Zen and the Art of Motorscooter Maintenance

Clay and I have been capitalizing on this lovely fall weather as of late and riding the scooter pretty much everywhere we can. So naturally, being on the scooter so frequently has made me realize a few things...

There are a LOT of smells out there. Exhaust from the diesel truck in front of you at a stoplight, aromas from the neighborhood fast-food joint, the smell of a smoking fireplace, roadkill you just passed - you know, all the things your car protects your nostrils from. Sometimes they are nice smells...and sometimes not so nice.

You wouldn't normally think 40 miles an hour is that fast. But it is. We have these cute little white helmets (think Chips) with nifty little wind visors that pull down to about your cheekbone. The unfortunate part is that they are not quite long enough to completely deflect the wind. When you're riding along, the wind comes up and underneath the visor - and right into your eyes, making them water excessively. My husband's solution? These bad boys:

 A nice addition to his ensemble, don't you think? ;)

It actually matters what the weatherman says. I used to go about my business not paying much attention to the daily forecast - until I started riding the scooter. It's important to know how hot or cold it will be outside so that you can dress appropriately. Because when it's 70 degrees outside and you're zipping along on the scooter, it can be quite chilly. Last weekend I needed a scarf and gloves for our little jaunts around town!

Who knew there were so many bugs out this time of year? Without the protection of a windshield, all those little winged friends end up on you. (Definitely incentive to keep your mouth closed!) It has been quite funny to count the splatters on Clay's chin and neck after a particularly speedy ride. Thankfully he catches most of them for me. ;) Maybe we should have considered a scooter like this:

I don't trust my husband as much as I thought I did. I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but it made me super-nervous to ride the scooter with Clay - which is wierd because he is such a good driver! His helmet mostly obstructs my view, which means I can't see what's up ahead. I can't see oncoming cars or little squirrels darting across our path, I can't tell if the street is curving right or left, I don't know if there is a speed bump or dip I should prepare for. I just have to trust that Clay knows what he's doing, which can sometimes be kind of scary! Riding together has taught me to have more faith in my husband - although if I do have a concern, I can just yell in his ear. ;)

There's a beautiful world outside your car window! It's amazing how much more I feel like I notice when riding the scooter - a tree whose leaves have finally begun to turn yellow, the way the colors of a starry sky fade into the horizon, a new flower arrangement in the yard of that house on the corner. I have certainly learned to be aware of and appreciate God's creation so much more now that I'm not securely enclosed in my steel box on wheels!


Needless to say, I have been quite surprised just how much this scooter is teaching me! Who knew riding a motorscooter could be such an educational experience?! :D