Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.

Relishing Slowness

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Reflection of Steve Williams in car window
The camera asks me to slow down, look, watch and experience the world.

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 and self-discipline.

More and more I realize I relish slowness — while riding, driving, eating, walking and pretty much every aspect of life. The holiday cold virus I endured did a good job of slowing me down. During the time I was in bed, reading, writing or just thinking, I was thinking about slowing down. A natural progression in life as I enter old age.

In a world seeming obsessed with remaining forever young, my thoughts were moving in a different direction.

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Modest Riding

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Vespa GTS scooter on a snowy dayOn 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 an excuse to ride. Didn’t matter if it was hot outside or if there was snow on the ground. The Vespa scooter and I found our way into the world. In that obsession an appreciation of modest riding developed.Continue Reading

On the Road Again

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Reflection of Vespa GTS scooter in a glass doorReflections 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 demonstrate the validity of my claim. But the Vespa has remained in the garage next to the snow blower on each of the wonderfully snowy days.

I have my reasons.Continue Reading

Embracing Life as a Vespa Rider

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Embracing life with a Vespa scooter in the driveway, ready to ride.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 the route or landscape through which I ride.

The act of riding itself pays dividends. I find myself embracing life as a Vespa rider.

One would think that now that I’m retired I would be chalking up hundreds and thousands of miles on the scooter — filling my time with riding.  This hasn’t been the case.  That time has been filled not only with riding the Vespa scooter, but with myriad other explorations and tasks.  The absence of work has beckoned to be filled with something else.  What that is has yet to be determined.

Morning is my favorite time to ride.  There’s an energizing quality to the light and air, regardless of weather, that sparks the spirit in a positive way.  Dark thoughts or anxieties are often swept away as the tires spin over the pavement.

On this morning I was heading nowhere.  The goal, the desire was to fly through for a little while and see what was happening in the world.  As the Vespa stood in the driveway in the morning sun I could feel that familiar excitement that comes as I near the scooter.  I still can’t believe how I feel after all these years and so many miles.Continue Reading

Happy Ending

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Vespa GTS scooter at a happy ending before workEnd 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 and miles of gravel strewn dirt forest roads only to come to an impassible gate is something other than a happy ending.  But that doesn’t happen often.

On a recent, meandering ride to work on a foggy morning I came to a place where I didn’t want to push on through the tall, wet grass replete with ticks and ground hog holes.  Besides, it was time to get to work where I was nearing another end of the road.Continue Reading