Rain was falling and the driveway was covered with leaves when I pushed the Vespa out of the garage. A signal that fall is on the way. Mist shrouded Mount Nittany in the distance and I could not resist a riding a slightly longer route to work. The valley was lush and crops of corn and soybeans near harvest—more reminders of the impending change in season.
On mornings like this a few minutes alone along the road looking around changes the way I see things. Not just the landscape in front of me. It changes the way the day unfolds. I’m able to stay attuned to the small reminders the world throws my way. Later at work while scouting in a production plant I shuddered as I walked through 30 below zero air flowing from the open overhead door of a storage freezer. My mind took me to some of the coldest rides I’ve made, days that grow closer everyday.
For me the prime riding season is just beginning. Colder air, more dramatic color and light, and a sharpening of the senses dulled by the heat of summer. Patterns and textures emerge in the landscape that always seem hidden to me in hot weather. The rain stopped and it was time to move on to work even though I wanted to stay and watch the clouds clear along the ridge.
The value of reading your blog is in reminding me that we are not all alike. I used to tremble at the onset of fall, and that was in California.
My GTS was suffering from a blocked check valve in the stupid evaporative system and will serviced and ready for pick up tomorrow. Ah ha.
It’s kind of nice to see photos without the Vespa in the foreground. I like the Vespa design, of course, it’s just good to see some more “organic” photos that don’t put the scooter first every time 🙂
I would like to try riding my scooter in the colder weather too. This is my first year riding. What kind of jacket do you recommend
“The rain stopped and it was time to move on to work even though I wanted to stay and watch the clouds clear along the ridge.”
Whenever and whatever book you decided to write in the future, you may well have written the final line already. When I read this, I saw every road I took on my summer travels, all 14K miles.
P’taker
conchscooter: Glad to hear that the Vespa is going to be running through the Keys again.
I suppose cold weather riding is an acquired taste.
rickrusselltx: I’m trying, I really am trying to look past the Vespa…
sherry: Unless you are going to have electric gear I suggest having layered options. At the coldest I wear long underwear, heavy shirt and pants, windproof jacket, and on top of all that an armored winter riding jacket (mine is the First Gear Kilimanjaro IV) and Tourmaster Overpants. Heavy socks, boots, polypropolene glove liners with big heavy mittens underneath. That makes me good for the 5 -10 degree F temps at speeds up to 50 MPH for 20 to 30 minutes between stops to warm a bit. Everyone will be different though.
I will be posted sometime soon about gear for the cold.
pitchertaker: Thanks! In the end, for me, I am happy to be in a place where I am calm enough to appreciate what is in front of me.
Well, well. I see you consider Verbascum thapsus worthy of art now and not just some pesky weed to be yanked from the ground. As someone commented previously, yes, your posts are becoming more sophisticated. Love those big weeds.
Picture #3 is especially sweet. All that rich, rolling green. It makes me want to pick up a flamingo and knock around some hedgehogs.
I guess I’d have to be the Red Queen though. Oh well.
ello Steve, I didn’t notice that before, but the first picture shows a high Verbascum Thapsus! there’s a lot of verbascum here in my place, is that an usual plant there?
it is said that during WWII people used to reap it, dry it and process it like tobaccoto be able to smoke that!