Something odd happened when I entered my fifties. I began to read the Obituaries more. And I would see names I recognized. People I knew, some I called friends. I’m not the first person to wonder about their mortality or count the number of years left to some “reasonable” expectation of active life, but still it’s strange. Recently I read of the retirement of a fellow scooter rider in Florida who for the past couple years I have put on a pedestal in my head. He was in his mid-sixties when he began to ride and rode his scooter from Florida to Alaska and back. Was going to do it every year.

And suddenly I read he is selling the scooter—a change in health ending his riding. The circumstances don’t matter but the lesson (for me) does. Don’t wait. Act now. Ride now. I have a lot of dreams that I put on the back burner for a better time. And what’s worse I have a lot of regular things I would like to do, hardly dreams, that I put on the back burner with them. So maybe it is time for a bit more action and a lot less procrastinating.

My wife and I have talked about this. We want to take more time for ourselves. For the things we enjoy. Riding is one of those things for me. So I am going to ride, if only a few extra miles to see the setting sun. Stay tuned for more activity here!

I’m not doing a good job. I’m certainly not doing a good job attending to this blog. The balancing act between the various responsibilities and interests in my life has been difficult of late and my riding has been limited exclusively to utilitarian travels between home and work, work and home. There is no doubt that I love the commute, but it is so short. I want to find time, no, make time, to have more riding adventures. Any of you expert jugglers have any ideas feel free to share them…

It has been foggy almost every morning for the past week and the world is magic. I took the camera out on Saturday and wandered on foot just drinking in the scenery. I’ll post a few of these pictures here now.

don’t have a lot of time right now to do more than let you know that I have not fallen off the world or given up contributing to this blog.

I am certain I will again find energy, motivation and time to ride, write and photograph.

It’s been foggy every morning for the past week and I’ve wanted to have a look at the world with my camera. The rush to work didn’t allow enough time so I was happy to wake up this morning to another fog draped world.

I was concerned about visibility but at the speeds I was traveling on secondary roads it was not a problem.

I remember driving on the Interstate in fog and barely being able to react in time when a vehicle appeared. But that was at considerably higher speeds. The biggest challenge this morning was keeping my visor clear.

I rode to the next town to buy some gas and then out along Spring Creek towards the Airport.

Other than a couple of trout fisherman I did not see anyone on the road. The landscape was quiet and like something out of Brigadoon. By the time I rode up out of the valley the sun was beginning to burn off the fog. I stopped at an old rural church to have one last look before blue sky and sunshine ruled the day.

One last ride to the grocery store to pick up a few things and then home. I probably should be walking or riding my bicycle in the morning for some much needed exercise, but damn, I really enjoy riding the scooter…

Things have been so busy…

Aside from my daily commute I have not been riding alot. So much to do, summer is racing away, and I barely have time to get to everything. I have been lax in my posting here too.

On Monday, Labor Day, I took a hundred mile ride just to see the countryside. Road over Pine Grove Mountain and headed east towards Belleville. I had hoped the antique store in Mclevey’s Fort would be open. I love looking at the stuff this guy has. He has lots of camera stuff and sometimes has the really odd items. On this morning I had to be content looking in the windows…

The ride through the forest and over the next mountain and down into Belleville was relaxed. Big Valley opens into a wide landscape of agricultural enterprises.

This area is heavily populated with Amish but I resisted any urge to photograph my Vespa being passed by a buggy. Maybe next time. I did stop just to appreciate the lush green fields.

On the way home I stopped to eat a breakfast sandwich and have a drink of water. The shady area along the road was real nice. I really enjoy being alone with my thoughts on the road.

I have my camera ready to go out in the morning. We have had heavy fog the last few days but the rush to get to work has precluded any photography. If it is foggy in the morning I hope to find some magic in the landscape.

When I changed the head gasket and timing belt on my Mazda truck about four years ago I swore I would never again work on a motor vehicle. The one time high school romance of laying under a car sweating and cursing and getting rust in my eyes and a full time fragrance of petroleum oozing from my hands was gone.

So why am I wrenching on the Vespa? Short answer—-it is part of the riding experience. Not a requirement but I feel connected to the scooter in a way I don’t in a car. And to fill out that connection I need to know how to perform some simple maintenance and repairs. So I started with changing the engine oil and transmission oil.

True to every other mechancial task I embark on I find I do not have the right tools. I scratch my head at this because I have a giant Craftsman tool case, the one on wheels that you can put air tools and sledge hammers into. (Sledgehammers are for emergency use) The thing is stuffed with sockets and wrenches and so many odd tools that surely I am ready for anything.

Surely not.

Almost everything I have is SAE. The scooter is metric. I have a simple collection of metric sockets and wrenches that range up to 19mm. The oil plug is 24mm. Adjustable wrench can’t quite grab because the oil filter is in the way. Can’t get the oil filter off because I don’t have an oil filter wrench that small. You see where this is going.

In a fit of focused rage I twist the filter off with my bare hands. I am startled that I could free it without leaving any flesh of protruding metal. The adjustable wrench does not have enough leverage to break the plug free—no doubt coroded tight from salt from winter riding. A moment of insight brings a big SAE box wrench that sort of fits and I break the plug free. Oil drained, filter replaced, oil added and I am finished. I feel comfortable that I could do this laying along the road with a minimum of tools.

The rear hub oil requires a 6mm insert. I use an Allen wrench and pliers to break it free. By this time the engine is cooling and the transmission oil drips like sap from a tree.

Next time the change will be quicker, smoother, I’ll know what to expect and I will have the right tools. I am ready for something more complicated in another 1000 miles—spark plug and drive belt.

I feel better about the scooter right now. And I feel better about my place in the riding experience.