Scooter in the Sticks https://scooterinthesticks.com/ Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:37:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 71084491 Confidence Inspiring Motorcycle https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/confidence-inspiring-motorcycle/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/confidence-inspiring-motorcycle/#respond Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11855 The Honda Trail 125 Drivable Trail signs make me a little nervous when I’m riding my Himalayan. Unless I’m certain of what’s ahead, and especially if I’m alone, I generally don’t ride on past those signs. That’s not the case with the Honda. I almost can’t conceive of a road or path that I won’t […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/confidence-inspiring-motorcycle/feed/ 0 11855 Riding and the Meaning of Life https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/riding-and-the-meaning-of-life/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/riding-and-the-meaning-of-life/#comments Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11843 Why We Ride A fine marketing slogan that swept through the Moto-world a few years ago with the predictable declarations of freedom and escape. I don’t deny those things for they are certainly present, but there is something larger at work as I ride. On the surface, I rolled the Kawasaki W650 motorcycle out the […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/riding-and-the-meaning-of-life/feed/ 10 11843 The Power of Fog and Riding https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/the-power-of-fog-and-riding/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/the-power-of-fog-and-riding/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11827 Powerful Motivator Fog still has power over me. Awakening at 5:30 AM and catching a glimpse of that magical murk drives the sleep from mind and body and I am ready to ride. Or more precisely, ride so I can document the world I seldom see. The one shrouded in fog and stripped of the […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/the-power-of-fog-and-riding/feed/ 6 11827 Fog, Fuel, and a Long Ride to Breakfast https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/fog-fuel-and-a-long-ride-to-breakfast/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/fog-fuel-and-a-long-ride-to-breakfast/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11783 Morning Fog A few things were different on this ride. It was the first foggy morning in a long time. I love riding in fog. Mostly because photographs appear more dramatic and ethereal. I wasn’t sure how Dave felt about it but since he was waiting on his motorcycle when I arrived at his house […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/fog-fuel-and-a-long-ride-to-breakfast/feed/ 10 11783 Riding in the Shimmering Heat https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/riding-in-the-shimmering-heat/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/riding-in-the-shimmering-heat/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11796 Don’t Tell Me I Can’t Ride It was already pushing 90 degrees when I rolled the W650 out of the garage this morning. The National Weather Service has been in full panic mode, warning everyone to stay inside like the world is ending. I almost took the car. I had every excuse ready: It’s too […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/riding-in-the-shimmering-heat/feed/ 15 11796 Aging and the Desire to Ride Motorcycles https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/aging-and-the-desire-to-ride-motorcycles/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/aging-and-the-desire-to-ride-motorcycles/#comments Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11762 As Old as I Think The air was clear, the light brilliant as my friend Dave and I started our ride to breakfast. I can’t count how many times I’ve stopped at Wampler to take in the view, thrilled that the only evidence of civilization are motorcycles and the path carved from the side of […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/aging-and-the-desire-to-ride-motorcycles/feed/ 8 11762 The Honda CT 125 Isn’t Just a Trail Bike https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/the-honda-ct-125-isnt-just-a-trail-bike/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/the-honda-ct-125-isnt-just-a-trail-bike/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11742 Lead Up to a Ride A few things are in play when I prepare for a ride and they are sometimes in conflict. Like deciding I want to ride the Kawasaki W650 but the destination takes me through miles and miles of dirt and gravel. I try to juggle riding the machines I have to […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/the-honda-ct-125-isnt-just-a-trail-bike/feed/ 10 11742 Is 24-Horsepower Enough for a Motorcycle? https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/is-24-horsepower-enough-for-a-motorcycle/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/is-24-horsepower-enough-for-a-motorcycle/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11719 Enter the Era of Downsizing Motorcycles YouTube is currently full of content declaring the virtues of moving to smaller machines. The reasons vary but the changes are happening. Mostly because so many riders are older and perhaps feeling how much heavier machines are feeling. I’m familiar with those feelings. The median age of an American […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/is-24-horsepower-enough-for-a-motorcycle/feed/ 8 11719 A Tiny Taste of Freedom https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/a-tiny-taste-of-freedom/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/a-tiny-taste-of-freedom/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11707 Do You Taste Freedom When You Ride? This portrait is different from other portraits made of the Vespa scooter. I made it with a tiny taste of freedom in my mouth. The word freedom is tossed at everything from promises made by salesman about new cars to politicians proclaiming it with shaking fists. Abstract descriptions […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/a-tiny-taste-of-freedom/feed/ 14 11707 Do I Ride to Escape Reality? https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/do-i-ride-to-escape-reality/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/do-i-ride-to-escape-reality/#comments Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11697 Glad I’m Not Young In a culture obsessed with looking, acting, and being young I’m definitely off course and on a different road. It’s taken some time but I’m comfortable in my skin and with the circumstances of each moment as it comes along. I’m not saying I don’t care about how I look or […]

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