Spyders and Wasps, Oh My!

Yes, I rode to work today.

As I was walking into the Courthouse this morning one of the deputies said, "Sure feels better out here today than yesterday." Yesterday it was 35F/2C and today it was 37F/3C. Maybe he is very sensitive. I must admit I didn't feel much difference. It was less windy, perhaps that made a difference he was noticing.

Yesterday I saw Ruckuses or is it Rucki? Today at lunch I saw this beast.

There was a time I thought I might like to own a Spyder. Heather and I even test rode one. I didn't mind the ride, but it just didn't seem to make sense. We both liked the Ural much better. It had personality. That said, at this time, neither a Spyder nor a Ural is in our plans.

Also, at lunchtime I saw some of the crew charged with keeping the streets clean.

There is lots going on Downtown this weekend. Tomorrow is the Cardinals Home Opener, the NRA is in town, there is a marathon, and playoff hockey.

These little guys are having to work overtime.

After work I stopped by the grocery store to buy some odds and ends.

Yesterday it was Rucki, today it was Spyders and Wasps, oh my!

• 37F/3C and clear for the ride to work this morning.
• 63F/17C and clouding over for the ride home.

More Proof

Yes, I rode to work today.

I saw two Ruckuses today. One I got a picture of and one I didn't.

I was eating lunch when this red Ruckus pulled up. Heather, formerly known on this blog as Goldilocks, has always  liked the look of the Ruckus. I've always liked the looks of the Big Ruckus. I've even thought I might like to own a Big Ruckus one day.

The other Ruckus was black. I saw it after work and lucky for him I did. In the time I've been riding only  twice has a vehicle pulled out in front of me in such a way to scare me. Neither time was it a car. Both times it has been someone riding a scooter. Tonight it was this Ruckus. Fortunately, tonight I knew I could change lanes and I was able to avoid him, but it was way too close. It definitely got my heart rate up. Oh well, more proof I'm invisible when riding, even other scooter riders don't seem able to see me.

As to the change of name for Heather. Heather is a very private person and when I started my other blog I asked her what she would like me to call her. She said, "Heather." When I started this blog, being inspired by some other blogger's pet name for there beloved, I began calling Heather Goldilocks. It made sense to me because she is blond. The other night she was reading one of the posts on this blog where I referred to her as Goldilocks. "Why did you start calling me Goldilocks," she asked me. I told her what I've told you dear reader and asked her if it bothered her. "Well," she said, "Goldilocks was kind of hard to please, sort of high maintenance. Are you sure you don't think I'm high maintenance?" I assured her I didn't, but I'm not sure she was convinced.

And, yes, Heather did read the above paragraph and laughed. She is happy to be Heather. No more Goldilocks.

• 37F/3C and clear for the ride to work.
• 56F/13C and not a cloud in the sky for the ride home.

Not So This Year

Yes, I rode to work today.

This morning one of the regulars at the cafe warned me that winter was returning. The forecast is for a  low of 35F/2C tonight with a high tomorrow of 59F/15C. That doesn't sound much like winter to me. Actually, it sounds like Spring. Here in St. Louis it seems we went from a mild winter directly to Summer. I guess to at least one person in St. Louis stepping back into Spring seems like the onslaught of Winter.

Last Spring it was so dry we didn't have many wildflowers. Not so this year.

And, I'm glad.

• 45F/7C and a few clouds for the ride to work.
• 61F/16C lots of sun for the ride home.

Curious

Yes, I rode to work today.

It is amazing what a difference four days can make. The sun is much higher in the sky then when I rode to work last Wednesday. Then I was leaving in dawn's most early light, now the tinted goggles aren't at all premature. Of course, this morning was as clear as a bell. I suspect this made everything look even more vivid and sharp adding to my sense of the change. Now the questions is: Would I have noticed if I was commuting by car? The answer: I would like to think I would have, but I don't ever remember doing so when I was driving to work. I read somewhere the difference between driving a car and riding a motorcycle/scooter is akin to the difference between watching TV or being in the show. This morning I was definitely part of what was going on around me.

At lunchtime I saw this guy. I wonder what the story is. The bike and bags looked new. It just looked curious.

• 49F/9C and clear for the ride to work.
• 71F/22C and just enough clouds so I couldn't call it clear for the ride home.

We'll See

Yes, I rode to work today.

Today was overcast and the temperatures felt more like April.

I'm taking a couple of days of vacation and won't be riding to work the next couple days. Tomorrow the Symba goes to the mechanic. We're going to see if we can figure out why she screeched last Sunday. I have some thoughts, but we'll see what the expert finds.

I wish both my Christian and Jewish friends a good Holiday. May Life bless you all.

• 57F/14C and overcast with haze for the ride to work.
• 67F/19C and overcast for the ride home.

I Will Admit

Yes, I rode to work today.

It was another wonderful weather day here. There was talk of storms developing in the afternoon, but if any did they chose to develop where I wasn't.

The Symba supposedly has a 1.08 gallon (US) tank, but I'm skeptical. The most I've ever put in the tank, and I have reason to believe I was running on fumes by the time I got to a gas station, was .85 gallons (US). The gauge is made up of a number of lights. When it gets really low the last light begins to blink. I try to always fill up before that last light starts blinking.

Tonight I filled up the Symba.

On that amount of gasoline I can expect to go approximately 85mi/135km. I will admit the prospect of great gas mileage was why I started riding a scooter, but it is the experience of riding the scooter that keeps me riding a scooter.

• 64F/18C and sort of cloudy for the ride to work.
• 80F/27C and becoming rather cloudy for the ride home.

As I Predicted

Yes, I rode to work today.

Another historic high temperature today. It got up to 89F/32C.

As I predicted last Friday, the sprinklers in Citygarden were on and kids were running through them.

And, although I didn't predict it, the Flamingo was playing the piano.

Happily the Symba ran just fine today. There was no repeat of the screeching sound it made yesterday. She goes in to see her favorite mechanic Thursday. We will see.

68F/20C and clear for the ride to work.
88F/31C and clear for the ride home.