Hauling a Christmas Tree by Vespa

I had been thinking for the past few weeks that I would bring my tree home on the Vespa this year from the local Christmas tree farm where we always get our tree. Or almost always. One year Kim and I decided we wanted to populate our yard with many Christmas trees. We didn’t want to spend the money on balled and bagged live trees so we improvised. The students at our local University would be leaving for the holiday break and that departure would leave many beautiful Christmas trees on the ground next to dumpsters at the dorm complexes. A simple drive in the truck allowed a collection of about 10 trees. Some post holes dug around the yard and as if by magic a Christmas tree forest. But I digress.

Back to the wisdom of thinking I could transport a tree home on the Vespa. I rode out to the Tait Farm to choose this year’s tree. When I pulled into the parking lot I was the only Vespa and my arrival triggered a friendly conversation about the wisdom of dragging a tree home on the scooter. I was not to be dissuaded. After all, I was only going to get a small five-foot Christmas tree. They sent me over to aisle 1A because this year I wanted a Fraser Fir. It didn’t take long to find the perfect tree but it did take a bit longer to saw it down. The warm weather had the sap running and the handsaw kept binding in the wet wood. And aside on motorcycle riding clothes is in order. I have been riding for many months with the First Gear jacket and Tourmaster Overpants in all weathers and conditions but lying on the ground to saw down this tree made me dirtier than all those months of riding. I did the best I could to clean the mud off when I got home but I’m afraid the bright yellow of the jacket will show the battle scars of getting a Christmas tree. Again I digress.

The friendly folks at Tait Farm cleaned the tree up nicely on the tree shaker and then pulled it through something that compressed and wrapped the tree in twine. This was a first since in the past I just threw the tree into the back of the truck. The real fun started when it was time to leave. Everyone was laughing about me taking the tree home on the Vespa — the good kind of laughing. I was asked if a picture could be taken for their Web site that I happily accommodated.

Now it was time to load the tree onto the scooter. In picking a tree I went with one I liked and it turned out to be seven and a half feet tall rather than five. No matter though, still not as wide as a Ford Excursion. The tree went on the rack easily and it took only two bungee cords to secure it in place and head home. I have to admit that it felt a little exciting, like I did when I was a kid and went with my parents to get a tree. More riding magic I guess.

Lots of smiles and waves as I rode out towards the highway. I had to make a choice here based on the tree. Turning left would be the most direct route home but would take me for a few miles in traffic wanting to go 60 MPH. Turning right would take me to a farm lane in a few hundred yards that would allow me to travel at a more reasonable tree transport speed. I chose right.

Out on the highway I did the few hundred yards at 50 MPH. Had I not seen the shadow of the tree on the road I would not have know it was back there at all. As soon as I turned onto the farm lane I regretted not taking the faster route.

The gravel road had been partially graded and had some really large loose gravel on it. The Vespa doesn’t do well in that so I slowly rode along with the wheels floating in the gravel. Eventually the surface returned to its more normal packed gravel. When I got on the paved road home I easily managed 50 MPH and could have done so all day and the rush of air didn’t seem to harm the tree needles. There was a lot of smiles and pointing from on coming traffic and I was glad I could spread some Christmas spirit.

A stop at the Pump Station Cafe for hot chocolate before going home was in order and gave me a few moments to reflect on what is sure to be a new Christmas tradition at our house. I’m hoping that next Christmas Kim and I will both be riding out to Tait Farm on our respective scooters!

Pulling into the driveway revealed the Vespa to be the growing workhorse in the family and by mileage along it is out in front of the car and truck. So, for any of you scooter or motorcycle riders who still need a tree and feel inclined to contribute to the Christmas spirit, grab a few bungee cords and head to your local Christmas tree enterprise and maybe you’ll get to experience some of that magic reserved most of the time for kids!