Surf's Up and a Special Moment

Although most of the people rushing through the Square were bent down, clutching fast to their shaking umbrellas, against a drenching wind-blown drizzle, and who must have been repeating in their heads, “This is the worst first-day of Summer! Ever!!!”, Ol’ Scooterdude found it to be perhaps one of the best days for Scooter-sailing he had ever the pleasure of enjoying.

Traffic was light, fewer pedestrians around which to navigate, and a strong steady wind, flowing in the unusually accommodating direction of a South-westerly, following with the one-way traffic up St. James St. I estimate that the “waves”, in Wind-Scooter terms, there were 15ft. ‘swells’ and ‘choppy’. To put the rating in perspective, I regard 20 -25ft. swells to be the highest, strongest waves possible to ride on the wind-scooter. (Experience has taught that these are most likely in the rough ‘season’ of February and March!)

But, wind-direction also plays a role. What good are the strongest 25 ft. swells if they are only flowing across buildings and perpendicular to paved areas? Generally speaking, I’ve discovered that there are just about 5 out of 6 directions that are advantageous to wind-scootering, and that of these, 3 are good to go with strong currents of wind, and finally that only 1 is the perfect combination of wind velocity and direction. This was the case yesterday!

So, the rides were fantastic.

I want to add, that, while Ol’ Scooterdude was enjoying these ‘rides’, there emerged from a car parked alongside the Square plaza, a woman, two boys, and then a man battling against the wind and rain with a flag.
They came and stood in the middle of the square, by themselves, with the flag held firmly.
I approached them and asked about the flag and their purpose.
They explained that it was the flag of Iran and that they were there to continue a witness to the ordeal the Iranian people are currently suffering in their homeland.
I couldn’t help but admire their solitary witness, their commitment and resolution that, despite this dismal day of wind and wetness, they came out to stand for their people and for the democratic principles that all of us share.
It was a poignant expression and, for Scooterdude, heartfelt.

In an otherwise joyful thrill of ‘the ride’, here is grief and sober reflection.

(These events have indeed hit Scooterdude hard.)