Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.

Springtime Blog Cleaning

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Portrait of Steve Williams, scooter and motorcycle rider.
Made it through another winter.

A Time for Questions

Ugh. It’s raining, it’s snowing, it’s hot, it’s cold. The change of seasons introduces so much change and confusion that it seems appropriate to commence a springtime blog cleaning.

Springtime blog cleaning is a softer way of saying “get your shit together Steve.”

Yeah, I need to do that. At least maybe shave and get a haircut.

There’s a lot going on and some of it stands in the way of riding, writing, photography, blogging, vlogging, and a host of civilian activities like rewiring light fixtures in the basement and garage and completing plumbing work in the bathroom.

Life is good.

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My Dog Junior

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Gone but not forgotten.

Elegy to a Dog

Junior was a great dog. Words can’t really describe how grateful I am to have shared part of my journey with him. Dog owners will understand. Those who have not shared life with a dog or are uncomfortable with them, may not appreciate the connection between a person and an animal.

I’ve struggled with my feelings for Junior and could not carry them around for long. My long practiced solution is to write them down, or in this case, express them more visually.

Life does move on, even if not always with the people and animals we love.

Royal Enfield Himalayan on Dirt and Gravel

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2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan on a gravel forest road.
Is this the preferred environment for my Himalayan?

Dirt and Gravel

There was a week of unseasonably warm weather that I watched slip by due to things more important than riding. Finally, on a sunny, warm afternoon, a few hours before sunset, I decided to take the Royal Enfield Himalayan on dirt and gravel in nearby Rothrock State Forest.

The motorcycle has proved to be everything I hoped it would be — comfortable, capable, and a joy to ride. It is the right machine for me to finally explore all the dirt and gravel roads that crisscross the forests and mountains from the Maryland border north to the New York border.

I’m going to ride on all of them.

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Vespa GTS Long Term Review

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2006 Vespa GTS scooter
My trusty 2006 Vespa GTS scooter during a recent ride.

Jeep, Pick-up Truck, Luxury Ride

During the past 15 years and 43 thousand miles of riding, I thought it might be time to share a Vespa GTS long term review. In the video below I’ve shared some of my thoughts regarding performance, modifications, reliability, and more.

I’ve already been reminded that I left a couple items out of the review regarding service and reliability. I had forgotten I had to have the voltage regulator replaced. And that I had the underside repainted to keep ahead of the rust that was beginning to form on the bottom side of the scooter. So far nothing has rusted through on the body and it remains in remarkably good shape considering the beating I have given the Vespa.

So if you’re curious about the scooter have a look at the video.

And I’ve also embedded another video made on a recent snowy day that I didn’t ride but shared some of the snow riding images from previous rides.

QUESTION: I’m make more videos now. Would you prefer I just leave them to those subscribed on YouTube or would you like me to post them here? I’m sort of at a loss. And they are not all about the Vespa. Some are about the Royal Enfield Himalayan.

Vespa GTS Long Term Review.

Warm Day, Cold Day

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Two motorcycles parked by a farm field.
As spring approaches more and more riding days appear.

A Bright Light

A faint wisp of steam rises from a mug next to my easy chair in the living room as I watch large snowflakes descend from the heavens. The aroma of cinnamon toast fills my head as I wonder why winter has been such a burden. Despite efforts to blame it on pandemic uncertainty, rising prices at the pump and grocery store, or a raging war in Ukraine, I can’t quite help but think I’m merely suffering the effects of age on my body, mind, and spirit.

While I don’t feel it’s universal, it is common, and I can easily enumerate a list of changes that have no other explanation. I’m powerless to change some of them, but others are absolutely within my arena of action.

Two days ago it felt like a warm spring day as I went for an afternoon ride with my friend Paul. The sky was clear, the sun bright in my face, and a breeze seeming to clear away any gloomy energy hanging in the valley. It was a good ride. I was a good day.

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