Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.
Looking out the window it appears to be a fine morning to ride. Bright sunshine and no wind. Stepping out onto the deck provides additional information — it’s cold. 49F cold. As the dogs run round the garden I imagine what gear I’ll need. Merlin jacket, neck gaiter, long underwear under my jeans, insulated gloves, and my riding boots. In a few moments I have a plan and it feels warmer already.
Winter is coming. I want to be ready. Ready to ride.
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It’s hard to figure that one day the temperature is 70F and a couple days later it’s snowing again. That’s the kind of April we’ve had.
I went for a ride during the last squall to run a few errands and I was left with the feeling that I’ve had enough winter riding. Perhaps it is age, or a particularly bad day mentally, but whatever was in play had me bemoaning the difficulties of riding in winter.
On this ride it was particularly cold — right around the freezing mark. And the snow wasn’t piling up on the road. But the temperature, moisture, and slush had an effect. The visor was difficult to keep clear and the slush was bad enough that I could feel a wheel slip now and then. I just was tired of the fight.
I made a video of my reactions and thoughts about winter riding. It may be my last. Or at least the last ride in snow I make. I say that now. Who knows what next winter will bring.
Before I opened my eyes I could hear the snowplow clawing along the pavement, telling me there would be no time on the scooter or motorcycle today. I’m weary of the cold air biting at my flesh, the gray skies drowning the color from my sight, the realization I’ve become a prisoner of the harsh whims of nature.
The dreaded wintry mix had arrived and there was nothing I could do. Winter and riding regress into memory and on into myth. I’m so tired of it all.
Yet I realize I am powerless over the weather. Winter and riding are merely a pipe dream of an adventurer growing smaller in my rearview mirror. I’m sliding toward fair-weather riding and I don’t like it.
I need to ride.
Continue ReadingI’ve uploaded a new video to my YouTube channel. I found myself engaged in an impolite exclamation. Sorry about that. Shit happens.
I follow the Itchy Boots YouTube channel as she rides around the world in all sorts of challenging situations. And perhaps what surprises me most is that she never swears. Not when she dumps the bike. Not when she gets a flat. Not when a customs agent gets annoying.
I strive for that kind of serenity.
Anyway, here is the latest video. I’m enjoying the creative change videomaking brings. It’s far more difficult for me than shooting still pictures and writing. But the creative challenge is invigorating.
If you like the video or want to see more of them, jog over to YouTube and subscribe.
There are moments on the road when you realize your estimations of the day are wrong. What’s true in the driveway has become false in another place. As I stood in the middle of the road atop the Allegheny Plateau, it was apparent that the balmy mid-40s temperatures promised at home in the valley were not to come true here. Paul had expressed doubts about riding far when we left, he doesn’t have the winter gear I do and I can only guess he rides in the cold through grit and determination where I lean more towards the comfort of a riding spacesuit.
But even in the spacesuit, I could tell it was cold. Maybe it was the wind blowing in my face when I raised the visor to talk. The two motorcycles in the cold were stopped there because I wanted to record a piece for my next installment on my YouTube channel.
By the time we finished, we decided to turn back toward the valley and the warmth of someplace to get a snack. That’s what happens when you ride motorcycles in the cold.
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