Thank you for taking the time to comment Mike. I appreciate the input.

Transitioning from a bicycle to a motorcycle is a big technical change in regard to how a rider conducts themselves on the road. It’s different from riding a bike or driving a car and requires some time and experience to learn how to manage the risk. Managing the bike and the throttle are often overlooked. You are way ahead of the game recognizing both.

The payoff, than zen-like state you refer to, that is seductive in it’s own way. At least for me. And it is a big part of why I ride. The more I ride the more quickly it occurs. As I write this note I have one eye outside at the winter sunshine. The temperature is already 34F and I have some errands to run so why not on my Vespa.

I commuted for years on my Vespa and over time I went from the direct route to work to a more meandering one requiring me to get up an hour or two earlier. The same riding home. That riding magic made my wife wonder why it was taking so long to get home!

Riding buddies are a gift. I was fortunate that a riding friend guided me into a Vespa 20 years ago. So I had someone to ride with from the start. But I have acquired a few other riding buddies by reaching out to people or allowing them to reach out to me. For someone who is naturally wired to relish being alone that took some work. But it is definitely worth connecting to riding groups and making the first move to ask if someone wants to go for a ride.

Best wishes for some fine rides when the weather moderates. And watch out for the frozen fog!

I’ve been a cyclist for decades but a motorcyclist for only a year and change. I resonate with your appreciation of nature and of the almost zen-like state you achieve while riding. I too strive for that in my rides, or at least I do now. When I first got my Triumph I was distracted by the mechanics of riding and the seduction of speed. Now that I’ve gained the necessary muscle memory and purged (mostly) from my system the need to zip around highway curves, I am free to just feel the wind, sense my oneness with the machine, and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Like you I enjoy stopping along the way and admiring the view, perhaps snapping a pic or two. I live in the rural foothills of the eastern Willamette valley in Oregon and am surrounded by spectacular landscapes.

My original intent (excuse?) for buying a bike was to use it as an inexpensive commuter. But I’ve found the need to be somewhere by a certain time strips the ride of its magic, reducing it to a utilitarian task. To me the best rides are the slow meandering ones with no time constraining the end of it.

I love riding alone but occasionally I do wish for a riding buddy or two, as you have. But all my friends are either uninterested or barred from motorcycles by their wives. Such is life. For now I am content.

The many recent days of rain have finally stopped and tomorrow will be dry and in the mid 50s. I know what I will be doing…

I find knives to be satisfying little tokens connected to my youth. I’ve slowed down my purchased drastically but I can still be wooed if I’m not careful.

The Fuji MX5 is a fine camera. I have two Fuji cameras now — an XT2 and an XPro2 along with a host of lenses. But when I ride all my photography is now left to my iPhone 14 Pro. It’s all I need for blogging and YouTube. And I recently purchased a 5×7 view camera and have reactivated by darkroom to work on a specific project.

Knives, cameras, guns, motorcycles, scooters, tools, pens, notebooks, all things I can acquire without need or good sense. I’ve begun to simplify in my mind if not with the atoms themselves.

I understand the loss of motivation to post. I’ve certainly fallen on hard times. Not for ideas or content but for some reason I find it more difficult to write. I hope it isn’t old age.

I hope you find your way back to your blog.

Ah, c’mon, man! No such thing as too many knives.

Of course. I always have a bunch of fountain pens and my Rhodia pad in A7 size, it’s the *dependance* of my brain, as I call it. Getting older means also forgetting things I thought to be able to keep in mind.
And I actually always bring with me my camera, the new Fuji MX5, a small jewel.
Buck knives you say, geez, they’re gorgeous and I always wanted one but, as for all the other tools, I already have too many knives 😉
I never stopped reading your heartwarming posts, which made me step into this wonderful two-wheel world eighteen yers ago. I’m just a lazy poster, and I should maybe update my blog as I haven’t been writing anything for a whole year. Many things to tell, though.
A big hug, godspeed and happy winter rides!

Riding is a detox ritual for me as well. And one I need to engage on a regular basis.

Digital minimalism is becoming more and more important to me. I watch the world around me addicted to their phones constantly and am reminded that I do not want my life to slip away into a screen. Technology has productive uses. I want to make sure I make good choices for myself.

Andar de bicicleta é também um ritual de desintoxicação para mim. E um que preciso de praticar regularmente.

O minimalismo digital está a tornar-se cada vez mais importante para mim. Observo o mundo à minha volta viciado nos seus telemóveis constantemente e lembro-me de que não quero que a minha vida se esvaia num ecrã. A tecnologia tem utilizações produtivas. Quero ter a certeza de que estou a fazer boas escolhas para mim.

Don’t forget fountain pens!

I look at my iPhone as a blessing and a curse. In and of itself it is a benign tool. But the decisions I make concerning apps and use, my choices, that’s often the problem. It’s a productive tool in regard to my calendar, making notes, and things that enhance the values in my life I deem important. But it can also seduce me into wasting time. I’ve deleted social media accounts so I don’t mindlessly scroll through things that do nothing to enhance my life. I’ve considered things like a Nokia 130 but then I would have to bring a camera along. While riding, I now shoot both 4K video and high resolution images with the iPhone.

Before I retired I almost always had a Leatherman on my belt. It’s retired now and has been replaced by a small Buck pocket knife. Good for opening packages and cutting up an apple.

Getting ready to go for a ride. It’s 40F outside but the sun keeps popping out so it will get warmer quickly. I hope.

It was good seeing your name in the comments. Thanks for taking the time and best wishes to you.

It was a fine ride. One I hope to repeat in some form. Still plenty of great routes to explore.

I think you may be correct Steve. I am not as tall as you, and it is a bit of a squeeze for me!