Not every ride can be long and filled with adventure. This past Sunday’s ride was a quiet, easy 80 miles under clear skies. Paul suggested we meet at Saints, one of the local coffee shops at the crack of dawn. For me that would normally mean 5:30 AM but for Paul that means 8 AM, the first opportunity to buy the Sunday edition of the New York Times. My own mental planning didn’t go beyond finding somewhere new to have breakfast.
During one of our stops to look for pictures I share with Paul my interest in riding to Georgetown South Carolina to visit an aunt and uncle and invite him along. He’s mildly interested though concerned about the durability of his back for a multiple day ride especially if it means long days with me lollygagging along on back roads taking pictures.
Riding a new route that parallels Interstate 80 through bucolic Amish farmland we head towards Mill Hall. It’s pretty easy picking out the Amish farms — no power lines to the buildings and teams of horses or mules in the pastures. On a Sunday the horses get the day off save for the one powering the buggy going to church.
By accident we come across the Train Station Restaurant. It’s in an old train station and still has an old caboose out back. A sign on the door indicates they will be closing their doors in a few weeks to move to a new location. I heard chatter that the entire station would be moved down the road a half mile. That seemed a little over the top for a little mom and pop restaurant but I’ll check back.
After breakfast I heard the siren song of the lawnmower so we made our way home without further photography or stops. Some days riding just has to take a backseat to other more pressing personal responsibilities. Seems like an indication of personal failure.
pitchertaker says
Lollygagging..LOLLYGAGGING!!! How dare! Did he have his aluminum foil hat on inside his helmet again?
P’taker
Matt Hoefler says
Steve,
Just a quick FYI.
You can purchase that entire “Then Came Bronson” series at http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=1316221
I have seen you comment several times on how hot wearing over pants is in the summer and how you want to find protective riding pants better suited for hot weather. Icon makes some nice casual riding pants that provide very good protection. Check it out at http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/department.aspx?department=113&manufacturer=284&Division=1&closeout=0
Also, I commented on one of your post a while back about how I would love to live where you do to be able to ride in the sticks as it is very beautiful. You asked me where I live and for some reason I missed that. So, I live in St. Louis, MO and I hate it. It is the dirtiest city I have ever lived in with almost no scenic places to ride. The drivers here are very angry and don’t care. So, instead of enjoying the scenery and contemplating my surrounding I have to focus all my energy on trying not to get run over and trying to guess what the next angry driver on the road may due to put my life in jeopardy. Thus, when I get my next scooter I will not be buying one based off of how well suited it is for exploring which is what I really would like to do. Rather, I will have to buy one based off of how much power (cc) does it have so I can put distance between myself and the tailgater. The only thing that matters around here is how big and bad is your bike sad to say. I wanted to get the GTS, but I don’t think that will work for here so I am looking at getting a Suzuki Burgman 400. Anyway, riding a scooter at the end of the day is much more enjoyable than riding a car. I need to move. lol
BTW, where do you live in PA?
gary says
The “siren song of the lawnmower”? Oh yeah… I’d rush right home for that… NOT!
It is only very grudgingly that I decapitate the weeds in my yard. I certainly won’t hurry home from a ride for it.
Besides, you had all morning (before 8) to get that done! You don’t actually respect your neighbors, do you? ;^P
Ride well,
=gc=
Nother scooter says
Hi Steve,
I’ve just moved to Bellefonte and my vintage Vespa will be here in a couple of days too. I believe I’ve seen your scooter out on the road, actually (I’ve been keeping a look out). Please think about saying hi if you spot a smallish woman on a white 1971 smallframe. I’m new!
Kano says
I miss those cabooses at the end of the trains, the guy sitting up there in the window, ready to wave at anyone that waves at him.
I think if I had a caboose place around I would be drinking coffee there all the time!
My grass waits for another day and that day is long in coming!
CodyandMichelle says
Paul could get arrested for what it looks like he’s doing to his bike lol!
BTW Steve, could you go to my blogs and vote for your favorite pics. I value your input as you do a good durn job of pic taking yourself.
Cody
Eldercattus says
Concerning the lawnmower. I’m among the ‘Dunmowin’ clan, having taken a rototiller and a lot of compost to the front yard, and smothered everything in Sweet Woodruff. I thought of welding the mower shut, painting it pink and putting it upside down on the lawn, butg even that was too much work.
Steve Williams says
Sorry for the delay in responding to everyone. Lots going on and time has been in short supply.
P’taker: I think he has run out of aluminum foil and is braving the world on his own now. Bravo!
matt: Thanks for the link to the Bronson episodes Matt and the link to the SuperStore! I’ll check them out.
Your riding and commuting sounds like a nightmare. I have enough options here to generally avoid the mass of four wheeled traffic and it isn’t as wild as it is in St. Louis. The Burgman certainly would give you a lot more power to stay in the flow of high speed traffic.
I live in Centre County Pennsylvania about 6 miles from the University Park Campus of Penn State. We are right in the middle of the state just south of Interstate 80.
Gary: Eventually I just have to mow the lawn. Kim has done a really excellent job transforming our lawn into a restored woodland so there is very little to cut. Lots of other work taking care of other things but the mowing is less than 40 minutes now.
I do indeed respct the neighbors! And I hope they return the favor and not run weed eaters at 7AM…
nother scooter: Welcome to the scooter world of Centre County! I’ll say hello if I see you around. The place I most often see other scooters is parked outside of Schlow Library in the free motorcycle parking area!
kano: Pennsylvania has lots of railroad themed establishments with traincars around. I’ve generally not paid a lot of attention to them but will take a closer look next time we cross paths!
cody: You have lots of great pictures and I voted for my favorites. I’ve thought of putting a calendar together myself. Another of those things on my long list….
eldercattus: Kim has taken our lawn in the same direction with a wide range of ferns, creeping tyme, sweet woodruff, moss, bamboo, stone and and a wide range of stuff. The lawn still occuppies about 30 percent of our property though so mow I must occassionally….