Memories past

After I got home from my last ride and parked the scooter many images went through my mind. I was thinking of all the good times I had and where it had taken me . It was not just a commuter, it was a way for me to see the world, take the roads less travelled and take photos along the way. It is much easier to stop and take photos with a scooter type step-through design. It is more nimble in the city and the automatic CVT is a breeze to use on our local hills, plus the handbrake is a welcome addition which I have grown accustomed to its presence.

I have posted these following photos before and they are arranged in no particular order.

The Kymco Xciting 500Ri has taken me to Oregon. During 2008 I attended the SoundRider Rally in the Gorge to meet up with others from the Maxi-scoot.com forum. I like to meet people. I took the eastern route south down NF25 behind Mt St Helens . One of our day rides took us to Mt Hood where we had lunch at Timberline Lodge. It was a flawless sunny day


(Mt Hood, Oregon)

The Rally was based in Stevenson, WA and another ride went to Klikitat Canyon towards Bickleton which is about 100 miles east where we had a chance to see the Stonehenge replica high on the banks of the Columbia Gorge


(Stonehenge, near Biggs, Oregon)

We ended up in a little historic town of Bickleton. I think they have one of the oldest pubs in the country and it is on the Cafe to Cafe Tour.


(Rally in the Gorge, Bickleton, WA)

Tom Mehren is the host of the rally and of soundrider.com . He is an excellent group leader who knows these roads like the back of his hand and has written an excellent book of the roads in the area. We last saw him at the Seattle Motorcycle show in Seattle last December.

I am an associate member of the SOB's: Scooter of Bellingham and have attended a few of their functions. They host the Hamster Run every year in late July


(Hamster Scooter Rally, SOB: Scooters of Bellingham)

My scooter has taken me to several out of town rallies. One of the oldest scooter rallies in the area is hosted by the Capital City Scooter Club of Victoria. Here we see my scooter on the ferry heading for Victoria


(Kymco Xciting 500Ri, BC Ferries to Victoria, BC)

There was also a scooter rally held in Kelowna, BC which was hosted by Vespa Kelowna. I have been to all of their rallies. My scooter has taken me there via the Coquihalla mountain highway. This particular year they did long ride Around the Lake. They mean Lake Okanagan, north to Vernon then south along Westside Road which leads back to Westbank


(Westside Road, Okanagan Lake, Kelowna area, BC)

On the way back from Kelowna I stopped in Merrit for some photos of their murals


(Merrit, BC: City of Murals)

One year, coming back from the Victoria Rally I was with Magoo (Paul, from the local Vespa forum). We decided to take a circle route and come back on the Nanaimo ferry. I know some of the roads in the Chemainus area and one of the best was the road to Maple Bay, short but twisty. There are two marinas along the way with a restaurant at the end


(Maple Bay, BC - Near Cowichan Bay, BC)

Paul is riding his Honda Silverwing 600cc


(WestBank, BC, recently renamed to West Kelowna, BC)

There are many vineyards in the Kelowna/Westbank area and I stopped to take a photo. I rode back by myself. Most of the other riders from Vancouver have smaller displacement scooters and trailer them there (to Kelowna). I prefer to ride both ways. I purchased this scooter so I could tour around BC and the PNW. I used to have a Kymco Bet&Win 250 but it did not have enough power to handle the Coquihalla highway.

Many riders take the Hope Princeton Highway as they head east through Manning Park but few head up the mountain to the Cascades Lookout which feels like you are on the top of the world


(Cascade Lookout, Manning Park, BC)

you are able to look down into the valley and meadows below


(View from Cascade Lookout)

Yes, my scooter has been my good friend. It has taken me to many places, safely.

As I think of the memories I have . . .


(Pilot Cove, West Vancouver, BC)

I can only smile and think that perhaps you have gone to a better place.