Hi Paolo, Hi Sonja:

Well, after my lonely, forlorn escapade last week waiting for my beloved riding buddy to get off work, I left unsatisfied with the purpose I had intended. That day I decided to commute by bike as I thought that it would be easier but the long staircase up to see Sonja was too big of a challange. I could go up but the coming down would have been the problem. She works such long hours and between actually going to the office, going home for conference calls and travelling out of town and picking up Mr SonjaM at the airport every week is taking its toll.



I didn't think it was important enough to challenge myself upstairs to disrupt her work for idle chatter which would only have resulted in her to extend her hours

SonjaM must have psychic powers as out of the blue she sent me an email for a get-together after work for a beverage. I arrived first at the appointed time and there was no sign of SonjaM so I fiddled with my camera in the warm sun



This is very unusual for she is always early and I am the one who makes the grand appearance. I don't have the flexibility to leave earlier as I usually close down the office and set the alarm system . If you have never heard the sounds of a modern Vespa then you will not know how silent the engine is. Out of the blue, and without warning she nearly runs me down and makes a perfect arc to park in front of me



As compared to a regular sized motorcycle, the Vespa is very manueverable with its smaller diameter wheels. It was nice to grab a table in the sun and discuss plans for this riding season.



Yes, we do have some plans in the works but I fear that she is more challenged than me when it comes to vacation time. I only have to worry about my foot. This is the longest it has taken to heal. I notice your good wishes from HERE, and I thank you for your kind thoughts. I always thought that I was in good health. It is only because I injured my foot about 15 years ago when I had a mishap which tore my achilles tendon. They never heal correctly and sometimes there is scarring. I have stressed it before and then, recently stressed it again.

I am rationalizing that highway riding is different than city riding where there is constant shifting of gears and having to put your foot down at stops. Once you are rolling foot action would be at a minimum. It's just that I have to make sure that I can handle the weight of the bike.

I also have to change the way I mount my V-strom. I notice that I have to pivot my foot as I change angles while mounting. I now use my right leg to hold my weight before I change the pivot angle.

It's the second time that V-strom and Paola have met, unbeknownst to Paola's master. It's hard to belive how fast time flies as we were there for nearly 2 hours catching up on this and that.

To put things into perspective, I have been at my present company for over 12 years and have never taken a sick day. Prior to that with my previous employer for over 10 years I never took a sick day either. So in 22 years this is not to say I haven't been sick, but not sick enough to miss work. I thought that I was invincible and certainly have not yet adapted to this feeling of getting older, nor the notion that I will be a senior citizen in 2 months. I certainly have never felt this way before and when I go to motorcycle events it never occurs to anyone that I am as far advanced in age as I really am. Looks can be deceiving and I am fast coming to the conclusion that I should take things easier.



A few years ago I decided that I wanted to do more long distance riding, thus the reason that I wanted some sort of adventure touring bike with hard cases to carry my electronic stuff. The V-strom is well suited for this task and I am looking forward to putting on more "miles and smiles" (I wonder where I heard this before?)

Thank you again for your kind wishes