Scooter in the Sticks

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

My Spring Riding Safety Reminders

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As the weather warms I find myself riding more often. Especially around town for errands. And short jaunts through the countryside in the morning as part of a fine ritual of awakening. So I like to remind myself that however exciting and satisfying these rides can be I must remain vigilant in staying safe on the road.

It’s kind of a tradition for me to share the “Morning Fall” video by Edward McGinty.

A visceral reminder of riding risk. But what seems like impossible events to manage can be affected by our riding choices.

And for a pale, weak video in comparison to McGinty’s masterpiece, I made a quick safety video for new and beginning riders. Just a few ideas to help someone get on a good path in regard to riding safety and risk management whether riding a Vespa scooter, motorcycle, or any other powered two-wheeled machine.

Be well and ride safe!

Testing the GoPro Hero 8 Black on My Motorcycle

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Last spring I made a handful of YouTube videos and while fun to make, they were more difficult than they needed to be because I was fiddling with a lot of old cameras. So I decided to replace everything with GoPro Hero 8 Black cameras and see if there was an improvement in the technical hurdles.

The short answer — much easier to produce a video with these more “modern” action cameras. And the stabilization is light years ahead of what I was using before.

I’m not sure where I’ll go exactly with video, but it is a lot of fun. I think I need a break from writing blog posts so I can work on my book!

Let me know what you think about this video and the idea of more riding videos.

Video: Restoring Balance with an Evening Vespa Ride

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I continue to be surprised at the breadth and weight of things that occur on a daily basis that throw me off balance. A story I read in the newspaper, a comment read on a website, or the irrational machinations of my imagination that gnaws on a wide range of dystopian possibilities.

There are tools that help in restoring balance. Meditation. Journaling. Walking. Reading. Sitting with my wife. Talking with a friend.

And of course, riding. Restoring balance with an evening Vespa ride is almost like magic.

I share this video in hopes it will remind you of the power that machine may have in your life.

An interpretation of my experience on a short evening Vespa ride.

Video: Vespa Haiku

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A poem of seventeen syllables on a morning with my scooter.

A glimpse of a Vespa Ride

The 10th video I’ve produced for Scooter in the Sticks.

I’ve decided to continue experimenting with this media. And of course, continue to post photographs and text from riding experiences.

For this entry, I was interested in how short I could construct something that still had meaning.

The Vespa haiku text:

My silver machine
Morning fog softly whispers
I continue on

VIDEO: Ode to the Machine

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Vespa GTS scooter on a muddy forest road
How can a machine generate something so powerful on an emotional and spiritual level?

Over and over I’m reminded of the effect riding a scooter or motorcycle has had in my life. They have a peculiar power to make it possible to shed dread and angst.

I don’t try to understand. I accept it as true.

This Vespa video is a feeble attempt to capture the experience.

Riding continues to lead to mysterious places both in the internal and external worlds.