Summer's End

I heard one of the local meteorologists remind us last week that with August's passing came the end of meteorological summer. I read an article on CNN a few days ago suggesting that this year's summer that wasn't was the result of a number of interconnected factors, among them cooler than typical temperatures, the state of the economy, and our having been bombarded with the deaths of a number of big names all within the space of a few weeks. Then there was my return to school for the 45th time in my 51 years - a sure herald of summer's demise. We might get a week or two of Indian Summer before jacket weather comes around for good, but it's Labor Day, and for all intents and purposes the summer of 2009 is over.

I commented today that by the callouses on my hands it seems like I didn't ride as much this year as I did last. That was confirmed when I was reminded that I caught hell a lot last year for spending as much as I had on gas. It seemed like I rode as much, especially in the spring when I took the bike out at every opportunity, but the evidence says I didn't. I know some of it was the fear that stuck with me long after I locked the front brake coming down an expressway ramp too fast and fell over unceremoniously. The rest, though? I'm not sure. I suppose part of it is simply being weary of riding the same roads all the time and not having enough of a desire to go farther just for the sake of doing it, and I'd guess that another part of the puzzle is not having had somebody behind me as much as I did last year. Riding solo seems a little sad at times. It's one of those things that's so much fun to do that it's best done when the thrill can be shared.

Still No Bike

The BV went back to the shop on Saturday morning and at best I hope it'll be done tomorrow with a definitive fix to the stalling that plagued me for the past week. I have two evening events at the school this week and I'd much prefer to take the cycle on which I can arrive at the last minute without having to worry about finding a parking space than to have to get there extra early in the car just to find somewhere to put it.

Ever have a memory of a place that seemed a lot richer than the reality? All summer I'd been meaning to get back to a spot about 30 miles out so I could get a picture of the BV in front of an old storefront that I'd remembered as looking as if it had served its last 7-UP right about when Jan Brady was the girl I wanted to marry. When I rolled past it on Sunday in the car, though, I was terribly disappointed. Not only was it on the wrong side of the road according to my memory, but it was much more covered over with greenery than to lend itself to a nice picture. I guess I'm glad I never made the trip back there on the bike to take the picture I'd hoped to get, but now I'm disappointed that I'll never get that shot as I saw it in my mind's eye.

And, by the way, after this year's cool summer I don't want to hear another tree hugger crying about global warming. Greenhouse gases? Bring on the baked beans! They'll be perfect for a picnic! Sigh... Next summer.

Not Quite

I dropped the bike off to get serviced yesterday and to my great surprise it was ready today at 1 PM. They said it was the spark plug that had been causing the rough idle and stalling. I rode around for hours, pretty much from when I picked it up around 1:30 until a little while ago when I came back to the house to grab supper, and it purred like a kitten the whole time - until about a block before I got here at which point it once again died in mid stride. After that it stalled about four more times before I parked it in the yard. Now I'll probably have to wait till after the holiday weekend to take it back. So much for it just being the spark plug, but at least the inspection and oil change are done.

I changed into the right shirt after work. I'll be needing the Psych Ward if I have to keep taking the BV back and forth to the shop!

Riding behind this Voyager today, I was puzzled.

I intend no disrespect to the guy's dead mom and dad, but what exactly is in memory of his parents? The vehicle itself? Somehow it's supposed to be a testimony to their former corporeal existence while he drives around? His motoring about is supposed to honor them in some way? I don't get it! I could understand if he donated a car to charity in their memory and posted a little plaque on it, but to slap "IN MEMORY OF MY PARENTS" on his own back window doesn't seem to memorialize them at all. Does it? Am I missing something obvious here?

I'll bet that if I had caught up with him and asked, "What's in memory of your parents?" he'd have looked at me and uttered a single, very confused, "Huh?" At that point, we'd have been even.

I saw this Ferris wheel this afternoon and was instantly transported back in time a month. There I was in the last week of July at the tippy top of a Ferris wheel miles and miles away from here, feeling like I was on top of the world.

I'm happy being back at school, but distinct, crystal clear memories like this one of summer make my heart ache to have just a little more of that free time that I'd taken for granted. I fear that in spite of being a good one, it's going to be a very long year. I'll do better if I don't see too many more Ferris wheels or other summery things for a while. Well, except for a scooter that works reliably!

Putt Putt

I've been grounded. I took the BV to work on Monday and it stalled three times on the way there. I'd hoped it was just the cooler morning temperature somehow affecting things, but I stalled coming back to the house in the warm afternoon sun too. It seems that the idle is either too low or choppy or both and I don't know anything at all about internal combustion engines so I can't even hazard a guess as to what it might need. I'll hobble it down to Team Effort next week, after payday. You can suggest things if you're cycle savvy, but I'm not digging in under the plastic myself. It figures - conditions for riding this week are picture perfect, but here I am with a bike that I'm afraid to ride for fear of getting stranded if it should stall and then not want to start back up.

After all the moaning I did about going back to school, I've been glad to be back. Okay, it's only been three days so far with 177 more to go, but I like it!