Scooter in the Sticks

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

Video: Dreaming of Riding a Vespa Scooter

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Vespa GTS 250ie in the woods.
Robbed of riding by the COVID-19 pandemic, I reach for dreams of riding.

Riding a Vespa Scooter

It’s been almost a month since I’ve been riding — either the Vespa scooter or the motorcycle. I stopped for sound reasons but I have to admit the world feels a lot smaller right now. And despite the rosy rhetoric about opening up the country again, I have little faith that it will make much sense for someone like me for months to come.

I hope I’m wrong.

In the meantime I’ve been remembering and imagining rides gone by. And dreaming of rides to come. It’s a strange place to be when something so common and familiar is suddenly gone.

I’ve made another VLOG entry exploring the feelings surrounding riding a Vespa scooter. For me at least. It may be meaningless for someone else.

Video production remains an awkward dance between the equipment on hand to capture pictures and sound, the ancient computer on which I attempt to edit the video, and the ideas in my head that I struggle to give life to in the digital realm.

Here is VLOG #3.

My third attempt at a video entry. I’m struggling technically, especially with audio. But I hope I have some small measure of success in sharing a little of the thoughts, feelings and dreams of riding a Vespa scooter.

Thank You to Poet Susan Mitchell

The opening line of the video, “In my dreams, the ride goes on forever” was inspired by a poem by Susan Mitchell titled, “The Road.” In that work, she writes, “In the car’s dream, the road goes on forever”. From the moment I first read that poem that line has echoed in my mind. It was before I started to ride and has only grown more intense with each passing mile.

Thank you, Susan Mitchell. And to my wife Kim for sharing that poem with me. That gesture and others have helped move me away from being an educated barbarian…

VLOG: Gratitude During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Man jumping in air next to a Vespa scooter at sunrise
Finding gratitude and joy in memories of riding.

Remembering Good Times, Having Faith in Tomorrow

If I had to choose one photograph that depicts the joy I feel while riding it would be this one of my friend Paul Ruby leaping in the air on one of our many early morning rides. This photograph was made over ten years ago but that feeling has not diminished in frequency or power.

During the coming days and weeks, many of us may entertain our darkest fears and concerns.

I have. But I also have choices. I plan for the worst but continue to hope for the best. Part of that process stems from the fine memories I have of life in the rear view mirror, a strong belief that all things pass, and faith that there will be a new tomorrow. I just don’t get to know what it will be until it gets here.

Until that time I daily give thanks for what I have. Finding gratitude, even in a storm, warms my spirit and fuels hope. I produced a short VLOG entry on some of the things rattling in my head.

Thoughts on Gratitude during the COVID-19 Pandemic

I hope these words find you safe, healthy and with a positive view of life ahead.

First VLOG Entry

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I thought about making videos for a long time. Blog or Vlog or both. People have asked me about it for a long time. And I’ve resisted making any for a long time. And then this morning I made this:

My first VLOG offering is about the zombie apocalypse.

Your thoughts would be appreciated. Not sure where I might go with such things as video. This one was a spur of the moment thing. No script. No planning. A non-stabilized camera on the end of a little tripod. Stabilization added in the editing process that cropped the heck out of my head.

Still, I wonder if it would allow me some creative vacation from writing all the time.

I’m not Steve McQueen and I’m hardly animated. So there’s no future in VLOGGING for me I suppose. Still, I have ideas.

A VLOG completed.