A Therapeutic Contraption
Early this morning, sitting in the garden, I found myself increasingly agitated. Angry. Anxious. Resentful. A neighborhood dog barking incessantly. A concrete saw screaming as it created expansion joints. A gas powered leaf blower filling in any audible gaps that might reveal just a glimmer of serenity.
It was a beautiful day with sunshine and blue skies. My view included a 25 foot top from a spruce tree that came down in a recent storm. Leaning on the roof of the shed. Later my friend Paul would arrive with a chainsaw and we would embark on yet another noisy adventure. Thankfully, by that time I was serene. Calm. All made possible through wind therapy and the motorcycle’s uncanny ability to ride into serenity with me on it.
I sent a text to my wife that began, “It’s noisy as fuck…”
Twenty miles later I was home again feeling fine. And wondering (again) why I allow myself to become agitated over things I have absolutely no control over. Amazing how clear things become for me when I am drifting down the road.
I’m grateful to own scooters and motorcycles.
Nice to see the W650 out. That is one sharp-looking machine!
I think so too. And it is a pleasure to ride. Damn lucky to have it.
Glad to see you managed to overcome the agitations of the morning. Take care and keep on riding for tranquility.
Riding definitely helps in the short-term. Provides enough hope to tackle the work involved to be more tranquil in the long-term. A fine journey.
These feelings are something we all experience at one time or another. The rarity seems to be the gratefulness for finding the beauty and calm which is abundant for most of us. Thank you for sharing your calm, Steve.
A friend suggested that I try making a list of things for which I am grateful. He said it helps him see things aren’t the mess he may think. On my list is the beauty that abounds around me.
I’m glad you find some use in the things I share.
As I have said before, “riding my motorcycles is the tools by which I maintain my mental stability”.
It’s a good tool to have. I use them often!
Very nice post. Japanese reliability on an ATTRACTIVE generic all-rounder … S H A R P!!! L👀KING @ CP3 CP2 stuff from Yamaha, ,currently. Unloading a Kymco 300cc
The W650 is definitely a reliable improvement over the Triumph it was honoring. And now 24 years later the bike still runs like a champ.
Years ago when I had the W650 I couldn’t go anywhere without someone asking me about it. Back then the new Triumph Bonneville wasn’t around much and people confused it with a 1960’s Bonneville. Especially in Gray and Blue. First they would tell me what a good job I did on the restoration and then see “Kawasaki” on the tank. Ironically nobody even looks at my 1983 Kawasaki.
I’m having the same experiences. The W650 gets more attention than any of the other machines I ride. And since it’s so old most of the younger riders think it is a Triumph until I point to the Kawasaki name.
Fun to ride!