Scooter in the Sticks

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

SCTRCST.com – Scooter Internet Radio

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Steve Williams with his Vespa GTS scooter in winterVespa Rider in Winter

Since I am going to talk about me… I figured this would be the time to post one of the portraits my friend Paul Ruby has made of me during our rides. He says I never use them and he’s right. I explain why in the recent Podcast I was part of. One of the things I have thoroughly enjoyed as a moto-blogger (someday I hope to be able to bear the title of journalist but I have a long way to go on that count) is that I have crossed paths with so many other passionate riders, writers, photographers, and enthusiasts. Dave M of SCTRCST.com  is just one of those passionate people. I had the recent privilege of being interviewed for one of his podcasts. You can listen here to Episode 6, Part One. Just click the PicklePlayer or iTunes icon in the right-hand navigation.

Dave is a great interviewer and made the entire experience a pleasure. Check out his site at SCTRCST.com. He has a cool tool to leave voicemail on his site that he may incorporate into a Podcast. If you get the chance to do an interview with Dave you should grab it!

Thanks again Dave for letting me talk to you and your listeners.

Steve Williams riding his Vespa GTS 250

Photo by Paul Ruby

Vespa GTS on the Road

Paul Ruby made this picture of me not long after buying the GTS. Just getting the feel of things. The beginning a new journey.

Imaginary Rides

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Walking through the fog on a mountain road this morning with my dog I realized my daydreaming was about riding and not wrenching on a scooter. I’ve been trying to convince myself that I’ll find fun or satisfaction on the floor of the garage surrounded by Craftsman tools.

Whatever happens now lies ahead and around a bend. I don’t know how I am going to get there or where it takes me but somehow a scooter is involved. I’ve had many kind offers of support and of engines but nothing has felt right. I extend my thanks to all of you who have posted or contacted me. I’ve eliminated all of the repair or engine replacement options and now have my brain wrestling with how I will come to be on the road again.


Imaginary rides visit often during quiet moments. Perhaps a strategy will present itself that will put some sort of scooter in the garage that runs. The mental momentum is building, the spirit is willing and the flesh is too. The wheels are turning—something is coming!

Merry Christmas!

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Some part of me expects to find the landscape covered in snow on December 24rd. It’s hard to listen to Dean Martin on the radio singing “Let it Snow” or Johnny Mathis doing “Sleigh Ride” when it was 50 degrees and sunny yesterday. I didn’t grow up on “Christmas in Dixie”. The little kid in me wakes up and won’t go to sleep during the holidays. I rent all the classics at the video store. My daughter and her boyfriend invited me to go with them to see “A Christmas Story” on the big screen at a new theater in town. It’s still a thrill to bring home and trim a Christmas tree. Family and friends will gather this evening to spend time together in the best spirit of the holiday. It’s from this place I want to extend my best wishes to all of you for a Merry Christmas!

Over the past year I’ve watched the number of visitors to Scooter in the Sticks grow and I am grateful for the network of riders who share their experience where and on their own sites. It’s been a positive experience, a gift from all of you who read and post here. Thank you!

It’s Christmas Eve and the Vespa is sitting quietly in the garage after carrying me yesterday on last minute errands before Santa arrives. Other than a brisk wind the riding conditions were perfect. I stopped along the Linden Hall road to make a photograph of the rural area I enjoy riding through.


Again, I wish all of you the best for you and your families.

Merry Christmas!