The ride to work this morning after my trip to South Carolina was in the fog. It triggered thoughts about safety and vulnerable situations. Fresh memories of traffic on Interstate 95 and 81 had me questioning the judgment of my fellows on the highway. But it was a beautiful morning and those thoughts can wait for another time.
My daughter commented on my ability to see past the noise and find the empty places. On Myrtle Beach I watched her look for shells and made a picture not unlike some of those that appear on Scooter in the Sticks—spare, empty, alone. But you never know what is just out of the frame. Or behind me. She had a good chuckle when looking at the pictures I took.
I’ve gotten pretty good at overlooking or ignoring some things in the landscape.
Judging by your comment on your propensity to find open space the sticks seem to suit you well.
As one who rides the highway a lot, I have to say it suits me to ride there. Not that I prefer them to wide open country roads. My psyche is simply geared to action. Even on twisting country roads I find that my natural rythmns are best at higher speeds. I don’t consider myself a thrill seeker but I have to admit I need the battle style surroundings off and on.
We’re expecting a storm to batter us today. Wind gusts on the coast are forecasted to be 75 mph. Heavy, heavy rain. What am I doing? Leaving in a few minutes for the hundred mile ride to the office via the Interstate.
Not trying to sound “tough”. It’s just that this kind of thing fills a need for me. Isn’t that the cool part of riding and commuting on a bike? We all do the same activity and yet fill our own unique needs in the process.
scooter in the sticks, I am exactly like you,,, give me the quite, empty country side any day, I like to doddle, enjoy the slow ride to enjoy the sights, smells, sounds, I don’t seek out action, I too would have my back to the “sky scrapers” at the beach, sky scrapers at the beach, those two things don’t belong in the same sentence. Enough rambling. Another enjoyable post.
Sherry CC
Glad you are back and blogging again. So enjoy your words and images. Lovely photo of your daughter on the beach. I think that is what most people dream about when dreaming of a beach. A beautiful vision! Thanks,
Lea in Fort Lauderdale
I breathed a sigh of relief as I pulled up your blog and found a new entry. I sometimes wonder how many people gain joy and inspiration by reading your blog, yet never have returned the communication. Here’s one. Thank you.
(It always was a mystery to me how your landscape in PA was so serene and isolated. I guess isolation is relative.)
Carson in TN
irondad: Your comments point out a truth that can be hard to accept sometimes—that there are different drummers for people. In a world that wants to make things simple and black and white it can be hard sometimes to accept the choices of others. Like riding when the weather isn’t exactly sunny.
You’ve triggered a topic that has been simmering around for awhile in my head and I may yet write it down. Thanks for the added push!
sherry: Doddling has a bad reputation and not something most men want to be associated with. It just sounds so…. something.
Another topic for a post though!
Lea: Beaches are high up on my list of places I like to be. Just not when the weather is warm. A little snow helps a beach immensely.
carson: Thanks you for your kind words of support. The landscape here where I live doesn’t often require the kind of editing I did at Myrtle Beach. We have a lot of open country in the farmlands, forests, and mountains here. That landscape was the reason I stayed in this area after college and continues to haunt me today. Who would have known that a Vespa scooter would allow me to experience it all over again.
Steve, the photo of your daughter seemingly on a deserted beach is a perfect example of “Is a photo the truth or not.” The photographer chooses what is in the frame so even a documentary photography may photograph ONE truth but is it the WHOLE truth.