life Archives - Scooter in the Sticks Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650 Sun, 18 Feb 2024 16:01:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 71084491 2023 Honda CT125 Trail: All Things Change https://scooterinthesticks.com/2024/02/2023-honda-ct125-trail-all-things-change/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2024/02/2023-honda-ct125-trail-all-things-change/#comments Sun, 18 Feb 2024 16:01:16 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11004 I Done Done It The deed is done. I bought a brand new 2023 Honda CT125 Trail. It’s home in the garage sipping power through a Battery Tender waiting for a little warmer weather. It was sunny and 17F this morning but the clarion call of cold weather riding no longer shouts louder than my […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2024/02/2023-honda-ct125-trail-all-things-change/feed/ 39 11004 The Art of Being Alone https://scooterinthesticks.com/2022/01/the-art-of-being-alone/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2022/01/the-art-of-being-alone/#comments Mon, 10 Jan 2022 05:05:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=10528 Clearing the Mind Being alone is the only reliable way I’ve found of clearing my mind. It may take place in a chair by the window in my office, on a walk through the woods with the dog, or on a ride on my Vespa scooter. The common connection is that I am by myself, […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2022/01/the-art-of-being-alone/feed/ 47 10528 The Myth of Inspiration https://scooterinthesticks.com/2021/09/the-myth-of-inspiration/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2021/09/the-myth-of-inspiration/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2021 04:05:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=10430 “There is no greater enemy to those who would please than expectation. Montaigne Inspiration is real. I just look for it in the wrong places. Or in the wrong way. And I hold onto an expectation that it will come if I just wait. Sitting in the living room, watching the world through the picture […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2021/09/the-myth-of-inspiration/feed/ 27 10430 Vespa Scooter Freedom https://scooterinthesticks.com/2021/05/vespa-scooter-freedom/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2021/05/vespa-scooter-freedom/#comments Fri, 07 May 2021 04:18:46 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=10293 Freedom is the oxygen of the soul. MOSHE DAYAN An escape from the noise of everyday life into a state of Vespa scooter freedom is a gift of hope and joy. The same now as it was when I began riding a scooter so many years ago. In minutes the noise and stress that can […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2021/05/vespa-scooter-freedom/feed/ 16 10293 Rider Indifference https://scooterinthesticks.com/2021/03/rider-indifference/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2021/03/rider-indifference/#comments Fri, 19 Mar 2021 04:03:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=10210 Shaking Rider Indifference *NOTE* This post has been pressured by rider and hair stylist Billy Blades. I avoid him. He’ll tell me my hairstyle is something out of the 1980s. He rides a Goldwing. Can I really trust him? 😃 *NOTE* One morning my dog Lily knocked me down some steps in the garden while […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2021/03/rider-indifference/feed/ 54 10210 Relishing Slowness https://scooterinthesticks.com/2020/01/relishing-slowness/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2020/01/relishing-slowness/#comments Sat, 11 Jan 2020 05:05:46 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=9375 Long, Slow Look in the Mirror How do I square a motorcycle with 74 horsepower and a top speed of 124 mph with slowness? Or even my 21 horsepower Vespa scooter. The truth is, slowness has little to do with the machine and a lot to do with the rider. It’s a matter of temperament […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2020/01/relishing-slowness/feed/ 34 9375 Modest Riding https://scooterinthesticks.com/2018/03/modest-riding/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2018/03/modest-riding/#comments Fri, 16 Mar 2018 06:28:17 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=8333 On the Road — Often and Always When I started riding, it was all about the exhilaration of flight over the road. The pure physical stimulation of piloting the scooter was intoxicating to the point that nothing much else matter. Over time, riding infected thought and deed. My brain was always scheming and looking for […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2018/03/modest-riding/feed/ 25 8333 On the Road Again https://scooterinthesticks.com/2018/02/on-the-road-again/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2018/02/on-the-road-again/#comments Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:46:49 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=8282 Reflections on Life Sometimes I lie. Last time I posted I mentioned snow was for Vespa riding and not for transporting post-surgical patients home. Turns out only half that statement is true. Riding the Vespa in the snow part — not so much. During the past two weeks there has been plenty of opportunities to […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2018/02/on-the-road-again/feed/ 18 8282 Embracing Life as a Vespa Rider https://scooterinthesticks.com/2017/09/embracing-life-as-a-vespa-rider/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2017/09/embracing-life-as-a-vespa-rider/#comments Fri, 08 Sep 2017 10:40:36 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=7829 Ready to Ride There’s nothing magical about a Vespa scooter sitting in the driveway.  It could easily be another scooter or a motorcycle.  The magic comes with riding. And over the years I’ve discovered that the quality of the ride has more to do with what’s going on between my ears than it does with […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2017/09/embracing-life-as-a-vespa-rider/feed/ 29 7829 Happy Ending https://scooterinthesticks.com/2017/06/happy-ending/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2017/06/happy-ending/#comments Wed, 28 Jun 2017 07:13:03 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=7613 End of the Road I often find myself at the end of the road when riding the Vespa.  Continuing on isn’t possible or desirable.  A change in direction is necessary for the journey to continue.  It’s uncommon to arrive at the end of the road and think of it as a happy ending.  Remembering miles […]

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