Scooter in the Sticks

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

Small Riding Accomplishments

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Fall is my favorite riding season. Cooler temperatures coupled with light and color from a magic paint box make every curve in the road a visual feast. I can’t help those of you who live in the flatlands where the roads are all straight.

Riding has collided with responsibility. New work responsibilities, old work responsibilities, a new dog, and all the other things I need or want to do shred my days and burn hours at a startling rate. Long rides seem impossible. That’s why I’ve had to mentally regroup. There is much to gain in small rides.

On Saturday morning I had one hour to ride. Sixty minutes to embrace two-wheeled motion and see what would happen. As usual, the Vespa releases me from the weight of my thoughts and I’m in the flow of the ride. My focus shifts from things I have to do to what is happening right now, right in front of me. I move from my mind to my senses and the world gets brighter.

Stopped along the road taking in the tunnel of changing leaves I am grateful for a chance to be on the road.

Riding only 25 miles there is no shortage of places to see. I wandered into the woods at a place where Kim and I once found a Blood Root plant. Peering through the woods at the scooter I’m reminded of how little I stop when I am in the truck. The world exists only as destinations and I tend to ignore the journey from inside the cage.

I told a friend yesterday that I don’t like group rides because they don’t stop enough. I’m not happy with only food and bathroom breaks. I wonder at times if I would ride at all if the camera wasn’t involved.

On a stop to peer out along the valley I noticed a salamander crossing the road. I think this one is a Wehrle’s salamander. Crouching on the road with my camera on the macro setting I wondered whether this guy was going to bite me. Amazing what passes through a head. And equally amazing how much detail I miss because I’m not paying attention.

I arrived home rested and recharged from a short, small ride. I had forgotten how good they are. As I typed this post I’d been wondering if it is worth the trouble to gear up and ride into town to meet my friend Gordon (3 Prints Project). The temperature is in the 30s and it’s just a short distance.

Now that I remember my short little ride I am now going to head to the garage and fire up the Vespa.

In Case of Rain

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Some mornings there is no thought process involved in the decision to ride.  I knew I would ride when I got out of bed.  No weather checks, no thoughts of parking or things I would need to haul, I just went through the motions of putting on my gear, pushing the scooter out of the garage and starting it up.  The only break in the flow was when I sat down in the driveway to make a picture.

The orange low fuel light came on so I had to divert for some Nascar approved fuel at the local Sunoco station.  Fuel prices are beginning to creep back up.  I’m hoping they stop before crossing the $4 mark again.  I suppose I am in the internal combustion game for a while yet.  Just spent nearly $3000 for two cylinder heads on my truck and all the associated stuff that goes along with that.  Still cheaper to repair than buying a new one.  Or even a good used one.  But I would have rather put that money towards a Piaggio MP3.  Or a trip across the country on the Vespa.  Or anything else.  Geez.  But I digress.  

I wondered whether the snow would be gone from the motorcycle spaces when I turned into the parking lot.  A few warm days took care of most of it.  The Vespa sat all alone today, none of the other riders are ready to come out and play.  I didn’t care though.  I was just glad to be back on the road.  The only unexpected event was it started to rain in the middle of the day.  I looked out the window and thought “how did I miss that?”.  But then it’s just rain.  Rain isn’t an issue for riding, just a variation in the day.  I’m always up for rain.  

Just in case.