Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650

When Riding Alone Isn’t Enough

by 14 Comments

Man checking the rear wheel tire pressure on a Vespa ET4 scooter.
Checking the tire pressure on the Vespa ET4 is a challenge. (Photo by Andy Heckathorne)

Ungracious Awakenings

By temperament, I prefer to ride alone. Free to embrace the road at whatever pace I desire. Stopping to look or make photographs without concern for the tempo of others. No need to keep checking the mirrors or adjusting speed. Just the freedom to ride with my tumbling thoughts.

And still I ride with others because finding balance between solitude and connection makes life richer. I didn’t always understand that. Moments and opportunities arrive more frequently now when I realize riding alone isn’t enough.

The plan was a long scooter ride with friends Andy and Paul on an unexpectedly chilly morning. It was the Vespa ET4’s turn to ride and Andy caught me checking the tire pressure, an increasingly challenging operation now requiring knee cushioning and a limber back to engage the tire valve.

There seems to be no end to the reminders that I’m no longer young. Physically at least.

Continue Reading

Sticker Shock and Other Puzzlements

by 16 Comments

Steve Williams with his Pentax MX camera at Penn Roosevelt State Park.
A stop with an old Pentax MX camera to ponder the analog world. Photo by Paul Ruby.

Puzzling Economic Thoughts

Having a head full of 1980s prices leads to endless shocks when paying for things. Doesn’t matter if it’s a ribeye steak at the grocery store or a new pair of jeans from L.L. Bean. Thankfully I seem to be insulated and unconcerned about the price of gas at the pump. No doubt buoyed by fuel stingy two-wheeled machines and an insignificant number of annual miles on our four-wheeled vehicles.

Wandering around the past few months shooting film costs money compared to the mindless triggering of digital images. Even processing Tri-X 35mm film myself costs $0.55 each time I press the shutter button. For some reason I don’t flinch. But there are a few things lately that have strained the economic area of my brain.

Continue Reading

Summer Doldrums

by 13 Comments

self portrait of Steve Williams in a window reflection.
Self-portrait

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.

Continue Reading

Riding and Getting Older

by 19 Comments

2001 Kawasaki W650 parked along a rural road.
An old motorcycle is perfect for an old man like me.

Responses from an Aging Population of Riders

The 2001 Kawasaki W650 motorcycle continues to prove it’s mettle as I wander the backroads of Pennsylvania. I’ve noticed that riding and getting older have begun to intersect and have raised at times some uncomfortable questions. There’s some truth to the idea that when old men get together a big part of their conversation is consumed by tales of aches, pains, medications, doctors, and myriad flash points to complain about.

But the subject of change doesn’t often come up other than plans to move to warmer places or where the next vacation will change place. But for a rider, aging introduces a growing element of risk. And how to manage it was the topic of two recent videos I posted on YouTube. And I am in the process of making a third. That’s what brought me and the W650 out to play.

Continue Reading

UPDATE: A New Year, New Challenges

by 20 Comments

A metal sign about aging and riding.
An anonymous gift…

Aging and Riding

This metal sign was delivered to my home. From who I don’t know. But I have to think it relates to a video I posted recently on YouTube that explores the question — When is it time to stop riding?

That video seemed to touch a nerve as thousands watched it and hundreds commented. I’ll post the video below.

Continue Reading