Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650

Karma and Coincidence

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Vespa GTS scooter at sunsetGrand View of the World

It’s been one year since I had a heart attack.  The road since has been a scenic tour of the countless expressions of life racing by minute by minute and a vast collection of moments that make a life.  Riding home last night from the Moto Hang I had to stop to make one more photography of my Vespa scooter against the background of a painted sky just after the sun went down.

I’ve wondered more than a few times during the past year why I keep photographing the scooter.  For a long time I told myself I needed the pictures for my blog.  But I know now there’s something else at work.  Perhaps the scooter is me, standing in the world and acknowledging time and place, creating reminders of where I’ve been and where I’m going.

There’s some karma and coincidence in play.  A year since a heart attack, a full moon approaching overhead, and here I am writing the 1000th post on Scooter in the Sticks.

There’s no way to know what tomorrow will bring but for the past year I’ve looked forward to each day, each ride, each gift that comes my way.  Riding a Vespa through the countryside brings everything into focus and leaves me breathless for the next mile.

It’s been quite a party…

 

Evening Riding

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Vespa GTS scooter at sunset

Riding at Sun Down

Often, I feel a sudden burst of mortal awareness as the sun nears the horizon. The end of something. Or perhaps the beginning. Life with the lizard brain is never easy to predict or understand — just relentless in it’s march of survival and desire.

I look to the sky whenever I feel stifled or trapped by a mind refusing to disconnect from the trials of a day. The tapestry of clouds and light kindled a need for the camera and a desire to go for a ride. Even a short journey through familiar ground.

A short time on the road.  Evening riding.

Pausing on the approach to the expressway to make a photograph I wondered at the longing for rest as I looked at the open sky. Riding, the Vespa is my counselor, questioning and directing a conversation no one can hear. It’s why I ride.

Vespa along freeway with truck

Flying the Expressway

Odd choice to ride on the expressway. It was the fastest route to what big sky we have; glimpses of what the landscape is like in the flatlands. Open and looking at heaven.

And then a monster roars by. The modern era bear or Tyrannosaurus. It’s hard to dismiss the destructive power of a large truck hurtling just a feet away. A potential embrace too awful to imagine.

Yet I continue to ride.

And enjoy it.

The joy of evening riding.

Lost in a Vespa Ride

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Vespa GTS scooter on a winding wet road

Thrill of Departure

At the beginning of every Vespa ride an electric thrill travels through my body. It’s short and fleeting, but in that moment I have no cares or worries; I’m smiling and alive. It happens at the start of of adventures and is the same for a short errand. The feeling should not be confused with the joy of riding — something quite different and longer lasting. The thrill I speak of is a direct connection between the mind and soul.

Or so I like to think.

A heavy blanket of gray covered the valley this morning. White clouds of fog draped along the mountain ridges and the air was thick with rain that would not fall. The Vespa scooter and I moved slowly away from home and on into the unknown; a lack of meaning, direction or concern for the rain that might bring danger to a rider with new tires, the shiny, slippery factory coating still in place threatening a sizable loss of traction on wet roads.

On we went, riding, lost in a world of gray.

Vespa GTS scooter along small farm lane

Learning to let go

I used to make plans; routes, timetables, destinations and all the related trappings of someone who refuses to let life unfold at its own pace. Often now, the ride takes shape mile by mile, like scenes in a movie, leading me along it’s own unique story. Time and circumstance have brought this about. There can be no disappointment or failure when you have no goals or expectations.

Wandering along farm lanes and country roads frees the mind from the cat and mouse game with traffic and gives it a chance to rest.

Vespa GTS scooter along a rural road on a gray day

Love of the road

No matter how many times I’ve been down a road, I’m happy to embrace it one more time. It must be love.  I do look forward to new territory and the excitement of discovering what’s around the next bend.  But without taking some longer trips that’s becoming a more challenging goal.

And I’m beginning to wonder if goals are much use in my personal life.

Vespa GTS250 scooter on a farm lane

Seduced by the Vespa

There are a wide range of motorcycles and scooters I could be riding. But I drank the Vespa Kool-Aid.  It’s really hard for me to imagine something different in this photograph even though I can quickly name a half dozen motorcycles better suited for gravel road riding.  But the Vespa is a perfect dance partner.

The scooter is running great after the it’s recent service.  I still need to repaint the muffler and have to add some Super Glue to a slipping heated grip on the throttle.  The grip uses a friction fit but I recall the installation instructions indicating sometimes a drop or two of glue may be needed.

A drop or two of glue is needed.

And so is a Vespa ride.

 

Mechanical Satisfaction

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Do you derive joy or satisfaction from working on your scooter or motorcycle?

Vespa GTS scooter in wash bayGrime and Crud

After an evening of wrench turning and and part changing the scooter is back on the road.  A new battery has the scooter firing up strongly and a new sparkplug and air filter has reduced the occurrence of the engine fault light coming on.  To celebrate I went for a test ride and decided to stop and spray the filth off the Vespa.  Being careful to not direct any high powered streams of water into the engine or other delicate places I was able to transform a mud caked, limestone dust coated, salt encrusted scooter into a reasonable handsome machine.

Can’t say the same about my grease stained fingers.  I remember now that I have latex gloves to keep my hands clean.  Sitting here now, tired after a long week and some work on the scooter this evening, I can tell I’m in a glow of mechanical satisfaction.  As much as I hate to admit it there is a tangible feeling of accomplishment from a few simple acts.

Strange.

Vespa GTS scooter along road at night with passing carsRoad Closed Ahead

Before I get lost in the mechanic romantic I still find riding more dazzling and rewarding than crawling around the driveway with a wrench and screwdriver.  Working on the scooter and knowing I can do a few things was fun but can’t hold a candle to the test ride.  Through the dark and on the way home the smile has returned.

You know the one, the big grin fueled by fun.

The mechanical satisfaction isn’t over yet — still have to change the engine and transmission oil and check the head bearings.  Another day, after a nice spring ride.

Trying to be a good Boy Scout I ordered a pair of Heidenau K61 tires today from Kissell Motorsports.  I’ll be needing them in a month or so.

Melting into the chair at the moment and dreaming of sleep.  That’s what Friday nights have become for an old Vespa rider…

Vespa Riding at Dawn

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Vespa GTS scooter at sunriseSunrise Vespa

With spring comes gently unfolding days. Vespa riding at dawn in not only pleasant but there is ample time for a few miles before work — a meandering route to take in the countryside and absorb a bit more sunlight before closeting myself indoors.

I made this photograph almost nine years ago.  The ride is etched in my brain along with many others — some long and involved and other short.

That’s the sweet part of riding.  As Nike advised, “Just do it”.