Run to the Hospital

by Jim Zeiser
(Deposit, New York)

I have an appointment with one of my many doctors next week and it requires a blood test in advance. Now, as always, I could have taken the car on the eighty mile round trip. The Kawasaki beckoned also with its ability to traverse the interstate.

The scooter? Why not? I had just done the annual valve clearance check/adjustment and it looked primed and ready to do a lengthy ride.

I had to ride to Binghamton this time and take the old road that parallels Rt. 17. The leaves shaded the road and made it look much prettier than the last time I rode it, with green branches abounding instead of empty limbs.

There were a few twist and turns to follow as I approached the city and I tried to note them for the trip back.

Once inside the city limits, the scooter became a true vehicle. Out on the open roads where the speed limits are 55 mph, I have to move aside for people doing 65. Once in the city, speed limits were 45 mph and I could keep up with that pace.

At traffic lights, cars fell away as I accelerated and I even had people holding me up. How nice to be a regular two wheeler.

I had to stop for gas once, averaging my usual 70 mpg and paying the princely sum of $2.35 to top off the one gallon tank.

With the blood test, the whole trip took about three and a half hours. The scooter seemed to get stronger every mile. They say these Chinese GY6 engines get better as they get older. I'm beginning to believe them.

Like a certain ad says... It wasn't just a ride, it was an adventure.