“The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”
Marcel Proust, Novelist (1871-1922)
Channeling Proust
Don’t remember the last time I’ve ridden through a new landscape, one I’ve not ridden through or near many times. But I am familiar with the idea of seeing with new eyes. One of the mesmerizing aspects of riding is how often the rarefied, highly focused visual attention to detail to the road opens a door to noticing much more. And in those moments the detail and emotion of even the most familiar places reveal new secrets. Rain, mist, heavy skies — they conspire to recreate the world. And while on the Vespa, I’m a witness. Add to it the free flow of thoughts and feelings and its no wonder a well-traveled path looks new.
Marley’s Ghost
Ebenezer Scrooge was asked by Marley’s Ghost in A Christmas Carol about his existence, “Why do you doubt your senses?”
Scrooge responded, “Because, a little thing affects them. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of underdone potato. There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!”
And so it is while riding, for each time I enter the world on the scooter my senses come under varied influences that can affect what I experience. On this ride the mix of light and air produced a relaxed state of mind where the concerns of living evaporated with each mile I rode. Such is the power the gray and gloomy weather can have over me.
Alone on the Road
Being alone while riding is an expression of mindful meditation. Moto-meditation. Slow, quiet, mindful flight on two wheels of body and spirit. I suspect many riders experience moments of clarity when they ride where questions are answered and problems are solved.
Fire Coming to Foliage
As autumn fattens with color and fallen leaves, my riding sensibility reconstructs itself to embrace the changes demanded by the more erratic road conditions that affect traction. Damp leaves on wet roads are surprisingly slippery, a frightening trap for unsuspecting riders.
Seeing With New Eyes
Spring Creek was swollen with water and mist from the continual rain we’ve had this summer. A cool dampness penetrates me as the scooter winds along the stream, a subtle reminder of the stress to come as I hope to ride through another winter. I’ve been here before. The landscape and feelings familiar. Yet it’s strange and exciting.
I’m seeing with new eyes.
Just as you never step in the same stream twice (to mangle a famous passage I can’t recall in this wee hour), so it seems I never experience a road or path the same way twice, no matter how many times I’ve traversed it. This is a big part of the sweetness of the ride, something that, for me at least, somehow soothes and invigorates the mind simultaneously.
And, about that rain: it lulled me to sleep some hours ago, but somehow roused me briefly – long enough to meander the Internets and find your new entry rather early for a change. Wonderful! Now, back to bed for me. 🙂
Heraclitus — You could never step twice into the same river. Old Greek philosopher commenting on the ever changing nature of the universe. Odd how much the world resists that idea.
You’re right about how the mind is both soothed and invigorated while riding. At least for you and me. Not sure if it’s the case for all riders. Have not asked the question often enough.
A real luxurious pleasure to get up on a rainy morning and then go back to sleep. We have nothing to complain about if we get to do that.
All this philosophical thoughts about riding. And I just consider it a way to get from point “A” to “B”. I must be missing something.
I’ve met other riders who share your thinking. Nothing wrong with that. We’re all different and have our own unique perspectives. There are endless examples — the hunter or fishermen who engage for sport versus those who engage for food. Getting from A to B is the realm of the auto for me. When I ride, I am generally not interested or concerned with getting to B. It’s more akin to wanting to escape A and live in the “to” part if that makes any sense.
Granted, I do ride for utility at times where A to B comes in. Errands and commuting. But now, that’s mostly gone and I’m riding for other reasons.
Like the last two pics best…..the feeling of solitude.
As to seeing with “new eyes”….some of the places I’ve been to require them…..just not sure how to equip myself sometimes.
Solitude is a big part of riding for me. And why I generally ride alone.
When I look at the pictures on your blog, everything looks strange and new to me. Because of the scope and sweeping nature of the mountains it’s hard for me to fathom that you ever see anything but new. Pennsylvania is so compact in comparison.
Seeing with New Eyes was maybe an off handed reference to something else.
Still thought maybe you experienced cataract surgery, however there was no mention of same.
Then I realized in my befuddled brain that these days; your riding and photography is post exhibition; time to create more great images.
BTW I owe you a postal letter; the framed advertising of your exhibition has been returned; photos to follow.
And too your response to my enquiry of last October needs delving into…
It was all of 30C degrees here this last week; this Friday evening October 12 it is now 6C degrees with a cool wind….
Time for autumn clothing and perhaps the. newly delivered Vanson leather jacket. Hey you gotta be good to yourself once in a while! Waited four months for the jacket
and it was worth the wait. The cost though was just a way bit dear; more than I imagined
what with monetary exchange rates and related. Mind clothing a very large person (me) can be interesting; still and all, am happy.
No cataract surgery yet.
Right now I’m just riding more as the weather tempers away from the summer heat. And along with it comes new images. So far nothing great has appeared.
Temperature has dropped here. Yesterday I was on a ride where the temperature twice dropped to 8C. First cool weather ride of the season. Fortunately I was well dressed for the occasion.
Vanson makes some cool leather jackets. Did you get street leather or racing leather?
As far as cost goes, sometimes the dear price turns into the best investment. Like my Leica M6 was. Or every house I’ve ever bought…