Scooter in the Sticks

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

Les Misérables

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Steve Williams self-portrait of him being illPortrait of Illness

First, I want to extend my apologies to Victor Hugo for borrowing his title for this post.  And more importantly, acknowledge that any suffering or illness I’m currently enduring is insignificant to that of millions of people.  Most of my problems in life definitely fall into the category of “First World Problems.”  Things like being driven crazy by having to enter “English” as my language choice every time I use the ATM.  Or the tremendous annoyance of the awful sound the credit card reader makes when it wants me to remove my card from the chip reader.  Or the current virus I’m now enduring that makes me tired, sore and miserable.

First world problems.

My wife asked me how I was feeling on Friday.  I took out my iPhone and made a self-portrait and sent it to her.  She felt responsible because she had already be struck with the same illness for two weeks with no sign of letting up for either of us.

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The Ride Lingers in the Mind

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Vespa GTS scooter on a muddy forest roadBecoming One With the World

Strange how I often find myself writing in the middle of the night. House quiet, dogs asleep and my head turning over thoughts from a ride earlier in the day. Sometimes the ride stays with me beyond the road, the ride lingers in the mind where it ceases to be about the physical actions on the scooter, but rather part of a tiny myth, a figment of imagination that creates a story about myself and my life.

I left the house late this afternoon with three goals — return a book to the library, deposit a check at the bank, and apply the riding salve to a viral infection of the sinuses that threatens perception of life. The road led me into the mountains, the scooter tires oozing in places on a skin of limestone mud, and I could feel my world preoccupations slowly fall away.

Now at 3:30am I’m still thinking of that ride. Sinuses completely blocked with crud, nine hours remaining before I can take more Zyrtec, my mind lingers on that ride. The cold air draining my head. The feelings of old age and decrepitude that an illness can generate stripped away as I for a few moments became one with the world.

Riding can do that if you let it.
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Reflections on Christmas

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Vespa GTS scooter with Christmas lightsA Vespa Christmas

Christmas Day has come and is nearly gone.  Family has gathered, presents opened, friends encountered and the house is once again quiet.  A fine time for reflections on Christmas.

Before wandering off I want to extend to each of you hopes for a Merry Christmas and some wonderful times leading up to the new year.

As darkness came I made this photograph of the Vespa amidst the colored lights.  A fine way to end its day.

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Reflections on Thanksgiving

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Reflection of Vespa rider in snow.Recognizing the Gift

Awoke on Thanksgiving Day to the gentle prodding of dogs, their noses intent on bringing me in to a new day. At 16 degrees my footsteps on frozen ground and over patches of snow and ice felt almost warm due to the dazzling sunlight cresting the horizon at sunrise. As the dogs raced through the garden I said to myself, “Thank you for giving me another day.”

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Snow, Fog and Riding a Vespa Scooter

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Vespa GTS scooter on a cold snowy day

Melting Snow Means Fog (And Maybe No Riding)

The first heavy snow of the season has come and gone.  And so has my interest in riding.  The snow is melting and with it wet, dreary fog has developed.  It’s the sort of weather that lends itself for mysterious photographs and mystical scenes across the landscape.  But I’ve left the Vespa scooter in the garage.  Pulled this photo from a ride a couple years ago.  Things look much the same now save we’re having a little more fog.

Fog and riding a Vespa scooter.  Usually a perfect mix for me.  But not today.  Or even this week.

I have been thinking about it though.  Read through an old post that reflects on the winter riding experience triggered by a ride to work at -8F.  If you’re interested in riding after everyone else puts their scooter or motorcycle away, you may want to read SUB ZERO RIDING EDUCATION.

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