Ken was a great friend to many, and my multiple multi-day rides with him were the highlight of my scootering life.
He took to scooting after retiring as an airline pilot.
His first scooter, a Vespa LX 150 known to him as Scoot, took him across the country and all over Florida and the Southeast USA.
He bought a Vespa GTS 250, named Big Red, that he rode on the 2012, 2014 and 2016 Cannonball Runs.
Ken was a member of the Vespa Club del Mediterraneo and went with the group to France, Spain, Portugal and Greece since 2015.
He ran in the Cross Egypt Challenge twice and organized a group that rode in Senegal just a couple of years ago.
His sense of what was important in life and on rides was an inspiration to me since meeting him before the 2014 SCR.
We rode around Florida on what we called Oyster Tours since 2015.
They changed to Courthouse Tours after I suggested we see the entire state of Florida by going to every county courthouse.
He invited others to join in on the rides. Gary Kinney, David Masse, Jim Mandle, Stephanie Yue and others followed along at times.
Ken would write about his adventures on his blog, Lostboater Diaries. That writing can be found here. http://www.lostboaterdiaries.com/index.html
When he would go anywhere, hotels, restaurants, courthouses, anywhere, he would befriend the people there. Desk clerks, cooks, servers, bailiffs, whoever was around would become his friend.
I have never known anyone quite like him.
He will be missed.
Bill
Ken with his camera.
Making a new friend in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Stopping to assist a beautiful Marine in Mississippi.
On a Courthouse Tour.
On a ride in Florida.
Researching a ride at his favorite Florida hotel, the Jacaranda in Avon Park.
Ground Zero for Oyster Tours was Lynn's Quality Oysters in Eastpoint, Florida.
Last edited by WLeuthold on Tue, 06 Jun 2023 17:37:11 +0000; edited 1 time
