mile mark 300

odometer: 312.5

This weekend, I passed the 300-mile mark on my scooter. That may not seem like a long way to those of you with bigger engines, but considering that my entire scooting experience has been confined to the area near my Columbia, Maryland home, I think that’s a pretty big achievement. After all, that’s the equivalent of scooting clear to New Haven, Connecticut; Raleigh, North Carolina; or Wheeling, West Virginia! At my maximum speed of 42 mph, that would be more than seven hours of continuous riding …. unless I was headed to Wheeling, in which case the ride would be much, much longer (thanks to all those mountains).

The scooting weather this weekend was a bit chilly, so I had to bundle up and wear my Christmas balaclava, a fancy stretchy thing designed to keep the wind off your face and neck. It’s sort of like the Survivor buff, I suppose. Thanks, Santa!

While I'm at it, I’d also like to shout out to all those cheery motorcyclists who include me in the club for waving, and send a big old f*ck you to the nasty chick in the white ragtop Mustang who nearly ran me off the road at Centennial Lane and Route 108. Wait your turn, biyatch!

gas mileage update

Filled up my tank for the first time in ’09 this weekend. Total MPG is up to 111 miles per gallon! How’s that for fuel efficiency?

Welcome Spring! Hooray for the First Scoot of the Season!

Normally, March is a total pisser here in Maryland. The temperature swings wildly and we can hardly sprint from our houses for all the rain, rain, rain that drenches our yards and our spirits. But this weekend, the scooter gods must be smiling on us. Here it is, the first week in March, and I got to take Pete Lee out for his inaugural ride of 2009!

I was a little worried to get back in the saddle (so to speak) after the long winter, but I am delighted to report that it’s, well, just like riding a bicycle. Jen and I were zipping along all over Columbia, me on the Met and her on the newly inspected Suzuki Samurai (650 cc motorcycle). She was very kind to ride slowly for me, but while we’re both still getting our sea legs about us I think we could both exercise a little extra caution.

Although we had no problems with the riding itself, I am sad to note that the winter doldrums seem to have dulled the senses of our fellow motorists. Twice, we were nearly run down by cars whose drivers were chatting on their cell phones or just driving recklessly. Slow down out there, folks! When the weather gets nice, two-wheeled vehicles of all types emerge and you need to be extra cautious out there on the road and particularly in parking lots. Keep an eye out for motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, llamas (just kidding), and pedestrians!

Scooting Hotlanta

I’m in Atlanta this week, and the scooters are in bloom. On the campus of Georgia Tech, students on scooters are literally everywhere – including nearly running me over on the sidewalk outside of Starbucks this morning. And they’re a hearty breed: last night we had dime-size hail, thunder, and lightning, but that did not deter the scooterists from being out on the road. A bright red scoter zipped by me, driver clad in the ever-fashionable lawn and leaf bag. Hats off to you, Mr. Hefty.

All of this is making me eager for spring. Let’s ride!

Scooter Art Rocks!

Borrowed this link from my friend Dave at Scoot Maryland. Alexandria, VA artist Joan Cox has a scooters series currently on display in Baltimore:

http://www.joancoxart.com/Scooters.htm

SO GREAT!

the winter doldrums

The last two days have been marked by the dreaded "wintry mix" here in Maryland. It's been such a long time since Pete Lee (that's my scooter) and I got to go on a date, I feel like I am stuck in the winter doldrums. Jen started him up about 2 weeks ago, just to test the battery and give him a chance to clear his pipes, but this week he is stuck under a solid sheet of ice on my back porch. How sad. :(

Winter, winter, go away!

November Sucks

Boo for cold, drizzly weather and no scooting.