Ready to Ride
There’s nothing magical about a Vespa scooter sitting in the driveway. It could easily be another scooter or a motorcycle. The magic comes with riding. And over the years I’ve discovered that the quality of the ride has more to do with what’s going on between my ears than it does with the route or landscape through which I ride.
The act of riding itself pays dividends. I find myself embracing life as a Vespa rider.
One would think that now that I’m retired I would be chalking up hundreds and thousands of miles on the scooter — filling my time with riding. This hasn’t been the case. That time has been filled not only with riding the Vespa scooter, but with myriad other explorations and tasks. The absence of work has beckoned to be filled with something else. What that is has yet to be determined.
Morning is my favorite time to ride. There’s an energizing quality to the light and air, regardless of weather, that sparks the spirit in a positive way. Dark thoughts or anxieties are often swept away as the tires spin over the pavement.
On this morning I was heading nowhere. The goal, the desire was to fly through for a little while and see what was happening in the world. As the Vespa stood in the driveway in the morning sun I could feel that familiar excitement that comes as I near the scooter. I still can’t believe how I feel after all these years and so many miles.
Road Adventure as a Kid
Adventure has been co-opted by advertisers and marketers. For riders of bicycles, scooters and motorcycles it’s come to mean expensive and time consuming challenges that precludes the possibility of anything more simple, direct and accessible. Once you’re convinced that adventure can only happen far from home then it’s no wonder that what’s actually available on a daily basis seems boring and tedious.
I remember the utterly satisfying adventures I had as a kid in the woods behind my house. Or on bicycle rides into town just a few miles away. The bus trips into Pittsburgh at 10 years old where I spent the entire day in department stores, Army surplus stores and lunch at a White Tower.
Now, as I descend into my senior years, it’s thrilling to reacquire that perspective and be able to find adventure in any sort of ride.
I was riding into town to return a library book. A six mile ride as the crow flies. The kid in me turned it into a 25 mile trip as I rode south under a brilliant sun.
Autumn Approaches
The tall corn that lines many of the roads in the valley signal the approach of autumn. There’s a scent in the air, even on a warm morning, that signals fall. I feel it strongly. There’s a sense of loss or decay on the horizon. Perhaps it’s the change in light. Or maybe the thrum of a natural rhythm.
I love these roads and the views they offer. The ride is luxurious in a way that reflects the slowing of my thoughts until my mind seems in sync with the motion on the road. If I would ever say I become one with the ride — this would be it — embracing life as a Vespa rider.
Rural Decay
Change is everywhere. Even in the bright sun there’s a melancholy feeling seeing places I’ve watched for years decay and disappear. Buildings, trees, icons of the place I live give way to something new. Riding has allowed me to stay attuned to those changes and better understand the rhythm of life. Everything has a beginning, a middle and ultimately an end.
A New Camera — Fuji X-Pro1
Part of my blogging absence of late can be attributed to a renewed interest in photography. Outside of my professional work or images of the Vespa, I’ve lost my way with any personal work. For years now, about the time I stopped shooting film, I’ve not been working with the camera. It’s an odd, personal dilemma that I won’t go into now aside from saying that personal work has it’s own rhythm and style much like riding. And the machines involved either resonate or they don’t.
After I parted with my Leica M6 camera my personal work stopped. I’ve had the X-Pro1 for a week now and have felt the magic again. It’s as close to the M6 experience as I could ever hope. Shooting is simple, relaxed and fun again. Make no mistake, the X-Pro1 is quirky and takes some time to learn to use. But the images it makes, even as a 5 year old technology are technically stunning.
This old building stands along a road I pass frequently. I finally stopped and photographed it knowing it might disappear at any time.
Book Return to Schlow Library
An hour after leaving home I get to the library to return a book. The errand was an adventure. I saw many things and felt good in the process. The ride was a small act of meditation. Riding slow, taking in each moment on the road, the scenes I pass through, allows me to become grateful for the experience in a way that’s lost if I just rush through the experience.
None of this is meant to diminish the heady excitement of a big trip. Those grand adventures can have profound effects on the riders who make them. But so to can the little rides. For those who, for whatever reason, can’t go on grand adventures, satisfaction awaits on the little rides as well. It requires practice and intention. But it’s there for those who want it.
Embracing life as a Vespa rider, or almost most any other kind of rider, is worth the investment. For me at least.
Short rides or long ones – and I’ve done decades of both – they’re all fun!
Yep. My experience as well.
“I could feel that familiar excitement that comes as I near the scooter. I still can’t believe how I feel after all these years and so many miles.”
I’m glad it’s not just me. The thrill never goes away. Especially, for me, that first acceleration. Live for that!
I sometimes ask people (non-riders) what they do for fun. And after they describe hobbies and leisure activities I ask if they feel excited like they did as a kid on their way to an amusement park. Or something like that. Very few have that kind of “fun” in their lives.
And for me, it’s not an adrenal thrill. It’s mental/emotional thrill in anticipation of the activity. I realize how fortunate I am to have found it. Sounds like you have too.
Exactly! The anticipation is enormous. I must admit I used to get it with golf too but the activity eventually stopped living up to the anticipation. Not so with riding. Yet, anyway ?
I hope it doesn’t wear off. I don’t have a fun backup.
When I started out riding in 2011 it was on a 50cc scooter, every adventure was on a small scale because I was constrained by where the scoot could go because of speed limits, but I still managed to clock a couple of thousand kilometres in an 8 month period. But like all good things it came to an end because I was tired of being limited by road speed limits, so I moved up the cc train & bought a motorcycle.
I’ve been riding for almost 8 years now and I have to say the first year was the most magical, I was filled with excitement by the thought of any scooter trip. Each adventure was small, but there was an intensely soul satisfying feeling with each of them.
I read about the adventure trips and epic journeys and become wistful, almost jealous actually, but then I go for a little rip and find the joy in small trips.
Summer found me on two road trips the first a two day tour of the Sunshine Coast in BC . It was about 700km and involved 4 ferries, it was beautiful, but the intense heat took out some of the joy. The second was a 3 day long trip about 977.6km and was the Cascade Loop in Washington State, again two ferry trips and a foreign country border crossing. It was beautiful, challenging, insanely hot at 100 F and at times smokey. These trips were my first big road trips, each was exciting and each brought me unique experiences. The Cascade Loop was more technically challenging, a lot more riding and at times extremely fatiguing. After all is said and done I’m not sure long distance hauls are my thing. I think I’d rather tow the bikes behind the motorhome and then go off exploring. A few times it became a grind to get to where we were going. There is no adventure spirit in me when I’m riding in the dark and am thirsty, hungry, hot and tired and looking for the place to lay my head.
So in the grand scheme of things I enjoy going on the little adventures more, they are more rambling and more free of spirit and they have more verve.
The true adventure begins in the heart and soul of the rider, not the miles clocked on the odometer at the end.
Carpe diem!
Thanks for your thoughtful comments Dar. So sorry to be so late in responding.
Being on a slightly larger scooter than you started with, I’m not limited in where I can ride. So that initial magic hasn’t been hampered. Exploring still holds exciting times; even the little rides. I’m in much the same place as you regarding longer rides. Even though my longest one day ride was only 350 miles, I have spent 12 or more hours in the saddle on many days while I explored at breakneck slow speeds. The hunger, fatigue and heat work on you over time. The miles don’t matter.
Anyways, I think each riders eventually finds what works for them and what doesn’t. Perhaps the most troubling decision comes in regard to the machine itself. It’s easy to move up to a bigger one. But when you discover you really need something smaller, that may be more troubling. Egos and image seem to gravitate toward growth with growth defined by the bigger is better rule.
In the end, I think you’re absolutely right — adventure begins in our hearts and souls.
I predict that, in the years to come, there will be renewed interest in object permanence. When an image exists in three dimensional space and not just as bits on a partition. The thing that has been made is restrained by bandwidth, scree size and resolution. (which is why phone cameras work just fine for sharing images.) When an image exists in real space, process and ideas hold more weight in the experience. It’s the difference between seeing Moon and Half Dome on a web page vs. a calendar vs. seeing one of the prints in the flesh. (and realizing that it is not exactly like the calendar) I predict that film will be making a comeback in the art object context and that we’ll be better able to articulate why.
Keep on exploring! And congrats on the new camera, it looks like a tool well suited to the job.
I think you’re right that the print as an object will persist. How much it persists is an open question. The print as a precious object, or some sort of talisman recalling experience could work. All that beyond the typical family pictures on the mantle.
The Fuji X-Pro1 is working surprisingly well for me. It has the same feel in use as my old Leica M6. And the images being produced are similar. Not technically, but how the camera supports what I see. I’ve not posted much at all on this blog but I may once I figure out a thread that makes sense.
Thanks for your comments. I appreciate the reminder.
As a continuing lifelong rider of anything 2 wheels…Just began a new chapter.
Electric pedal assist bicycle…I still ride a real bicycle but this motor lets me explore down hill mysterys, knowing I can get back. It was my 70th birthday gift of new adventure…yipppeeee….!
Ride on
Belated best wishes for your 70th birthday. And congratulations on another two-wheeled riding option. How big an assist does it provide? I’ve never investigated them much so I don’t know what to expect. I assume it’s lighter than the gas powered bikes (and quieter!).
Keep squealing Yippee!
Steve:
I seem to recall you also had a Canon G16 which you enjoyed.
The Leica can be daunting and expensive though.
You carry in the top box of the vespa a tripod, looked at the cost and as my only other tripod is big, heavy and suitable for a Graflex, no other tripod existed, until I saw the one you had. Small compact and just right even for me as tall as I am. Ordered mine from B&H as no dealer exists here in Canada, wasn’t low in price either. Quality if expensive.
That noted. As I may have mentioned previously sold all of my digital gear and all of my lenses. I think it could be said, photography was no longer “fun” for me. My physical problems are myriad so lugging something heavy is no longer in the range of possibility.
My local long-established dealer has tried to get me back into some form of”quality” digital photography. Handled both the Nikon Coolpic B500 and B700 bridge cameras as well as a number of Lumix (Pansonic )devices; every one of them far too small for my enormous hands. And I looked the Fujifilm line, very complicated as you’ve noted and
also here, expensive.
Methinks continue to dispose of my 30,000 in number slide collection of railways
through donation to historical groups or through my good friend’s eBay site.
Once they are gone, then I may rethink photography.
One interesting point . Have been offered a Can-Am Spyder. A friend has a two year old machine for sale; he has ordered a new 2018 and would like to dispose of his older machine, we’ll see. Maybe a return to three wheels versus two?
Kim has the G16. I continue to use the G15. For riding, my go to cameras are the Canon G15 (for routine work) and the Nikon D3300 for anything I want better quality. The Fuji X-Pro1, much like the Leica M6 before it, isn’t really suited for the riding work I do. It follows along on the kind of documentation I do when I’m out in the world without the Vespa.
The Sirui carbon fiber tripod rides along in the topcase. It is a quality tool. And expensive as you say. But in practice, a dream to use as tripods go.
Those photographic transitions you describe seem to rear their heads from time to time. Just a chronic issue for anyone who takes making images seriously. But I’ve found there’s always a sunny day at the other side. Just takes time.
I was looking at Can-Am Spyders last week. One had a long seat where you might be able to sit way back and accommodate your height. And the ones with CVT transmission would eliminate any troubles with shifters. Interesting machine.
Maybe there is something moto in your future!
“Now, as I descend into my senior years, it’s thrilling to reacquire that perspective and be able to find adventure in any sort of ride.”
First up , Steve, I invite you to consider the possibility that you are ascending into your senior years.
As for adventure, it is pretty much on tap , on a daily basis , for all of us.
Some years back I listened to a CBC ( Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) interviewer discuss the the topic with the legendary, Sir Edmund Hillary.
He asked Hillary what constitutes real adventure.
Hillary replied that adventure is attempting to do things that we have never done before. The interviewer was less then satisfied with this response as it lacked for him , any grandness. He pressed further but Hillary was steadfast. He said that if you have never walked around a park and then do so… you are on an sdventure.
I loved Hillary’s response as it threw the doors open to all of us.
Congrats on your new Camera , Steve. If at 68 I can still be referred to as a “Fanboy “, I am very much a Fuji Fanboy. I shoot a Pro 2 which is pretty much the same box as yours. It may not have quite the same presence in the hand as my Leica did but it feels well built and the Fuji glass is every bit the equal of Leica glass at a far more accessible price.
I think the 23 mm f: 1.2,is maybe the best lens I’ve ever shot.
I’m looking forward more of your insights and images, Steve. We are all richer for them .
Good call. Ascending. The words we use are always loaded with meaning and purpose. Might as well be positive.
Thanks for sharing the comments about Sir Edmund Hillary. His definition of adventure definitely throws open the door to all of us to have an adventure without the need to have something “grand” and expensive.
I love the Fuji X-Pro1. It’s fun to use and the images seem excellent (technically). I’ve not made any prints yet but expect them to be fine as well. I’ve settled in on a little kit — the X-Pro1 body, 35mm F1.4, and the 18mm F2, all gathered together in a military green Domke F‑803 RuggedWear Messenger Bag. There’s a Moleskine journal in one of the pockets and an extra battery in the other. I’m all set.
I’ll be sharing some of the work here at some point. In my latest “Finding My Way” post — all the non-Vespa images were made with the Fuji.
And thanks for your kind words about the things I share. I appreciate them.
Steve;
You said: “Adventure has been co-opted by advertisers and marketers. For riders of bicycles, scooters and motorcycles it’s come to mean expensive and time consuming challenges that precludes the possibility of anything more simple, direct and accessible.”
I couldn’t agree more. Glad you said it.
I’ve come to realize how many forces are out there trying to manipulate me into parting with my time and money for an illusion. Took a long, long time to see it. Even longer to do something about it.
Steve, reading this post, the lyrics to the Eagles song: Desperado came to mind unbidden….
Then, I thought, replace the word Desperado in the lyrics with Vesparado….things got weird after that. I substituted scooter for the word fences….you should try it, see where the mind takes you.
And no, I’m not drinking.
“Vesperado”
Love it!
You’re in Colorado. What are you smoking?
Ok, I checked. It is weird. I love that song Dom. Now it’s been tainted. For those that don’t know what we’re talking about….
I thought that I would be riding more after retirement but that didn’t happen. I no longer needed to “escape” after work and take the scenic route home anymore. Now my commute is just to College Coffeehouse.
Yep. The need to escape has greatly reduced. But the need to replenish the soul remains…
Hi, Steve,
Just cannot let this post go without responding. After riding for two road trips of 900 and 1800 miles, it seemed that would be just the first of many such rides. Well, several things have happened since…my age has intruded into my strength and also my ability to move as easily as before. So, as I’ve aged, the engine displacement and the weight of the scooters, from Burgman 650s, Silverwings, etc have changed to the 170ccs and under 300 lbs. But, an amazing thing is that each time I climb on either scooter the ride is at least as satisfying and full of interest as the earlier years…just a lot shorter. A long ride for me now is 70-80 miles, with, hopefully some great food halfway through.
I feel I’m following you down the same road Karl. Went on a 150 mile ride last week and I was wondering why I was so sore. That was 8 hours in the saddle wandering around. I don’t have any big rides like yours to compare it to but I can definitely see how the physical realities of life change things. And so far, each change has left me with something just as good. And at time even better!
Years ago I did a 3600 mile road trip, but it was very matter of fact. My bike was new, big and shaft driven. It was a high point but lacked adventure. It was almost like driving a car. Then last year I did several 300 mile round trips on a Chinese 250. I had to become one with the machine listening for noises and feeling what it was doing. It’s not distance, or destination to me, it’s what I bring away from the experience that burns my internal memory card.
…internal memory card. Love that.
And you’re right, what we bring away from an experience is important. The best laid plans can’t always account for that.
I am a early riser and one of the great things before the sunrise is when I see a update from your blog. I make the coffee and then come in a set down at my desk in the morning quite and get a vicarious thrill of traveling on the Vespa as I read your blog.
When this one arrived I was in the throes of pre-hurricane planning and prep. I said to myself I would save this for later in the day when things had calmed down and I needed a mental escape. That moment did not come for over a week. I just reinstalled the bird feeder, helped pull the last tree off the neighbors house, helped put away the widows hurricane shutters and that completed all the hurricane work for this event.
I came in and sat down. Did a little mediating on the meaning of life in all of this and then said “it is time”. I set down for that magical moment of escape that Scooter in the Sticks brings . It is bitter sweet in that it is great to escape with you but also reminded me that I had planned a two week journey that now has been postponed.
Now I need another one in the morning please.
Sorry for the lapse in providing you morning material. I’ve been a slacker. Glad you made it through Irma ok.
I’ve been collecting riding experiences and generating raw material — just haven’t been motivated to do anything with it. I feel those clouds moving away. So perhaps you’ll see some more from me soon.
The publishing time that I try to keep is at 5am. MailChimp tells me that’s the best time of day to release content by email. That’s makes it available for breakfast!