Highway Riding on a Scooter
Standing along an Interstate 99 is probably not the best place to discover that you don’t know how to waste time. Or more precisely, that with few requirements on my time in retirement, I can’t seem to relax.
I was on my way to Altoona to have breakfast with my father-in-law and because I spent too much time playing with the dogs I had to “hurry” to arrive at the agreed upon time. My normal route would wind through the countryside and take a little over an hour. On the freeway I can make it in 40 minutes.
For anyone keeping notes on whether a Vespa can handle riding on an Interstate highway — my GTS scooter ran between 65 and 70 mph the entire 48 mile trip.
Most of my professional life was chained to clock and calendar. The result — a pervasive sense of being on edge and always needing to be somewhere or doing something. After awhile that feeling is surpressed and I believe is merely fuel for uneasiness and stress. Riding the Vespa scooter, or a motorcycle, is a temporary release from those feelings; a salve for the spirit. But it does nothing for the actual situation other than highlighting a problem in the way I was conducting my life.
I had glimpses but did little about the core issue and instead focused over and over again on better management of all the things I had to do. More precise scheduling of time, better use of lists and tools, working hard to get more done through more focused attention to details, time and resources.
At the end of the day I was both master and slave with no sense of freedom. No wonder a ride on the scooter felt so liberating. For those moments on the road I forgot all of that. I regret now not doing more in my work life to disrupt that configuration.
Riding and Eating
Tom and Joe’s Diner is an Altoona diner dating back to the 1930s. Being able to meet on a weekday is preferred over the insanely busy weekends. No wait. Sit and eat.
Nice not having to check my iPhone to see when my next meeting is, always calculating time and processing talking points or issues at some level in my head while also trying to carry on a conversation. Never noticed it when I was working. Now it’s painfully apparent.
What’s Next?
After breakfast I spent a few minutes wondering what I was going to do. What route home. Did a little wondering about life.
For over 40 years I’ve been riding past a sign labeled, “Fort Roberdeau.” I knew it was some sort of historic site related to the Revolutionary War, had often wondered why such a place was in Blair County, Pennsylvania, but never really gave it much thought or invested the time to find out.
Lead and the Continental Army
Down a little road through the lush cornfields of northern Blair County you’ll find Fort Roberdeau. It’s not something a lot of people stumble upon. It was a fine Vespa diversion.
It seems General George Washington was having trouble supplying his troops with lead for bullets. So much so that they were taking items from civilians and melting them down for use in the war. So when lead ore was found in Sinking Valley, it was a precious commodity. So much so, that they built a fort around it to protect the miners and farmers from British Rangers and native Americans who were working to disrupt the flow of lead and food from this part of the wilderness.
A Fort of Horizontal Logs
It’s amazing how easy it is to ignore, or stay ignorant of the activity, places and history that’s right in your face. Was surprised to learn there are only a few forts in North America utilizing horizontal log construction. Turns out there’s only a foot or so of soil before hitting solid rock on the site. The fort was built right on top of the lead mine. So they had to pile the logs to build the fort.
So on my list right now — waste a little more time. You never know what you might learn.
Your looking good in your pictures Steve; enjoy your rides. I have my three bikes and each one is so different than the other I get that new excitement each time I switch …which can be one bike all day or 3 a day depending on my freedom to do something new. The weekend leads to more switching. I have always been a believer in “you can’t be bored on a bike” and this gives it even more to look forward to. I also really enjoy taking different routes to the same place to change the scenery.
To new, undiscovered roads!
Brent
You are not wasting time. I believe you you are using it better; it’s now YOUR time
Exactly. I’m no longer trading my time for money. Feels good.
Sounds like you have a fine plan in place Brent. I agree with the notion that you can’t be bored on a bike. It’s been the rare occasion that I’ve wanted to get off and call it a day. And then, usually monkey butt was involved!
I’ll raise my cup of tea to new and undiscovered roads!
After I retired, I went through many of the same mental gyrations that you describe. I felt like a slug for not having something constantly on my activity plate, something to accomplish or get done. Now that I’m three years into retirement, I have realized that the hustle and bustle of working and “accomplishing” things that didn’t really mean anything to me personally was the real waste of my time. Now, I cherish the time I have to myself to use however I decide. If I decide to ride the Vespa then take a nap, it just might be a perfect day!
This retirement vantage point looking backwards reveals some things about work and career that I would have never believed had someone told me. So much of it was, as you say, unimportant. But that’s water under the bridge now.
Looking forward to rides and naps.
Like you, I discovered Ft Roberdeau on a ride back from Altoona,
Shortly after I retired I made regular visits to Harbor Freight and Surplus city for projects I conjured up to keep “busy”.
Roberdeux popped up one day I chose to wander a bit.
The significance of lead during the Revolutionary war period was a “forehead slap”…..duuuuuhhh….but learning what white men did to the native American to get their lead has haunted my thoughts since, and gives me a new view of ‘Merica and its organized mistreatment of the natives…..For lead and land.
The closer I get to being history…History became more interesting…it helps put things into context.
The history I learned in high school was nothing like the history I’ve come to understand today. I read a short interview a few days ago with a historian from some university commenting on the racial issues that simmer on and he said something about when you have a country founded by white men who owned other humans, worked them to death, raped them for their pleasure, is it any wonder that there would be lingering mistrust? Add to that the sort of manifest destiny of the superior people that was brought down on the heads of the native Americans and you get a different picture of country I learned about as a kid.
None of that is to say we don’t have a great country. But we’re by no means perfect. The great thing we have is the ability to grow and change. The only thing that would stand in the way is ourselves if we become hoodwinked by the men and women we elect.
Just one of the many lessons you learn on the road when you ride a motorcycle or scooter and stop off at a historical site right???
I grew up with a father that never didi learn how to relax, he went into semi retirement at 65, 10 hours a day 5 days a week. When he was forced into retirement just shy of his 70th birthday he filled his time with jobs to do or jobs to manage. The most coming phrase I heard from my mother is I keep telling him he is not my boss.
In a few years I am hoping to take a page out of the Dom’s book a get a small motor home that I can load the scoot on and do some exploring, meet some people, and learn about the world outside my comfortable little corner of it.
Good luck with discovering your new life. If you ever ride that scoot out to the west coast you have a pace to stay.
Fathers — we’re an odd bunch. As different as can be. My father worked in a steel mill 6 days a week and for most of the time the 7am to 3pm shift. When he came home he left the job behind and whatever time he had was his own. He was pretty laid back and was content to work on projects at home, help friends, and be a homebody. My mother was the restless wanderer. Luckily for their marriage, he had no qualms with her getting on airplanes or ships and exploring on her own. Odd for the 1950s and 60s but it worked for them.
Good luck with your motorhome dreams. Seems a good way to explore in depth.
If I ever traverse the continent on the Vespa I’ll look you up!
After describing your previous way of working you shouldnow better understand your heart attack. Stress weakens the body and makes it vulnerable to malfunction. Keep breathing and ditch the constant schedule mentality. Enjoy the time left and ride more.
I definitely recognize the folly of my ways. Am working at being content in the moment and not latch on to anything too tightly and just ride through the moments…
Nothing wrong with still wanting to be on time when one has made said commitment….the trick is to not make said commitments! Try and add -ish when using time references….I’ll meet you at 9-ish for example.
Its not wasted time if you can ditch the rush.
You’ll know you’re making progress when you have to stop and think….OK, what day is today?
I’ve already lost track of the days and am constantly referring to my phone for the date. Weird.
I remain punctual for commitments but as you say, there are far fewer. I like the “ish” idea. That will allow for a more gentle approach to things.
Hi Steve,
You sound like you are adapting to retirement and starting to enjoy living in the moment. Keep it up and keep sharing.
It’s a great state of being!
I have had the pleasure of eating at Tom and Joes a couple of times now! Highly entertaining and high octane nourishment too. I don’t think your Doctor would recommend frequent visits?
I definitely have my cardiologist whispering in my ear when I’m holding a menu in a place like Tom and Joe’s. No more bacon. The occasional eggs, home fries and toast won’t kill me. Considering what my diet was like in the past I’m like a zen master of nutrition now.
Sort of…
I didn’t even know that Tom and Joes still existed as I haven’t been there in 30 years or so. I will now certainly add it to my travel bucket list, and I’ll be sure to plan a meal there the next time I’m in Altoona.
It’s now my breakfast place when in Altoona. Somehow I forgot all about it for decades and then just stumbled upon it again during a ride a couple years ago. I wonder how many more places I’ve overlooked?
Gorgeous picture of the road leading through tall corn towards the hills.
This time of year there are many little roads here swallowed by corn…
Your approach in your career sounds like mine…I had, initially, a hard time adjusting to the freedom to do nothing. I am happy to report I have overcome the urge to be constantly busy, and I’m happy for you to be showing positive movement in that direction as well. ?
We finally visited a popular attraction here in our historic town, site of the the first major US gold rush, the Consolidated Goldmine. It is truly amazing what is right there, waiting to be discovered!