That is the question.
One that goes beyond any momentary consideration of weather. It’s a question of time and choices. Riding for riding’s sake and not for transportation. Transportation is a simple question to answer and so is the weather. What I’m talking about is making a choice to ride when I have nowhere to go. When the choice to ride means I won’t be raking leaves or paying bills. Time spent with friends or family will give way to time on the road. That choice is more difficult.
This past weekend was perfect riding weather. Gray skies, cool air, and no one on the road. And I had a ton of work to do. More than normal and the days pass quickly. I feel the clock. I make the choice to ride though I don’t know if it’s the right one.
It’s easy to say I need to ride to stay sane but I know that’s not true. If I never rode again I would retain my grip on reality. I also know that riding has changed me. For the better and that’s something that’s hard to dismiss. But still I’m left with much responsibility and a fixed amount of time.
The ride was short, sixty miles with a stop for breakfast. The temperature hovered around 50 degrees and the skies remained heavy with cloud cover. Farmers were cutting corn and spills of the hard yellow stuff were evident on and along the roads, another road surface hazard that could surprise the unwary rider on dry roads.
Stopping by a small lake in Pennsylvania Furnace Paul offered to leap through another picture. Looking at it now I see myself responding to the question of riding.
Keep riding and keep taking photos Steve, you are good at both, go to my final blog. I’ll keep visiting if you keep blogging!
Riding is your passion and one has to satisfy one’s passion. Nothing to do with sanity but everything to do with emotional well being. Frustration makes for bad company. We, your readers are happy that you ride and write and click. We never get enough. Such a perfect ending with Paul leaping. Thanks again.
I love those pictures of Paul leaping! They have taken on their own genre of photographs in a way! Rarely does one see adults so spirited. 🙂
twistngogrl & vespajitsu: Sorry to hear that you are hanging up the blogging saddle. I do understand though. I’ll try and keep something worth looking at here.
heinz & frenchie: Thanks for your insight. You are right about frustration making bad company. As much as I can I try and let go of those sorts of things.
hrw115: I think you’re right. I need to start a Paul jumping series. I’ll bet he’s into it.
Hi Steve, I read your blog all the time. I hope you don’t quit writing. I started riding about a year ago and I love reading about other peoples rides, their bikes and people they meet along the way. I usually sign in on anonyous because I don’t know how to use this maachine very well. I wanted to tell you this so maybe you wouldn’t quit writing like Gary and the other guy. Annie
Good idea Steve. You could call the series “Paul Vaulting The Vespa Way.”
Reading blogs like yours inspire me even more to get out and enjoy the day and the ride. Thanks!
Thanks Steve, I’ll stay tuned to your blog and I hope you’ll be able to make one if not all 3 rides next July, the BRPW, The Dragon, & the AmeriVespa. Though I’m not sure about the AmeriVespa, way too many riders for my comfort zone.
Corn as a road hazard…I would never have thought. I need to visit your neighborhood to see for myself what autumn is like in your world. And a “Leaping Paul” sighting would be the capper.
Have fun,
Bill
Great pictures!
Here’s a thought. Half hearted efforts at work don’t make for good productivity. Riding, like anything else, has to be kept in balance. That includes not riding when you shouldn’t as well as riding when you should.
I ride for pleasure when I need to. If I’m working on the yard on a day when I feel like riding, I don’t get much done. On the other hand, I can go for a ride and get recharged. Like you, I feel the distinction between commuting and riding for pleasure.
Taking two or three hours to go charge corners pumps up my energy level. I work much more effectively when charged up. So the time I take to ride actually helps instead of detracting.
The key is having the discipline to give appropriate attention to both needs, I think.
Riding for pleasure….is there any other reason to ride? Sure, I have to get somewhere at times. Other times I have no particular place to go, but always leave home with a destination in mind. Either way, riding on two wheels is what makes the trip a pleasure.