In all my years on scooters and motorcycles I was only ever on one group ride. I hated it. Swore to never participate in one again and so far that’s been the case. I just don’t like having to pay attention to so many other riders and when I want to stop or go in a different direction it mucks things up.

Geez. I sound sort of anti-social.

Yes, having a backup bike in the garage makes a failure less frustrating.

Thanks for your kind words Don. Acceptance is easier to access now. It took some years of practice.

I remember those drives in the VW with its AM radio. I couldn’t afford to install a tape player. The stations available were fire and brimstone preaching with the occasional few minutes of rock as the road wound through the mountains making reception sketchy. I do remember one pre-sunrise drive listening to the Eagles song “Ol’ 55.” I remember crawling out of bed early for that two and a half hour drive to work and hearing this lyrics struck a chord:

As I drove away slowly, feeling so holy
God knows, I was feeling alive

Crosby, Stills, and Nash had to wait until I got back home. It felt great to be alive and driving back then. A real pleasure.