Scooter in the Sticks

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

Scooters, Dogs and Motorcycles

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Vespa ET4 scooter along a wet rural road.
Riding in the lush wetness of summer.

Riding in the Rain

There has been ample opportunity to ride my scooters and motorcycles in the rain this summer. In past years everything would be dry and brown in August from hot weather and too little rain. But rain this summer has kept everything lush and green.

I have to confess that my normal summer doldrums in regard to riding has eased because of the rain. Lower temperatures, less sunshine, and some mild rain has gotten me outside.

Both my Vespa scooters are well suited for jaunts in gentle rain. And the lightly traveled roads add to the gentle and relaxed riding I’ve come to expect from my Vespa scooters.

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Lost in Thought

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Ride Free sign on the back of a Honda Metropolitan scooter.

In My Head

Finding this sign on the back of a Honda Metropolitan scooter had me wondering if my recent tendencies to be lost in thought were a result of not riding the Vespa enough.  It’s been sitting quietly in the garage sucking electrons from a Battery Tender for over a week now.  The weather has been fine and I certainly could make the time but still it sits.Continue Reading

On the Road Again

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Reflection of Vespa GTS scooter in a glass doorReflections on Life

Sometimes I lie.

Last time I posted I mentioned snow was for Vespa riding and not for transporting post-surgical patients home. Turns out only half that statement is true. Riding the Vespa in the snow part — not so much. During the past two weeks there has been plenty of opportunities to demonstrate the validity of my claim. But the Vespa has remained in the garage next to the snow blower on each of the wonderfully snowy days.

I have my reasons.Continue Reading

Belgian Sheepdog

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Belgian Sheepdog in winterBelgian Sheepdog,Groenendael Type

My dog Junior.  A Belgian Sheepdog as considered by the American Kennel Club.  Known as a Belgian Shepherd in Europe.  The black variety are Groenendaels, a short hair version are Malinois (a favorite of the US military and also used by the US Secret Service to guard the White House), and a brownish, longhair version called is called Tervuren.

Junior is a purebred dog.  His sisters are competition champions.  Had his ears remained erect, he may have been too and eventually led the life of a gigolo. We’re glad he had faulty ears and was able to come live with us.Continue Reading

Simple Pleasure: Where Do You Find It?

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Vespa GTS scooter along freeway exit in the morning lightA New Day

Took the freeway to work one day this past week.  A crisp clear morning,  a spine pretending to almost be normal, I stopped to enjoy a moment alone on the road.  It’s a communion of body, mind and spirit that sweeps past unlooked for but welcome.  A simple pleasure that can’t be bought or planned.  A gift I’ve opened and received gratefully as a rider.

Simple pleasure of seeing my dog in the garden grassSimple Pleasure – a dog in the garden

Being open to the small moments that flame life takes practice.  Lest I miss them, I need to slow down and transform my eyes from detection devices into tools for introspection and insight.  Noticing Lily stalking through the garden grass, I realize how much there is around me that I don’t want to miss.

Riding a scooter, going forth on a motorcycle, these exercises have cleared my eyes.

Vespa GTS scooter in a pastureRiding Shrine

There are moments when my Vespa ascends from riding contraption to shrine.  It usually happens when it’s standing in some lush promontory where it stands against a wider world.  After weeks of nagging irritation from my back, it was a joy to face the morning and feel good about riding, the job I was moving toward and the knowledge that life was rich as a result of a few simple pleasures.

Tea at a morning call on a cafeTea, Light and Friends

An hour in Saints Cafe, some hot tea and conversation with a friend; it’s a simple pleasure that requires only an investment of time on my part.  Time that, in almost every case, returns far more value than the cost of admission.

Vespa GTS scooter in the blazing sunA Ride Home

My back has recovered enough to ride back and forth to work.  I’ve learned to sit up straight to minimize fatigue to that area of the body.  Still experimenting with the rougher experience of riding on gravel roads as habit leads me to old cow paths on the ride home.  The dazzling light of a low sun at the end of the day is a simple pleasure that I don’t embrace nearly enough.

Is there a good reason why I don’t see more sunsets?

Meyer Dairy milk bottle in a GIVI topcaseMilk in Glass Bottles

Twenty four hours ago the milk in the glass bottle was grass.  At least that’s what I like to think.  Meyer Dairy is two miles from my house and they still bottle and sell their milk to the community, a dying breed of dairy farmers not shipping their milk to a cooperative or factory in return for a milk check.  The simple pleasure of drinking fresh, local milk, hides the hard work and complication of daily production.

Seeing the bottle in my GIVI topcase has me wondering how long they’ll last.  Or my Vespa scooter.  Or me.

For now I’l enjoy the little rides I can take, a simple pleasure purchased with the effort I make to choose the scooter over the car.

Where do you find simple pleasure?