Maybe I watched too many episodes of My Name is Earl. I figured if I did something nice for someone Karma would take care of me and that winning lottery ticket would blow up against my riding boot. Sitting on the back of my friend Paul’s truck at the end of the day 60 miles from home I was rethinking the Earl model.
I have been on vacation during the holidays but until yesterday didn’t really take a long ride and with the weather warming into the 40’s I figured now was the time, especially since I just did all the maintenance on the scooter. I departed around 9AM under cloudy skies and a 28° F temperature. The grass and cars were covered in frost but the road was dry. I bundled up in my riding gear and was off. I had my Mamiya 7 camera along to shoot some black and white landscape pictures — the official start of a new project. The plan was to explore some really open spaces along Nittany and Sinking valleys. The sun was trying to push through the cloud cover creating a glow in the sky and on the frost covered fields.
While shooting this picture a gentleman from a nearby home trotted over to ask about the Vespa and share that he had an ET4. What better omen for a great ride than running into a fellow Vespa owner! We talked for a few minutes and then I was off towards the more remote sections of the valley.
The light continued to glow and warm. Stopping to take pictures, pulling off my mittens and exposing them to the cold air was taking it’s toll on hand warmth though and it wasn’t long before I would preheat them on the headlight before pulling the mittens back on. There were a lot of neat little spots along the way including this old garage covered in signs and license plates.
I have passed it many times and always wanted to stop to make a picture. And these silos seemed to jump out at me when I went by requiring another stop for the big camera and a quick snapshot with the digital camera too.
I had decided to ride into Tyrone for lunch when a tractor-trailer driver flagged me down. He had a paper in his hand so I figured he was more interested in directions than in the Vespa. Two Vespa encounters in one day were too much to expect. The driver and his 14000 pounds of seed were lost and worse the place he was trying to find was about as hidden away as possible around here. I lent him my cell phone so he could get directions and as I watched his look become more puzzled and frustrated I asked for the phone. After a few minutes I determined exactly where the delivery point was and that this guy from Indiana would never find it. What else could I do but volunteer to lead him there. It was only about 10 miles in the opposite direction that I was now headed but heck I am always up for a change in plans. So he jumps into the cab and I get on the scooter and hit the starter button and it just whirrs. “Dead battery” flashes in my head. I get off and hit the kick-starter (yes, the Vespa LX150 still has a kickstart) a few times and the engine starts and off we go.
It was a nice ride especially with an eighteen-wheel escort behind me that didn’t want to run me down. Once we hit the dirt roads though I was kind and he had a hard time keeping up. I had to stop a few times to make sure he was still there. We arrive at the agricultural enterprise and they are glad I led the truck there. It occurred to me then that they would have come and got him if I hadn’t volunteered to lead him. Turned out that I was glad I did because I found some roads and places that were fine riding and offered lots of photo possibilities for my new project. The farmers have put up their snow fences but we haven’t had any snow yet. They do make for nice pictures.
Lunch was out of the question now until I got to Altoona that lay over the far ridge and 12 miles to the left.
I was smart enough at this point to not shut the engine off when I was taking pictures. I figured I would check things out when I got to Altoona. The really smart rider would have ridden home to troubleshoot in his or her own garage. An hour later I pull into my in-laws driveway and go inside for a fantastic meatball sandwich.
The fun begins now as I try and get the Vespa running for the trip home. I had it in my head that the starter would not engage because the battery was low. Swapped the battery from my father-in-law’s ET4 and the same thing. And my battery started his scooter fine. At this point I ask to use the computer and post on the Modern Vespa site for help and receive immediate help from the Technical Moderator Gary that I should run down the ground to make sure it is solid. He helped me troubleshoot but as the afternoon waned I figured it was time to truck the scooter home. I called my friend Paul who graciously offered to drive his truck 60 miles to get the scooter and me. Here you can see Paul on the left with my father-in-law Bob.
They both did a lot to try and get the Vespa running. We loaded up and headed for gas and a bite to eat, the least I could do.
It was dark when we left and suddenly we have no headlights on the truck. I’m beginning to wonder now what I’m being punished for. Karma is not with me. It wasn’t until we got home that Kim put things in perspective for me. It was a great ride, I did a good deed, I met another Vespa rider, I had the opportunity to be with family, a good friend showed his friendship, I was home safe, and perhaps there was a reason for not riding home. Kim pointed out what I couldn’t see because I was focused on what I wanted—the scooter to start—and wasn’t seeing the bigger picture. This wasn’t a misadventure but another adventure. It’s all in the way you look at things.
The scooter is in the garage and the heater is running. Another adventure awaits.
irondad says
What a day, huh? Kim’s exactly right. That’s the heart of adventure. Let the day unfold and embrace each event as it happens. Treasure is hidden in strange places. By the way, I LOVE a good meatball sandwich!!!!
Dan
Paul says
Breakdown Adventure: Hi Steve. I’m off to Kissels to get the special clutch cable grease. That was a big adventure for you yesterday. It’s one of those stories you will go over in your head many times in the future. Breaking down opens up all sorts of possibilities. In Christianburg Virginia my transmission broke in a big way and the local shop worked on it (A Sunday!) at night installing a junk yard transmission. It was a miracle they dropped everything to help me. That night waiting for them to finish I had a special moment with a young lady. That’s right. A “Special moment.” Regards, Paul
Bill Sommers says
Wives have a way of seeing the big picture from a different angle. And in Cinemascope.
Bill
EdMack says
Steve,
You’re married to a very wise woman. And it DOES sound like a great adventure afterall.
EdMack
ps- I’m the fellow Vespa rider you met, so I’m real glad everything turned out OK.
Cody and Michelle says
A wise woman that Kim is Steve! That’s why they are always referred to as our better halves.
BTW, I really like that 6th photo, nice composition and the light works real well in that shot.
Happy New Year Steve
NP36 says
Steve … your entries are so full of life, Karma has to be on your side. Thanks for sharing.
Justin
The Snark says
I managed to lunch the right exhaust rocker arm on Bikebike 2 days ago. When I was on my way to the shop to change the shagged rear tyre.
They stripped the head off, to find a bent exhaust valve. Also worn cams. And then they found a short in the electrics, and an overcharging rectifier.
And also a battery that’s not really holding a charge.
Sigh. Happy Holidays.
Dimitris says
Another great story, and some food for thought (and thoughts of food, mmm, meatball sandwich)!
Dimitris
Steve Williams says
irondad: It was a fine day and I am learning how to let things unfold as they will.
paul: You are always havings some sort of special moment in a wide range of things. Thanks again for the rescue!
bill: Cinemascope is right!
edmack: It was a fun ride and day despite the mechanical setback. It does make me think I should buy some road coverage from AMA or AAA. Next time I might be on my own. Hope to see you out on your ET4 soon!
cody and michelle: The picture you refer to was my favorite. I spent some time there with the film camera shooting. Off in the distance you can make out a big smoke plume from some kind of fire. It made for some interesting images.
np36: Thanks for your kind words. Life is a fine journey.
snark: Wow, makes my little problem insignificant. Hope you get everything back together and on the road again soon!
dimitris: I’m already hungry. Maybe I’ll make some meatballs today.
gary says
Number Six gets my vote too. But really, all of your scenic photos in this blog are enhanced by that elegant little silver Vespa.
As for your technical problem, a faulty ground sounds like a good bet. That’s a simple thing to check, if you have a multi-meter.
Good luck, and…
Ride well,
=gc=
Anonymous says
When I read your site New Years Day, you made my day, or perhaps I should say your wife did with the wisdom in what she said. I had a bad day Dec 31st. I’m from Wash, DC, and have been reading your site all along. Irony is, Dec 30th I was in Tyrone for a family Holiday reunion. Close, in more ways than one. ~Robert~
Combatscoot says
This is a bad translation of a quote from a book I cannot find at-the-moment, but here goes:
“Adventure is discomfort recounted in detail, after the fact.”
I had an adventure this weekend, too, although I wasn’t the one who broke-down. I’ll detail it more on my blog.
John
American Scooterist Blog says
I like your wife 🙂
I’ve learned that I make wierd mistakes when I rebuild engines. I think I’ve got it all tight and then… stuck five miles from home with no phone and cornfields for a view haha.
Maybe you could try dissaembling and reassembling in case something loosened itself up after reassembly? I bet its something simple and you’ll be able to grin after you find it.
All the very best,
The Roadbum