Spring Bath
It’s a sure sign of spring when I finally decide to spray the salt and grime off the Vespa. The temperature rose into the sixties and it was time to pull the Termoscud apron off the scooter and run down the street to the car wash. Doesn’t take long to remove evidence of winter riding with a high pressure cleaning wand.
From a distance the scooter still looks ok.
Finally — Warm Weather
It’s amazing how much a warm day can do to sweep away the winter blues. Not only did the scoot get a bath and stripped of it’s winter riding apron, I installed a new battery to ensure easy starts. The old one was nearly dead and starting was touch and go. Especially in the cold weather.
Can’t express how reassuring it is to press the starter and hear the engine jump to life.
Riding late in the day I could feel the road calling for a longer ride than evening errands could provide. I told Kim I’m ready for a long ride. I think she and I may have different definitions of “long ride.”
We can have a conversation.
My sentiments exactly, Steve… After the winter from hell (health-wise, anyway), its finally time to get out, wash the accumulated crud off the Burgman, and get on the road! I don’t know about longer rides yet as some health issues still persist, but at least up to Judy’s for breakfast and to Campbellville on Sunday mornings.
Cheers,
Jim.
Jim:
Drove by The Ice House today, still standing however the petrol station and the variety
store to the east appear to next on the agenda of the large power shovel on the property.
The. wrecking crew has arrived; hopefully the underground fuel storage tanks
are not slated to be destroyed in the process.
Hi Bryce;
The Ice House was closed two years ago and the entire property recently sold. It’s all scheduled to be demolished… truly the end of an era, eh? We’ve moved around the corner to The Trail Eatery on Sundays. Drop in if you’re ever by.
Washing the machine is like a nod to hope for me. That we’re emerged from the trials of winter. And whatever rides I can manage are good enough for me. I try not to have any major expectations of riding lest I get angry at not meeting them. I know my body isn’t as happy as it once was on long rides. I’ll have to manage time in the saddle differently. Most stops to move and stretch at least.
Hope you find the right recipe for your own riding life.
It was disheartening earlier this week with temps in the low 20’s and even a light accumulation of that white stuff!
However, with some sun yesterday and temps in the low 50’s, it was a pleasure to ride to the Post Office to mail a package. A perfect vehicle for that type of errand. If I hadn’t been pressed for time, it could easily have been a somewhat longer ride. Very easy to do on a Vespa!
Thanks for the writings and pictures!
The Vespa is great for errands. And I know the thinking that whispers of detours and longer rides. With the onset of warmer weather those whispers get louder and louder!
Ah yes, I am familiar with “the conversation”. Unfortunately I am not familiar with “warm weather”. At least not of late! Enjoy.
Hopefully you’ll have some warmer, and eventually dryer weather to enjoy. Patience…
A long and short ride in our house has always been a touchy subject. Good luck with that.
Hah. Touchy subjects…
My wife and I went for a long ride, two up. I asked her where she wanted to go, and she said “West”. By the time we returned home we had covered 15,000 miles and traveled through 37 states.
Wow. Still waiting for Kim to say something like that. Once her back heals and she’s recovered perhaps we can consider a long trip. Just not on the scooter…
I couldn’t resist a ride today. I pulled out the 1991 250 Nighthawk and did a short ride around the area. The Honda engine is a marvel and shifting is so much better than the Rebel. The lever on the Nighthawk attaches directly to the transmission unlike the Rebel, with the same motor, that has linkage. The little motor pulls insistently belting it’s diminutive size.
The Honda Nighthawks were a great series. Have always liked the 750 despite it’s size. Never saw a 250. Will have to keep my eyes open for that one.
A new battery always brings more confidence in one’s ride doesn’t it? I went through several over the years, finally got a moto-specific battery charger that does all three charge cycle types….now my batteries seem to last longer.
Moto-specific battery charger? Didn’t know of such things. My charger is old. Really old. Maybe it’s time to consider a replacement…
So, what is your definition of a long ride? Single or multiple continents, countries, states, counties/boroughs, school districts?
Or maybe any multi-day trip.
Long rides for me are measured not so much by miles as they are by time in the saddle. Anything 8 hours or more I consider a long ride. In that time I can go 100 miles or 300 miles. But generally those long rides are in Pennsylvania — sometimes bleeding into Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia or New York. And seldom into multiple days.
Ahh, like minds, and all that.
My beloved Ann is still in Rochester for the remainder of the month (art residency at Visual Studies Workshop), so I’ve been on my on recognizance since early this month. Alas, between kooky weather and an unusually busy work schedule (no, I don’t mind the extra cash), getting a fun ride in has been challenging. So has giving Melody her own overdue bath n’ polish, until today: reconnected the outdoor garden hoses, broke out the special cleaning spays, sponges and cloths, and went to town. An hour and a half later, Mel is literally sitting pretty in the driveway, waiting for me to hop on and do my “fun-errand” run, which is happening…well, almost as soon as I finish writing this. 🙂
Good to see your ride shining and rarin’ to go as well!
Life has a way of intruding on plans and dreams. I make the best of whatever riding I can muster.
A month in an artist residency sounds pretty good. I have friends who have taken advantage of those — writers mostly. They all reported transformations of one sort or another.
Now that my scooter is clean I have to turn to the four-wheeled vehicles. They get washed and cleaned as infrequently as the scooter. Bad habit..