Scooter in the Sticks

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

Summer Doldrums

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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.

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Riding and Getting Older

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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.

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UPDATE: A New Year, New Challenges

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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.

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Falling in Love All Over Again

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Vespa GTS scooter along a country road.
All things feel new again on a fragrant spring morning.

Reminded of the Good Things in Life

I fell in love with a Vespa scooter the first time I rode one. And now, after some neglect and a wandering eye, I’m falling in love all over again.

It continues to amaze me how my mind and body are transported into a different state of being by this silver scooter. Standing along the road, breathing the moist fragrant spring air, and feeling startingly present in the moment, I know what a gift it is to be able to ride.

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The Terror of Change

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Vespa GTS scooter along a rural road
Riding has a way of generating thoughts and surfacing ideas that would otherwise remain hidden to me.

Change

Riding provides a landscape on which I can let my mind wander across thoughts and ideas the are either bothering me, or just spring to life as the scooter and I are running down the road. One of those ideas that has been bouncing around in my head — the ability to change.

It’s strange how often things occur to me while I’m standing alongside a road, alone, and relaxed.

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