Modern Vespa

Well, I did it. Today is a day of firsts.
This is my first post here after lurking about for a time.
I saved it for this: my MP3 turned 1000 today.

I was hoping that it would happen while out motoring about, but no. It happened while pulling into the parking lot at work after running backup tapes to our off-site location.

Here's to the next 999,000 or more!

So where were you when you turned 1000?


http://picasaweb.google.com/rbolman/Mp3/photo#5221862608672403282

About day 5 of ownership IIRC.

I need a little less than 600 miles and I'll be there. Plan on riding a lot more soon!!!!

Mine should turn 1K this afternoon. Right at 1 month since delivery...

How many times have you lapped that little island over there, Jim?

Why did you wait so long to post? I'm sure a lot happened between 1 and 1,000.

I sped by 1000 just after a week. Was pulling into a Sonic to get a Milkshake mmmm. About to hit 2k. I'd make the milkshake a tradition after every 1000 miles, but by 10K i'd be too heavy to haul!

I was on my way to work in Palatka on monday july seventh and was slowing down into a forty mph zone and happened to glance down just as she turned from 1999 to 2000. At 1000 i was on my way to Vespa of St. Augustine to get my right front tire changed and it rolled on the way but i missed it.

Well, mostly because I'm lazy. I'm one of those people who makes his living doing network engineering/administration, does freelance multimedia work, and teaches visual communications at a local community college. So, blogging and forum posting doesn't really happen all that often.

Anyhow, since you asked, here are some of the things that I've learned in my first 1000 miles:

Own the road and make sure you are seen. Toreador Pants makes a ton of sense.

55deg. F is about as cold as I'll go. Wind chill is a bitc......pain.

You will have people ask a lot of questions no matter where you are.

Even when you have the right-of-way at an intersection, make sure you look both ways before entering it. My commute is 20 miles of open country. I'll routinely scan for cars approaching a stop sign just because I'm paranoid.

You can stop really fast when the light turns yellow, but the car behind you can't. It was kinda funny to see the look on his face though.

If you have the parking brake on and the front wheels locked, when you give'er the gas you won't move, but the front will unlock. First thing that went through my head was "why am I not going anywhere?" The second thing was "why am I tipping over?" So far I've done it twice.

It is guaranteed to rain on the day that you're scheduled to take your riding test to get your license. Again, it's happened twice. Some day I'll get it though!

In the country, fear the deer as much as anything else.

Everyone else on the road is stupid.

And, probably most important, sneezing is NOT a good thing if you're wearing a full face helmet.

I breezed through 1000 and crept pretty close to 2000 riding to the RBSC Lake Tahoe rally and back this weekend!

1112.5 miles in 72 hours.

And I wound up getting to talk up my ride at nearly every gas and snack stop on the way!

8)

I am glad you both got home safe. It was good talking to you at the rally. Now you have a real ride story to share with your grand kids some day. Ride safe.

R.B.