I have a scooter and I’m not afraid to use it. Especially on road trips. While the GTS is fast enough to ride on any paved road in North America, the PX required a bit of planning, the idea being to minimize exposure to speed limits over 50 mph.

The best thing about that planning was taking back roads and seeing new places, many of which meant little more to me than white letters on green signs posted near Interstate highways. I’m often dismayed at the number of people I talk to who have no concept of these back roads; “what’s it like riding a scooter on the freeway?” they ask. For the most part, it sucks. I try to avoid freeways whenever possible, simply because I don’t want to take a chance on being squished by an 18-wheeler, the driver having no idea I’m there.

Here’s where I went. Don’t be afraid to travel off any of these routes — make them your own. As Rick Steves is always saying, the guidebooks are a starting point. Find something on your own. Your trip will be much more memorable. Don’t forget to check for road closures and detours — dial 511 in Washington and Oregon. Oh, and don’t think you have to use a scooter. Any vehicle will do. Even a cage…

Portland to Eugene Going to a TDC SC rally? This is one way.

San Francisco Almost 49 miles, also a Scenic Drive.

Bellingham Loop Everything Bellingham, in one 2-hour ride.

Bellingham to Spokane Via Winthrop and Twisp.

Tri-Cities, Wash. to WA 14

Portland to Yakima

Tri-Cities, Wash. to Spokane Direct and scenic routes.

Sammammish Plateau to Downtown Seattle From Seattle Met’s Commuter Derby.

Seattle to San Jose, Calif. (Amerivespa 2009 ride)

Seattle to Portland, not on I-5

Seattle to Enumclaw, Wash.

Seattle to Edmonds, Wash. (includes Perrinville side trip)

Seattle to Bellingham, Wash.

Seattle to Snohomish, Wash.

Enumclaw, Wash. to Tri-Cities, Wash.

Bellingham, Wash. to Vancouver, B.C.

Southworth, Wash. to Gig Harbor, Wash.

Snohomish, Wash. to Darrington, Wash.

Kingston, Wash. to Port Angeles, Wash.

Bremerton, Wash. to Kingston, Wash. via Keyport and Poulsbo

Bremerton, Wash. to Bainbridge Island, Wash. via Keyport and Poulsbo

Astoria, Oregon to Longview, Wash.

Southworth, Wash. to Astoria, Oregon

Arlington, Wash. to Stanwood, Wash.

Seattle to Tacoma, Wash. via Des Moines and Dash Point Road

Bellingham, Wash. to Tsawwassen Ferry, not on I-5/B.C. 99

Mukilteo, Wash. to Ravenna neighborhood, Seattle

Lake Washington Loop All the way around, starting and ending at Cafe Racer.