Some retirees buy a camper and tour the nation’s state parks, some get themselves a Hog and join a biker club and others find that classic dream car from their youth and show it off car meets, but Dennis Bradish purchased a 49cc, 4.4 horsepower Honda Metropolitan scooter and uses it to explore his adopted hometown.
The Metropolitan, which Bradish named “Ruth,” is something one would normally see cruising along at European beach resorts, not putt-putting around the neighborhoods of Augusta.
Bradish says when he retired from the U.S. Navy and then later retired from government civilian work, he and his wife decided to stay in Evans.
“We had been here for 20 years. We raised our kids here, and so we decided this was home. We’ve done well and everyone likes it here,” Bradish said.
Bradish says he enjoyed the freedom of just exploring around on the Honda with no particular place to go. He also discovered that even though he had lived in the Augusta area for decades, there were plenty of interesting things about the city that he had missed.
“When you are not in a car, the world becomes your windshield. There were places and things I had driven by in my car dozens, if not hundreds, of times and never even noticed them,” Bradish said.
That spurred Bradish to bring along a camera and take photos of any landmark that drew his interest. In most of the photos, Ruth can be spotted somewhere in the shot.
“I first started in Harrisburg, but then I branched out. We were out at Phinizy Swamp just the other day,” Bradish said.
For Bradish, nothing he can legally access is off limits for a photo op; he has taken shots of everything from the unique architecture of the houses in Summerville, Olde Towne and Harrisburg to quirky places such as Pexcho’s American Dime Museum and interesting murals from Broad Street to Lumpkin Road.
Bradish also discovered a junk yard filled with rusting Volkswagen Beetles.
Along the way, Bradish created the FaceBook group “Dennis’ Metropolitan,” where he posts the pictures of his and Ruth’s adventures. The group, created last October, has attracted over 600 followers and continues to grow with about 20 new followers a week.
In creating the page and posting the photos, Bradish also created a star.
“Ruth has become somewhat of a local celebrity and people will wave me down so that they can take a photo with her,” Bradish said.
According to Bradish, people all around the community have begun to send him suggestions and tips on places to go and visit, and he always follows up. He says his hobby of documenting what is here now has sparked an interest in learning more about bygone places such as “Frog Hollow.”
“It’s a lot of fun. I have followers from Spain and New Zealand, and it’s neat that I can take these photos for everyone to see,” Bradish said.
So, where will Ruth go next? You’ll have to go to Dennis’ Metropolitan to find out!
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter and Editorial Page Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
