Thanks Peter. I’m recovered but distracted from riding as I catch up with other less exciting activities…

I let my guard down. I have no idea how I got it. I’ve finally tested negative again but I’m dogged with a lack of energy. Not as bad as it was but enough of a decline that I don’t want to ride yet. I guess I’ll wait until it snows…

Sorry to hear about Susan’s unfortunate encounter with a wall. No fun on a scooter or a bike. I’m glad that surgery probably won’t be necessary.

Find what you love and let it kill you. I’ll need to sit with that for awhile. It may be a fine way to look at life.

Thanks for stopping by. It’s nice to see your name appear here!

Thank you for sending the links. I love your dogs. I thought our Belgian Sheepdogs were mythic, but your Wolfhounds are even more so.

I hope to get out on the Vespa soon! It’s getting cold already. 34F this morning. Time for winter gear…

Thank you for taking the time to reply, and I hope you feel better soon.

I know of an American lady who runs a travel blog, and she seems to have fallen in love with Jæren. For those who are curious, her experience and photos at:

https://big5travel.com/norwegian-scenic-route-jaeren/

Sometimes I also post photos and write a bit at: https://vespaivinden.no

Good luck with all your future Vespa adventures.

Einar

Hello Einar,

Sorry for the delay in getting your comments out of moderation. I’ve been sick with COVID-19 and have not been doing much on the blog.

There isn’t much as joy inspiring as a spouse saying, “You should buy one” when the one is a scooter or motorcycle. I am sorry that I led you to spend 13 thousand dollars. I have to believe in the long run you’ll see it as an investment in serenity and sanity!

Thank you for your kind review and comments about the things I share on my blog. It’s always nice to know something resonates with another person.

I spent some time with Google Maps and Street Views looking at the Jæren area of Norway. What a beautiful place to ride. A Vespa GTS seems a perfect riding companion.

Maybe you got if from the Vespa? The dog?

All kidding aside, I wish you all the best for a speedy and sound recovery.

Susan and I have been blessed, so far.

That said there are other risks…

Such as going to France, going for a bicycle tour of caves owned by a winery in the Loire, and Susan momentarily losing control and hitting a wall… fractured clavicle that turned an amazing experience into pure hell. Each day is a little improvement. She got her orthopaedic assessment today, surgery is looking like it is probably not in the cards. Fortunately that was on the second to last day of our first post-covid adventure, on October 2nd.

Does she regret the adventure? We were discussing it this morning. Absolutely not.

We are nowhere near as adventurous as Ken. But it looks like we share Ken’s approach and your approach to life. Do more, live more.

My brother in law (definitely not an adventurer, more of an amateur philosopher) is fond of saying “find what you love, and let it kill you”, a sentiment that seems attributable to Kinky Friedman way back in 1986.

I have followed your blog for many years. I am impressed!

In my youth, and until I graduated as an architect, I rode a yellow 50cc scooter. I have only good memories of it. Then adulthood began with a car, house, wife, career and dogs – the whole package. I gave the scooter away.

I now live on the west coast of Norway, in a place called Jæren. The landscape here is scenic, full of contrasts and a popular destination for anyone who rides on two wheels.

To my amusement, twise every summer, a group of Vespa enthusiasts drive by my house. They form a long line and ride very slow. I often feel the urge to wave at them. My wife was probably not surprised, having just seen them drive by our house when I told her how much I missed driving a scooter. Much to my delight, she immediately said I should buy one!

But, my joy was short-lived. Eventually, it dawned on me that it’s a big difference between riding a scooter as a 16-year-old weighing 60 kg, and me as an adult weighing closer to 90 kg. A more powerful engine was a practical necessity. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a motorcycle license and buying a Vespa was put on ice.

But the dream was kept alive by you, Steve. I continued to read your weekly posts. I studied the pictures carefully. And, to make a long story short, I finally decided to go for it. The following morning I booked driving lessons and ordered a Vespa GTS.

I am now $13,000 poorer, thanks to your enthusiasm and writing skills 🙂 But, this is one of the things I am most proud of having achieved this year. I now have a license and a lovely yellow Vespa GTS 300 Super waiting outside, always ready for use.

Steve, your blog inspires me. Thank you for conveying a biker culture that I can relate to. Thank you for being creative and exploring different media in your blog. It makes it rich and varied. I know from experience that it can be tiresome to create something just from your mind. I hope you never let the tyranny of the blank page stop you.

Again, thank you very much!

Einar Wahlstrøm

Thanks for the suggestions Don. I’m starting to feel better so I’ll need to pace myself so I don’t over tax my recovering body. I’m hoping to test negative today for the first time.

As autumn progresses I’m sad to not be on the road to see it more closely. The fall colors are starting to glow and it’s perfect riding weather. Another opportunity for me to practice patience!