END OF AN ERA

 In 2006 while living in New Mexico I bought a Tomos SX moped from a dealer in Carlsbad. It joined my other moped that I had purchased at a garage sale some years before.

After getting the blue Suzuki I could be seen riding all over Mukwonago, WI. I rode it to work many a day. As you can probably see I was not a small guy back then. I over-powered that bike. That didn't stop me from puttering around the area. It was exciting.

I should mention that each of these bikes had 49cc engines which meant that they could go about 25mph.

After Mukwonago we moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico. I continued to ride my Suzuki around the area and to work. 

The picture below is from a drive I took to Fort Seldon Monument which I believe was 20 miles from home. Notice the really cool helmet (my father-in-laws old helmet) and the extra cool plastic container bunge corded to the back. I was sure cool.

The video is of Matt on the Suzuki riding with me to Fort Seldon when he came down to visit.

I wanted a bigger bike so that is when I got the Tomos. It is a nice bike. I bought what is called a trunk to store and carry things in. And since it is bigger I didn't over power it as much. With the special muffler I could reach speeds of close to 40mph while going down hill with a good tail wind. That suited me better in traffic.

I had two accidents on my bikes. The first one was while riding the Suzuki.

I was coming back to my office in Las Cruces and my bike skidded and tipped over on loose gravel. I was on the ground. I was scratched up and a bit disoriented. A passing motorist stopped and helped me. It was a bit scary and because of it I didn't ride for awhile. In time I started riding again but watched the roads very carefully.

The second accident was on the Tomos and also in Las Cruces. I was going home from work and traveling about 30mph. As I came upon on intersection I noticed the light was green but the cars were stopped. My lucky day. I could zip through the intersection without a problem. Now realize these thoughts all occured in a split second before my accident. The cars were stopped because an ambulance was coming on the side street. I noticed the ambulance, slammed on my brakes and went head-first over my handlebars to the pavement. That same ambulance stopped and attended to me. They checked me over and I was fine. Once again I was very cautious about riding again but got over it.

We moved to Riverton, Wyoming and once again I rode the bike to work and around town. I had no problems in Riverton.

Before moving from Las Cruces I sold the Suzuki, It wasn't running and I am not mechanical.

After retiring we moved to Highlands Ranch, Colorado. I was older now and my neighborhood is hilly and the traffic is heavy so I decided it was time to sell my Tomos. This picture is from the day I sold it.

I really enjoyed riding. It is such a "free" feeling. I was not sitting in the comfort and afforded protection of a car. I was experiencing things up close and personal. I got drenched a few times and still had a huge grin on my face. I was alive.