Weird
Unlike most scooter and motorcycle riders, summer has always been the season I ride the least. I’ve blamed the heat. Or the laziness I feel whenever the temperature rises into the upper 70s. Whatever it is I seem to come back to life when I can step outside in the morning with the temperature at 50.
This summer was no different. But a few things were stirred into the mix that has kept me from posting anything for months. A faux heart attack scare, endless pondering about whether to move to a different blogging platform, and most recently a laser to the eyes to remove cataracts and install new lenses in my eyes.
Maybe not so weird.
Riding Regardless of How I Feel
Despite the lack of posts (or YouTube videos) I have been riding consistently through the summer. With five machines in the garage I try and give them each a little exercise leading to two or three rides a week. Short rides, from 15 to 50 miles depending on the day, but enough to remind me how much I love riding. And how much better I feel when I get home.
The concerns about a blogging platform have faded into the who cares realm. Perhaps a side effect of time in the saddle. And the eye surgery has been nothing short of miraculous. Since I was seven-years-old I’ve been nearsighted. Cataracts made normally blurry vision even worse, even corrected with glasses. And now, after surgery, I’ve joined the ranks of the farsighted. Without glasses I have 20/20 vision. Whites are white again and the painted lines on the road I thought had faded now leap out as if electrically illuminated. I’ll need glasses to read now but I am grateful for the skills of the team who did the surgery and for the technology available.
And the improved eyesight has stimulated me to pick up a camera again. Weird?
Morning Meditations
There are a series of morning rituals I’m called to perform. First after dressing and brushing my teeth is taking the dogs out into the garden so they can investigate and patrol the property. Squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits run off to safety as the dogs use their noses to read the action of the previous night. Thankfully, I don’t have to check for bears now before letting them out. Not until spring.
Autumn High Approaches
I get excited at the idea of colder weather. For riding and for life in general. Seems to be more challenges which give rise to a heightened sense of being alive. Or maybe it’s just all my overactive imagination.
There’s a pile of photos and stories to post. Now that the cold has arrived perhaps I’ll be more active here.
And that’s the way it is in the sticks…
I took a couple of rides this summer, but the heat did get to me a bit. On days where the temperature was nice, I probably rode too far and too long. Being in that saddle for more than 3 hours now brings with it unexpected fatigue. I get home and have to put my feet up and take a nap after a ride that long. Adaptation will be required going forward.
Long rides in the heat are draining for me now. I still enjoy them but I can tell I have neither the strength or endurance I once possessed. In retirement I discovered the joys of napping. I think America needs to embrace siestas!
I haven’t ridden as much as I would have liked but the ones I did fill in the holes. The trip to Americade is high on the list as are local events with large groups of fellow riders. My annual weekend with my younger brother doing rides around the area and one local event fell through when he developed Sciatica, Expected since he just turned 70. There is always next year or sooner if he beats the ailment. I used all three large machines on rides while the 170cc scooter hasn’t been out much.
Best of all I got to spend a few days in Lake George with my wife seeing the sights, hanging with her son, daughter in law and four grand children. Not to mention seeing Dinner theater in that town.
Sounds like you’ve had a fine summer of riding. Hopefully there are more weeks of riding ahead before winter draws the curtain.
Best wishes for your brother’s speedy recovery.
Olá, Steve!
Quando recebi a notificação de um novo texto seu, mal cheguei a casa, foi a primeira coisa que fui ver. É muito bom tê-lo de volta. Espero que a sua saúde esteja melhor e que permita grandes aventuras na estrada quando chegar o inverno.
Este verão não andei tanto o quanto esperava. O facto de andar sozinho significa que normalmente só o faço na ausência da minha mulher, quando se encontra a trabalhar, por exemplo. Mas no último dia de agosto tive um grande reconhecimento. Recebi um email que me encheu o coração. Era a própria Honda a dar reconhecimento ao que eu escrevia no meu blogue. Sinto que nas minhas viagens não ando sozinho, além dos meus leitores, a própria marca em Portugal segue-me e por isso em cada nova jornada, levo todos comigo na minha Honda Vision. Apesar de tudo, no mesmo dia em que ganho reconhecimento da Honda Portugal Motos, realizo a minha maior viagem, um percurso de 120 km que irei em breve publicar também.
Quanto à plataforma de blogues, o que eu aconselho é usar o mais simples e descomplicado. Eu prefiro focar-me nas crónicas e nas minhas experiências. Se começamos a preocupar-nos com a parte técnica, diluímo-nos. Mas não te vou mentir, eu perdi muito tempo este verão com o design do meu blogue. Pretendi criar algo que transmitisse tranquilidade, porque é importante para quem lê. Agora que realizei isso, quero voltar à criação dos meus textos e seguir viagem consigo como inspiração.
Obrigado, Steve!
Tenho andado um pouco com preguiça de escrever este verão. Espero que isso mude.
Mesmo que não possa conduzir o seu Honda Vision tanto quanto gostaria, ainda teve a oportunidade de se aventurar este verão. Isto é uma vitória para mim.
Decidi continuar a usar o WordPress por enquanto. Estou familiarizado com ele e não quero preocupar-me com qualquer mudança agora.
Obrigado por partilhar as suas ideias. Agradeço. Espero que o Google traduza as minhas ideias de forma eficaz.
O WordPress é uma plataforma amplamente usada com muitas garantias. Não se preocupe com a plataforma. Se estiver cansado, talvez a opção seja procurar um template para reformular o visual, mas mesmo isso, dará trabalho até que esteja ao seu nível. Apesar de ser algo importante, mesmo para motivar a sua escrita.
Quando você escreve, inclui-nos na sua viagem. E assim, nunca estará sozinho.
Um abraço!
Obrigado pelas suas gentis palavras e ideias sobre a plataforma. Agradeço muito.
As always, beautifully written Steve. It has been a difficult summer here, dealing with kidney stones for me and other issues including some family turmoil, etc.
I recently broke down and bought an “open air” machine, a 2020 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth. I can’t say it replaces the two wheelers I miss so much, but it is a nice ride. Six speed manual with clutch, so there is that. I can get in and out of the car without too much contortion. At least that is what I tell myself when I twist and turn to get in and out of a seat that is barely over a foot off the ground. Yikes!
Cataract surgery is probably not too far off for me either. Glad yours went well. I have heard people describe the results as “it’s like somebody turned the lights on!”.
Thank you again Steve for another lovely and thoughtful post.
I’m sorry to hear of your health struggles this summer on top of family turmoil. The kind of things that darken even the most positive outlook.
A Fiat 124 Spider with a manual transmission sounds fun. It may not be a motorcycle but it may be a fine replacement for wind therapy.
Thanks for the kind words about the post. I appreciate it.
Aqui em Cape Cod e em New Bedford, há muitos falantes de português do Brasil e de Cabo Verde. Ótimas vistas para fotografar e andar de moto no outono.
John [“João”]
Massachusetts é o segundo estado com mais portugueses, por isso, também haverá muitos falantes do português europeu.
It’s definitely a beautiful place there John. I hope to bring my camera and scooter there someday.