Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650
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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Anyone who has spent much time reading my posts is aware that they touch on the mental and emotional experience of riding. I don’t often spend much time on the machine itself or the reasons why I ride a Vespa scooter.
A simple question. One that I can only answer for myself. And as I’ve shared before, what might make sense for me could have poor results for you. So with that caveat I’ll share my answer to “Why ride a Vespa scooter?”
The photograph of the gravel forest road I traveled recently hints as a reason. Depending on your goals and temperament, this same stretch of road can call on completely different machines. Some may see it as an opportunity to bomb forward as fast as possible, feeling the machine through turns and over bumps, and managing feelings of control over the environment. A perfectly fine approach if speed and control are your goals.
My scooter is perfectly matched for these intentions. Easy to ride, simple in operation, and as silent and invisible as I can get with something powered by an internal combustion engine.
Continue ReadingOn foot with a camera, or just riding my Vespa scooter, my perception of the world around me grows. I see more. Appreciate more. And in the end, find contentment in even the most stressful situations.
I place few requirements on myself during these jaunts and journeys. Slowly traveling, loose plans, and a minimum of tools and technology.
Can you be content on short rides through familiar landscapes or do you require travel to distant places? I suppose what works for one may be a bore for another.
For me, I try to have few expectations of my rides and even fewer for the experience.
Every day I wake to what appears to be another regular, familiar, normal day. This morning the sun was shining in a dazzling clear blue sky. A runner passes in front of the house followed by a bicycle rider and then a man walking a dog. There are clues that something is different but unless I’m looking for them, nothing would hint to me that I’m living in a different world. A world that suggests I act a little differently too.
That brings me to riding. Two days after Pennsylvania’s “Stay at Home” order ended my friend Paul and I decided we would take a little ride together. That’s normal. But we did make a few changes. Like when stopping for photos we now park a little farther away from each other.
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One of the things I love the most about riding is the solitary experience. Riding alone provides space from the mental and emotional distractions that can dim my awareness that I am living a blessed life. On these solitary rides, it’s easy to feel a sense of adventure, especially when traveling in the more sparsely populated areas of Central Pennsylvania. It’s during those rides I am having an adventure.
I’ve always admired the work of writers who share their stories of solitary adventure in the wilderness or at sea. Reading Edward Abbey and Colin Fletcher led me to my own solitary hiking and backpacking adventures. Being dependent on no one but myself fuels a level of excitement and satisfaction but let’s be honest, my solo adventures, on foot, and on the road have taken place in the safe confines of the Eastern United States.
A few days ago I came across a video by a young woman named Noraly who describes herself as a 32-year old, Dutch, solo-female traveler – currently on a mission to travel the world by motorbike!
One particular scene at about 11:40 into the video where she comes upon a torrent of water rushing across the road and plunging off a cliff gave me the chills.
Frightening video. Courageous woman. She must faith — in herself, and in other people in the world. One note — I’m amazed she never swears or curses!
If you fancy yourself an adventure rider, or dream of creating your own adventure, this video is worth watching. Mud, dirt, gravel, rain, heat, cold, dogs, protesters and more await.
She’s riding alone through places like Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan. And generally across the planet. As I watched one of the videos I realized I could never do what she does. I have neither the courage or pluck to venture into the unknown alone.
I’ve enjoyed watching the films with Ewan and Charlie traveling across the globe and I know they faced challenges and hardships. So do the men and women who undertake the guided adventures of myriad ride companies. But being alone. That’s different.
The people who quit their jobs, sell everything and venture out into the world are a different kind of human being. I admire what they do. I could never do what they do. At best I can live vicariously through the stories they share.
Here are a few others you might want to check out if solitary adventure interests you:
Mike Saunders — 69,000 miles on his Honda Ruckus
Stephanie Yue — on the road with her Vespa GTS 250
Lois Pryce — epic solitary rides on her Yamaha XT225 Serow
Part of me would love to see my name on that list. But it’s just not me. My adventures will remain casual, safe, and in my mind.
Be well, be safe, and enjoy the road!