Whatever the determination, it doesn’t seem to bode well for humanity to address difficult problems.

Psychologists will be debating for decades the underlying reasons for how such a basic health measure was so easily turned into a political weapon.

I’ve heard change is good!

It’s easy to fall back into the straight line riding frame of mind. For me, it’s where I find nothing new to see. I’m glad you found the will to make some “any left turns.” I’m still surprised at what I’ll find.

Just last week on the BMW I took a turn down a road that I could not believe existed so close to home. And I was rewarded with some magnificent views. You just never know what you’ll find.

Riding 3 hours to join my wife in Cedar Key on basic straight roads, many four lanes, I had time to drift off and think about what has happened to my riding in Florida. Your post helped me realize that though I used to be the king of U turns and “any left turn” I had lost that style of riding and convinced myself there was nothing new to see. . On the way home I got it back. I did several “any left turns”. Some where rewarding some where not. But the whole thing made me realize that all I had to do was do it. I had the big smile back on my face once again when I got home

Thank you Steve for the stimulation.

Regarding the machines, time and space, space both in the garage and between the ears.No regrets as all three machines have provided many miles and smiles. I will add a second contrasting machine down the road at some point as I distill what it is that I most enjoy and savour. Getting on is a variable at play here too and to quote Bob Dylan and reference the title of your post here, “The Times They Are a Changin”

It must be because we’ve both drank the Vespa Kool-Aid.

I agree Steve, masking wearing and other pandemic-defeating behaviors are about us. A virus respects nothing and will burn through a population that’s unwary, unprepared, or without compassion for their fellow humans. I understand how it may be a nuisance, and for people who lose jobs and their livelihood disastrous, but what chance will they have if we don’t bring the spread under control?

I suspect mask-wearing will be our future for a long time. I understand now why I used to see so many Asian students wearing masks in public for years during flu season. Their experience in other countries was mitigating respiratory diseases for a long time. Sadly for us, that aspect of nature has taken up residence in North America and around the world.

I plan to do some therapy riding later today. While I don’t drink coffee I will be bringing some tea along in a Thermos bottle.

What happened to your machines? Sounds like a terrible dilema.