Love Riding. Not Riding. Not Posting.
Summer is supposed to be the time of long rides and high adventure. So why haven’t I pushed the motorcycle, or the Vespa scooter, out of the garage in almost six weeks? Isn’t this the summer riding season?
The simple answer — it’s been too hot. Once the temperature rises above 80F the desire to ride evaporates. If I close my eyes right now and imagine it, I swear I feel a hot breeze. Now that we’re closing in on mid-September the temperatures have moderated a bit. I saw an extended forecast that showed mornings in the high 40s. That’s my kind of riding weather.
Still, I’m not riding. A text appeared on my phone a few hours ago inviting me to ride in the morning. I declined so I could finish painting lawn furniture. On the surface it feels like a massive personal failure on my part but I have to remember I get into habits. And out of them. I’ve gotten out of the riding and blogging habit and will have to ease my way back in.
The photograph of my 1992 BMW K75C was made during the last ride I made. It was a long, strange ride. One I’ve not had the energy to sit down and write. But I feel the desire to write changing. Its led me here.
Chores, Errands, and Wandering on Foot.
I’ve been busy. Riding and blogging can consume a lot of time and energy. Some of that has been spent playing more with the dogs. If they could talk, they probably would express their happiness at me setting aside “that damn blog.”
Mornings begin with a walk through our woodland landscape, a vigorous period of chasing tennis balls and then breakfast. Even though the process is predictable, Junior loves to watch the bowls being filled.
The dogs are quite happy that I don’t embrace a summer riding season.
Photography — Sans Scooter or Motorcycle.
In place of riding, I’ve been walking down the street to the Pennsylvania Military Museum with my camera. I’ve walked through this park hundreds of times. I’ve seen it all. And to my great surprise, I’ve seen nothing. It’s sort of amazing what happens when you remove all the preconceptions about things like that.
I have some plans for a small project involving the park, public art, and giving things away. More on that if it actually happens.
More Rides, More Photography, More Reflections.
Wandering around with my camera, pack on my back with extra lenses and gear to make videos, I’ve been thinking about the next steps. For the blog, for rides, and for life in general. One thing is for certain, just because I’m not riding, it hasn’t stopped my brain from spinning. And now that the weather is cooler, you can expect to see more frequent posts from central Pennsylvania.
Now that the summer riding season is over.
Just freaking wonderful. Wonderful photos, as per usual. And, here’s my take:
– Just because you’re into riding, and riding’s a Big Thing for your mental/spiritual balance, doesn’t mean you do it on a regular basis. Hell, most of my riding this year has been out of pure necessity, but I’d be a bald-faced liar if I said it didn’t enhance my emotional state one iota by doing so. As I wrote this, Melody is approximately 600 miles past its 15k service interval, and I need to deal with that, stat.
– Life Happens: We both have a spouse, and four-legged furriy folks to look after (dogs for you, a cat for me, although wife’s younger son and his dog are now with us for a while). We can’t do everything we want to do at moments like this.
– Other Stuff: I just found out that while I’m able to renew Melody’s registration online, I have to renew my license in-person. Not the greatest thing to do at this moment in time, but now I have to plan for this.
Throughout this, I’ve been riding a lot, mostly for work stuff, but it’s been a boon for my head in general. Haven’t been on NJ Transit commuter trains in a few months, which makes me a bit sad, because I believe in them. To quote a Cheech & Chong line, things are tough all over.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate them. My spiritual and mental balance has been good despite not riding and in spite of some troubling drama. I’ve substituted the camera for the scooter and that’s been working out well.
There always seems to be something to do whether having a vehicle serviced or dealing with one renewal or another. I’m grateful that it’s been relatively easy for me to manage.
I miss riding. A few days ago I wouldn’t have said that. Didn’t care at all about it. Now that the weather is cooler I think about it a lot. I may go for a little ride tomorrow. It’s not the sort of thing you do in Gotham, rather a long way from that experience.
Be safe and stay well!
Call me crazy, but from what I’ve read from you, you ride to enjoy, and you enjoy to ride. It sounds to me like you’re not getting that excitement/itch to ride right now and doing so would not be as enjoyable to you. A good friend to me said, “unpack your shoulds.” Who says you have to ride? Only you. People constantly remind me that my “bike can do highways, why not just do the highway?” -Because I don’t find that enjoyable. If it’s not enjoyable, why do it? Sounds like you’re taking a break. Maybe you don’t know why, but it your resistance to get on is that voice saying “I don’t wanna.” You gotta listen to the voice. Sounds like you’ve been reminded of joy in other things, and those things are taking priority. Enjoy. I think you’ll be back.
There’s a lot of wisdom in your friend’s “unpack your shoulds.” I try to either do or not do and not pile on a bunch of shoulds.
I think you’re right about me taking a break. Even with the heat, I grew disinterested in riding. So I took a summer vacation. But with the cooler weather, I feel the stir of riding desire.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It’s always good for me to consider another perspective.
We have done most of our Moto travelling during the shoulder seasons and comfort has been a significant factor. As Canadians we seem to have a knack for layering up as opposed to down and I for one start getting uncomfortable at anything much above 80 fahrenheit. The vented gear helps some but hot is hot and most often there are many other satisfying preoccupations begging for attention. Looking forward to Autumn riding and all it’s deliciousness. Once again a timely post Steve. Thankyou.
Shoulder seasons. An interesting idea. I certainly do most of my riding then as well. But I also linger into summer and from fall into winter and on to spring. I will confess that growing older has decreased my temperature range. I’m in the 20F to 80F realm now. Or at least that’s where I think I am.
As always, that’s for sharing here and your kind words.
Steve;
I get it. The heat and humidity down here in NC has been nothing less than oppressive. Since I sold my bike last year, I have mostly regretted it, but the sweltering weather has lately made me think “…not so much really”.
I go outdoors, and ask myself, “Would I like to be on a motorcycle right now?”. The answer is always a resounding “No”.
I know when the Fall weather comes (which is short-lived here…we go right into winter usually), I’ll feel that yearning for a new-to-me bike again.
We’ll see.
As always, your well-articulated thoughts are much appreciated, Steve.
Steel
Thank you for your kind words Steel. I hope you find the right path regarding another motorcycle or not. Like you, most of the summer was a “glad I’m not riding situation.”
steve
When I got my scooter back from the shop three weeks ago, I took a few nice rides on it, since I hadn’t had it up and running since I tried to take it out in the spring. The rides were great, and once again made me realize how much I love the feeling of being able to go long distances on two wheels without worrying about range, as I do with my ebike. And yet….
Nothing this summer has felt completely “right.” I believe the pandemic has robbed me (and maybe others) of any sense of motivation. I find that when I think about leaving the house for any reason, even for enjoyment, the need to be sure I am taking the right precautions and be safe sucks the joy out of any event. I may be riding, but I am not inclined to stop at that small-town diner for lunch. If I need gas, I get it fast and go, not stopping to forage inside for a snack. Along with riding, all the other activities I’ve been pursuing to keep active during the pandemic are losing their sheen: reading books, streaming movies or shows, even walking have begun to lose steam. Is it the heat? Or is it just the sense of those invisible chains the pandemic has wrapped us in that is the cause?
I think you’re right about the pandemic invisibly chaining us from fully embracing life. Even though Kim and I have no financial or security concerns, there’s a persistent notion of danger in the air. You’ve described it well. Most of the time I move through my daily life easily and without issue, but there are times when I can feel the twinge of concern. I wonder when it will all be over. I wonder if it will ever be over.
I am grateful for the cooler weather. The shine has returned to riding. And a newfound energy for using the camera for some projects is an unexpected joy.
As always, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I do appreciate it.