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Secret Sunset Scoot and Skewer

Okay, I rode 18,450 miles before changing the suspension. Perhaps this is even the first historical Buddy suspension change? If not, it’s in the top 10, I bet. Oh, and since the Ducati boys threw on some Conti Zippy 1’s, the final homestretch promises to be even smoother!

Audre (the scooter) also left Ducati with a classy piece of Rat Fink comic art “tattooed on her. Except it’s called “Peace Fink.” Now I have cool art to look at over the next 3,500 miles!

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What better way to test this new improved ride than by riding all day? After picking up Audre from the shop, I zoomed off for an afternoon riding with the boys. To be exact; my three friends from last year, Chuck, Ken, and Ralph, and my new friend, Orin. I’ve heard of Orin through the blogosphere and his writing keeps me up to date on Seattle scooter scene. In exchange for the kind words he’s put in for me along the way, I let him ride the Peace Scooter.

I admit, even though I told him, “ride it like you stole it,” after a bit of time passed, I was twitchy.

I was along on their scouting ride for the rally next week. It was a fun ride, but I preferred the one they took me on last year. That was an impromptu ride that the West Enders Club treated me to; we scooted all around Seattle. I enjoy riding with this club. They are all witty, talkative, generous and also-experienced riders. No showboating, they just love riding and they do it well.
After scouting we headed to a BBQ.
Not just any BBQ, mind you, but a rather fun event-the Secret Sunset Scoot and Skewer. They even had buttons made for the event!

Did I mention the jousting?

An hour before sunset we all mounted our steeds and scooted off for the sunset location. There was a good crew of us and with festive attitude we honked and waved at all the oglers. It was quite a bit of riding, almost a mini rally for me at day’s end. Unfortunately and the reason still unknown, my camera shots are lackluster. Perhaps the settings were changed? Sorry guys and gals!

We made it just in time to watch the sunset. It was a moving experience. Heh.

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People are good to me. Thanks People!

Watching the sunset made me excited for the turn East that I will soon begin. That final homestrech towards Washington D.C.!

For more videos and photos, visit MY FLICKR!

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For Scoot New Orleans Club

Hey ya! Let’s meet tomorrow. Right now I am only in Gulfport. It has been a crappy day of meandering, confusing detours, crazy cage drivers almost hitting me, bridges with steel grates and severe thunderstorms. I am waking up early in the morning, to make the rest of the drive. I heard Pass Christians bridge is back open, so thats good news. I didn’t want to make the rest of the drive in the dark (I hear there are absolutely no lights on 90) or on the highway, so I am settled in for the night. Gonna go eat and then do a post on the day.

Lookin forward to meeting you all!

P.S. How about a number to make things easier? Thanks!

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A response with my ethos

This is an excerpt from my correspondence with a very cool, supportive female scooterist in D.C. We are trying to get a ride in place, if not with a bunch of people, at least a chance to meet one another. Anyways, I am posting my response to make my modus operandi a bit clearer to the public.

I wanted to respond to, “but so far I don’t know which of the scootin’ folks are sufficiently opposed to the war to be up for riding with you.”
“The message behind this trip is Peace, first and foremost. I am trying to do something where the war isn’t the focus, but Peace is. Hopefully, if we start from that perspective, we eventually all get to the same point-that war doesn’t seem to solve conflict, it just establishes power-power over and not power with-which is what a democracy is supposed to be. But the more we focus on war- even “anti-war” the less we are really getting to the heart of what Peace is and what it means to the individual. Make any sense? Thats why this summer I am just asking people to define Peace. The individual who takes the time to define something has just empowered themselves and created a way to measure results. P.E.A.C.E.SCOOTER is meant to be more inclusive than an anti-war event, a lot of people won’t go to those- but that doesn’t mean they can’t define Peace for themselves. I can’t think of anyone who would truly say and mean that they don’t want peace for themselves in some manner…and I’m just riding around trying to figure out what those personal definitions are. ”

Try this statement: I am at Peace when we are at War. That just seems weird.
Mother Teresa always said something like “you won’t see me at an anti-war rally, but throw a pro-peace rally and I’m there!’

I would rather us make history by creating Peace, than become history in its absence.

AND RIDING SCOOTERS SURE MAKES ME FEEL PEACEFUL !