The Way It Is . . .

My Retired Misadventures on a Scooter for the Legally Blind
(Alas . . . no more driver's license for me!)

The Wrangler: Topspeed: 10 mph; Range: 25 miles
Four-13 inch, all-terrain tires
Each rear wheel is powered by a 3/4 hoursepower electric motor
Powered by 2 class 27, gel cell batteries
An on-board charger that plugs into a 110 volt outlet with a full charge, overnight :)

1. When I took delivery on my scooter, I noticed that the seat did not have a head rest--I asked the salesman what good it was--he didn't know--I finally figured out that if I was rear-ended by a car going 30 mph, I wouldn't get whip lash--I would just get dead--so, I didn't worry about not having it :)
2. I crossed in front of a big pick-up truck, using the cross walk--the male driver leaned out the window and said, "Need a tow?" You know the saying, "no flies on me," well, if a fly finds me, it just keeps pestering me until it gets tired flying in the hot weather--their speed is greater than mine!

3. I was at curb-side waiting for the light to change. A big guy on a Harley pulled up along side of me. He looked down at me. I looked up at him. I said, "Want to race?" He said, "not really--I think you got the edge on me with your speed!"
4. Going through a school zone I stopped in front of the crossing guard. I said, "Do I need to slow down when I go through the slow zone?" She started laughing--never did answer my question--I still don't know if I should slow down.

5. I don't stop for a 4-way stop sign--I'm stopped while I'm moving ;)

This is my house.
6. I don't worry about hitting deer, rabbits, cats or dogs. I do worry about running over snails and turtles.
7. I pass a lot of cars, every time I go out--they are all stopped at gas stations, filling up with gas.
8. To get to the Senior Center (where I work out) I come in from the back side--through Red Mountain Park--leaving the sidewalk and onto the gravel service road--a drop-off of about 3". So for a few days I carried a garden trowel, and I would stop each day to build up an exit ramp, moving gravel with the trowel. One day a woman walked by and watched what I was doing. I told her, "Oh, I'm just doing a little road work." ;)
9. At McDonald's one morning, an older woman with her husband, seated at the table next to mine asked, "is that scooter legal on the streets?" I said, "I have been passed by 5 or 6 police cars, going in both directions, and they haven't stopped me." "That's not what I asked," she said, "is it legal on the streets?" I replied, "I really don't know, but picture this: I'm traveling down the bike lane, at 8 mph. A cop car pulls in behind me, red lights on, siren blasting. I stop. He writes me out a ticket for something---I don't know what. That night, at the end of his shift he drops in at his favorite watering hole and tells his fellow officers all about his big bust of the day, that he gave out a traffic ticket to an old man, going 8 mph, on his red scooter, in the bike lane." They both agreed, after they stopped laughing, that it wasn't likely to happen, even if it was illegal . . .

10. An old man (two years younger!) said, "wouldn't it be better for you if you walked instead of riding that scooter?" I told him, "this scooter brought me five miles from my home, to the center here, and I spent the last hour in the exercise room working out." Then he said, "is that thing safe on the streets?" I replied, "is driving your car on the streets safe?" He walked off. I was glad to see him go :)

This is me on my bike.
I exercise every morning, rain or shine, 
thunderstorm, hail, or heat wave be damned! 
How else do you think I keep my girly figure?
11. I was in a small neighborhood park when I was challenged to a race. The challenger was a 4 or 5 year old boy "on his new scooter," he said. "Wanna race?" he said. "I said, my scooter doesn't go very fast." He said, "yes it does! Just press the button!" We race, I lost, by that much >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>!!!
12. I picked up my completed tax forms from a CPA that has done work for me for 26 years--also a good friend. He handed me the forms, we chatted for a few minutes, then he said, "take care, stay out of trouble." I replied, "have to! I can't even rob a bank if I wanted to. My getaway vehicle goes 8 mph!"
13. Another Harley-Davidson story: I pulled into a parking space, right next to a big Harley at a local cafe. I wished I had a picture of "scooter-rooter" and that bike. Four old men were standing outside the entrance talking (I said old, but they were all a few yours younger than I:). I said as I walked by, "I hope that guy with the Harley doesn't take the wrong vehicle!"

14. Going through Red Mountain Park one morning, a guy in a pick-up leaned out his window and asked, "Where can I get one of those scooters?" I answered. "How much do they cost?" I answered. "That's the way to go." I answered, "it's the only way to go if you don't have a driver's license!"

15. The Indians have a name for my scooter ---"The Chair That Walks"---Gotcha! I made that up ;)
16. There was this woman that---whoa---can't tell that one ;)
17. If you are getting the idea, that I have run out of scooter doings--you are right---have to wait for something to happen--it will--when you travel in the slow lane.

18. Going from here to there, I sometimes get a two-tap "hello" on the horn of a passing vehicle. I never know who it is, but I know it's not my wife, because it sounds friendly.

19. Traveling early in the morning, I usually see several groups of quail and cotton-tail rabbits. I have gotten into the habit of "talking to the animals." They never talk back, but it seems like the thing to do :)

20. Dogs do not like scooters! They ALL bark at me going by, even if they are behind a fence and can't see me. So I know it's nothing personal but it is kinda annoying . . . so I started barking back. I found out, though, that like a woman, you can't get in the last bark ;)

This is my favorite fountain.
21. The Red Scooter model "Hurricane," is now named "Zephyr" which is a much slower, more gentle wind. I looked for and found my wooden train whistle, with "Durango Narrow Gauge RR" printed on it. This is now standard equipment on the Zephyr---it really works!!! Think how it is for somebody walking down the sidewalk in the park to hear a train whistle coming up behind them. Kids like that train whistle too :)

22. Comments along the road: "Love your red Cadillac!" and, "You're the guy with the red-hot, hot-rod." ;)
23. I was going between 2 lanes of head-in parked cars in a parking lot and a man said, "You are supposed to slow down in the parking lot!" He was serious, and duuuuuuuumb!
24. Every so often, even I have to pull over to the right in the bike lane for an ambulance on an emergency run.
25. Sometimes, in the early morning, I see buzzards circling overhead---checking, I guess, to see if I'm still moving ;)
See? I'm still moving!
26. Scooting the wrong way on a same bike path I hear, "You are going the wrong way," from a passing bike rider, going the right way or the wrong way. Bikes have to pass me and the scooter!
27. Alongside the curb, keeping pace with the scooter, a peanut size baby quail, running all out. I stopped, the little one ran on, the mommy came out of the bushes and they both ran on, faster than the Zephyr!

28. At McDonald's: "is this for take out?" I can eat and run, but I can't run and eat :)

29. Construction traffic sign: 'Reduced Speed Zone Ahead.'---haha

30. At McDonald's--"your order will take a few minutes." That's ok, I'm not going anyplace, very fast.

Here's another view of my house with me in it!
31. When I pass someone on the sidewalk, I can use one of my three horns . . . Beep-Beep (an electric scooter is coming) or Boat Air Horn---a real blaster---(a boat is coming) or Train Whistle---(a train is coming)

32. You think your car gets good gas mileage? I can buy a gallon of gas, drive 500 miles, and still have a gallon of gas!

33. I used to have a theme song . . . 'On the Road Again' . . . Now it's 'Mr. Saturday Night--Don't Get Around Much Anymore.'

34. Saturday (8/18/01) Went "garage sale-ing today, on my scooter, of course! I paid $5 for a real kerosene lantern, gold painted with a red globe. Plan on hanging it on the back of the scooter for night traveling :)

35. You've heard the expression "riding circles around me?" My grandson Mike and I went to Jack-in-the-Box for breakfast. I rode my scooter, he rode my bike. He had to show off by riding circles around me while I was traveling at max speed--both of us laughing all the way!!!

36. Traveling on the right side of a wide bike path, the sound of a putt-putt motor, approached from the rear. The vehicle pulls up on the left--very crude--just a wooden plank with four wheels, a small gas engine, simple steering, and with two small boys riding it, on the way to McDonald's. Naturally, a race was called for--leaning forward to lessen air resistance--bouncing up and down to urge the scooter on--switch to full speed ahead, the race began >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>and ended. Out-classed again. As they sped away, I sounded three blasts on the air horn, acknowledging my defeat as their giggles followed their victory :)

37. Returning from the Home Depot on Power, a man was walking on the sidewalk towards me. As I approached, he stopped, came to attention, and saluted. I started laughing, waved and was past. Then I realized that he was saluting the American flag flying from the mast of the scooter!

 
My Daughter Lisa and I, Summer 2008
Do you see the resemblance?
 
Lisa's comments:  Wasn't he funny?  Every day was like that with Daddy.  He always saw the funny side of life.  He was optimistic and cheerful, no matter what his circumstances were.  No matter where we went, he made a sweet, funny joke about everything from paying his bill to opening the door for someone.  It was always at his expense.  And it was always a kindness for someone else.