provide some variation to experience which I believe would enhance not only what I observe and think about, but also the way I write.
Fear not though — the Vespa isn’t going anywhere.
Persig was basically riding a scooter, although he lost his mind a bit along the way. Just don’t start teaching in Bozeman and you should be okay. Also, Motoscooter in the Sticks doesn’t sound as interesting as Scooter in the Sticks; anyone can haul a Christmas tree home on a Goldwing.
Happy hunting!
Just think how different Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance would be if Persig had been riding a Vespa. He wouldn’t have gone crazy!
Wonder why I’m not seeing Christmas trees being hauled on Goldwings???
Steve,
To answer your question about you riding a motorcycle along with your Vespa, I don’t think it will change my view or appreciation for your posts. I have never owned a motorcycle and probably never will but still I see a lot of motorcycle riders on the road coming and going in different directions. What I like most are your observations when you are out riding which heightens my own sensitivities to my surroundings.
Thanks again for sharing with us your observations and enjoy the ride on both the Vespa and anything else that meets your fancy.
I’ve spent enough time on motorcycles to believe it would not fundamentally change who I am as a writer, rider or photographer. But it could change the texture of experience and how others interact with me on and off the road. That change could provide new motivations for writing.
Hard to say.
I trust my wife will let me know if I’m turning into something ugly!
Steve;
You will hear all sorts of wisdom about what you do. Having followed you for a long time, I am confident of your choices no mater what you ride. Go for both! You paint pictures in my mind of places I will never see that add to the photographs in your blog. Thank you for that!
I retires several years ago, partly to take care of small grandkids. I was partly pushed in to it, but I have no regrets. I was into motorcycles, mostly mid sized Japanese,, and sold the last one this year. I have been riding a Yamaha Morphus since I bought one new in 2008. You may have to google that one, as they made them for only two years. Strange looking beast that you either hate or love. Having a lot of metal in one ankle makes the automatic twist-n-go very nice.
I digress…. Keep doing what you are doing, and we will follow your adventures with anticipation.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a Yamaha Morphous. They’re certainly unusual in their appearance. Cycleworld did a comparison story on the Vespa GTS250 and the Yamaha Morphous back in 2007. Seems an odd comparison aside from engine size. I bet there are committed Morphous riders just like there are with a Vespa.
Thanks for the kind words of support concerning the content I share on Scooter in the Sticks. I like the idea of helping to paint pictures.
Steve. You love your scooter. Not sure you are thinking about a motorbike because it might be more accepted. As a fellow scooter lover. I understand. I would be wondering what would appeal more to new readers. Being a lover of anything with two Wheels and a Motor (not a bad title) I view this as a good problem to have. Brent
Not always sure what I’m thinking. Broader appeal to new readers is part of it. An additional experience is as well that I imagine would enhance what I think, feel and write about.
My goodness; you Steve, have come a long way.
However your posting since and just before vacation have taken a turn, a different turn
yet still a turn.
A year previous you were contemplating space in the stone orchard; now that has passed, and assuming all continues in the same vein, will be well.
As one chronologically ages, one’s life direction often is diverted to other activities.
Retirement would no doubt mess with your routine. You “don’t have to do something,” for example. Actually retirement is the opposite, you want to do something as before however am unable to do so, for various reasons.
Continue as before; you had mentioned previously you are well beyond normal retirement age at the university so if you want to stop regular employment, just think of the future complications. Both financial and otherwise.
When I was forced from my employment my two wheeled physciatrist which had kept me going was suddenly not as important. At the time the removal was for reasons beyond my control; later found other reasons. Thought then a long motorcycle trip to Americade would be good; it was not. Perhaps the worst happening I could have attended, given the circumstances.
Some two years afterwards was back writing for three or four different hobbyist magazines under two different nom de plumes; which kept me going for another fifteen or so years; the World Trade Centre incident and subsequent world travel problems closed that form of employment, as well as other now very evident health problems.
Bottom line, keep doing your daily bit; at some point and you shall know when,; you and your wife and your family will know when enough is enough. Then, retire gracefully,
known you’ve had the most fun and enjoyment and shall continue to do so, including riding and writing of your Vespa journeys..
“… just think of the future complications. Both financial and otherwise.”
There you go — the heart of the “don’t retire” chorus in my head. It’s absolutely a concern and one not easily dismissed. Add to that my cardiologist (a kid) strongly suggesting that I keep working. The pragmatists have strong arguments.
And then enter the romantics with visions of life on the road, sleeping hard, squeezing every drop of life from every moment. Just thinking about it is so intense that I want to sit back and fire up Netflix.
I appreciate, as always, your insight and sharing. It helps shape the conversations in my head.
Steve,
Since you asked the question, I would like to respond with comments similar to what others have said. When I first stumbled across your blog, I didn’t think that scooter stories would interest me, I just really liked your photography. I’ve owned motorcycles for 48 years but have never even ridden on a scooter.
Now I appreciate your writing just as much as the photography and have enjoyed this year’s increase in your posts. A motorcycle would add some diversity for your writing and I encourage you to get one, just don’t give up the Vespa. I don’t see you as a Ducati nor a Harley guy, but you might enjoy an older BMW or Japanese standard, or maybe a modern classic Triumph. Something fairly light weight, with lots of character, might be best.
Have you considered free lance writing for some of the bike magazines? It might be an easy way to get started on a book, and pick up a little retirement money as well. Just let us know where to find your book. I’ll buy it.
Dave,
I certainly could keep doing what I’m doing. But as you say, the addition of a motorcycle would provide some diversity — for me, and for readers. Why does that matter? Probably only if I plan to eventually try to sell a book or something myself. Then the more eyes on that opportunity the better.
Your suggestions for motorcycles mirror my own. If you put a gun to my head right now and said choose — Triumph Bonneville and BMW K75 would pass over my lips.
I’ve written a couple paid pieces and have been asked to write more but my work schedule is too crazy to take on any deadline pressure. Someday though.
Steve, although your blog title implicates motorised two wheeled content, it is not the scooter matter that makes me want to revisit. It is your composition of photography and words. I would love to follow you around while you travel on a motorcycle (or scooter). Go on, live your dream.
Live the dream!
Thanks for your words of support. And by the way, living the dream would having me touring the Alps on a Vespa!
Steve,
You know what they say about two wheels “They move the soul” whether you are on a scooter or motorcycle, you share the passion of riding and to me it makes no difference, particularly as I came from the scooter world. Personally I am one with all who ride whether it be a scooter, motorcycle, trike, spyder or rig with a sidecar. We all share the passion of riding and we are all intimately part of our environment.
I hope you will still keep your Vespa, because it is a part of you, there is no reason why you couldn’t have both. I think at some point in the very near future the motorcycle industry is going to go through change with the advent of dual clutch transmissions, electric motorcycles and automatics, as well as people changing it up for smaller cc’d bikes.
I come back to your blog because I love how you write, your photography and very thought provoking posts. You are just evolving in your world and taking us all along for the proverbial ride and I am a happy blog pillion!
Thanks for the kind words Dar. I appreciate them. And for the idea that two-wheels “move the soul”. I’ve not heard that before.
I suspect I’ll be riding a Vespa until I can’t ride anymore. Just a question of whether I’m going to occasionally ride something else…
The full saying is “4 wheels move the body, but 2 wheels move the soul”
Thanks Dar. I’m going to have to work that saying into my thinking.
Quite the dream Steve, full-time moto-blogging…..but if anyone’s got the writing skills along with riding skills to do it, it’s you.
Full-time moto-blogging = retirement. Trading one job for another. Just a dream right now.
You on the other hand — riding through Scotland. You’re living the real dream.
While I can find no fault with the views of other respondents, I would encourage you to consider the possibilities inherent in the occupying of a “niche” market. There are lots of motorcycle blogs; scooter blogs, however — not so many. I guess one of the things to consider is how big an audience you want to have, versus how specialized an audience you want to have.
There are, of course, many parallels between riding scooters and riding motorcycles, so perhaps I am just splitting hairs. But when I bought a Vespa, I went looking for Vespa blogs because I wanted Vespa information; I didn’t care a fig for Harleys or anything else.
Whatever you decide, for sure keep blogging! I always enjoy your photos and your insights into riding and life. Thanks for a great blog!
I’ve long considered the scooter “niche” market and it’s tough to pin down. Scooter riders are rather diverse in their interest, culture and the machines themselves. Not sure where I fit in As I think about Scooter in the Sticks I always end up with it being a blog about riding and the benefits accrued from that activity. The fact I ride a scooter is almost incidental to that.
Riding the Vespa is near perfect for me and as you’ve noticed it creates a lot of “scooter” content. Adding a motorcycle to the mix seems as if it would expand the acceptability of the content a bit for those who might immediately dismiss a “scooter blog”.
Not sure if any of that’s true. I guess I would have to do a little research by inserting a motorcycle for awhile…
Steve;
I have lots of interests, and several hobbies, but your blog is the only one I have followed since I first discovered it, many years ago. If I could differentiate your blog (and your writing in general) from all the rest, I would say that yours is probably the most honest. Unlike many writers, you express your feelings and thoughts with humility and sincerity. And that is why I plan to follow it as long as it is available. And I would buy your books too.
I think no matter what you rode, where you rode, or whether you retire or not, you would continue with that precious introspection that you so willingly share with your readers. This quality of yours is a rare find, and I for one, am most grateful for it.
It’s interesting you bring up the question of honesty and the nature of the things I share on the blog. I’ve had conversations from time to time about with friends about the personal nature of the things I share — especially health and “personal” concerns on the internet.
Everyone’s sense of privacy is different and extends to myriad aspects of a life. Some recoil that I don’t blur out my license plate in photos though can’t describe specifics of the risk in not doing so. Or that my heart attack is no one’s business but my own.
Personally, I’m always attracted to writing that delves into the day to day challenges of living that exist in the mind — those things that can frustrate and haunt because they stick in your head. So that’s often what I write about.
I tell people I don’t post anything on the blog that I would tell to a stranger. That’s true. My personal concerns never seemed like private stuff. When I was in art school the openness grew because much of the work you do is fueled by personal experience. So you need to put it out there.
Anyways, a long response to your comments about the nature of my postings. I appreciate you find some value in them. Having others read and respond to them does help keep it “real”.
Thank you for that.
Two wheels good! Big or small ones really makes no difference! It is your passion and your philosophy that keeps me coming back again and again! Just keep going, that’s what matters!
Thanks CJ. I plan to keep riding and writing until, well, I don’t!
The scooter is a means. I started reading your blog as a Vespa lover, I run my own blog and love my Vespa, the same for nine years, many miles under the wheels.
But I realized that it’s not for the Vespa coolness that I read what you write.
It’s your words. It’s life you tell in short comprehensible wise lines of text.
And I’ll surely read them even if inspired by a motorcycle.
Actually, I weave at bikers too, when I ride along our messy italian roads. That’s fun. It’s about being on two wheels, not about brands.
And I love writing too.
That’s maybe what makes the difference.
Thank you for your comments about my writing. It helps to understand what resonates with you and others. As much as I connect with my Vespa scooter, I never particularly felt a brand connection as some do. Like you, I am attracted by stories that inspire or strike chords with me.
Congratulations on your nine years of blogging. Not many can claim something like that.
Thank you Steve.
My blogging hasn’t been that constant, due to a transfer and then to the birth of my daughter. Though, now, I feel it as “something to do”, as if I should write to mark important moments which would else disappear in time.
So, even when my posts are so spare I barely can call myself a blogger, my urge to ride and write and live is still present.
By the way, I also blog about my life in a personal weblog, my photographs in another one and my urban sketches in a fourth blog. It can’t be a full time job 🙂
I used to think about separate blogs for photography, riding, personal things — but eventually I just figured they were all part of the same thing. So now I post everything here. Made my blogging life easier.
I’ve toyed with a return to freelance photography assignments when I retire. Used to shoot a lot of industrial and advertising work. If I do it again I’ll run that business out of Scooter in the Sticks. At least that’s what’s in my head.