Do I sound like a faithful member of the VStrom choir? 😉

Seriously, I see a LOT of DL650s out on the highways of America, usually decked out with bags and license plates from several states away. More than BMW GS’s even. Although yesterday and today I was passed by the same guy on a Star ‘Liner several times. He would go faster but this big truck stops less. LOL

Ride safe, and have fun.
Dave T.

This weekend I am probably going to head north towards Wellsboro. Time to find some more places to eat.

At one time in a past life Sunday morning was a work morning: early to the house of worship, enaure the pipe organ was OK, and other things in place. Find the appropriate tune
(never a a hymn, or something from the classics, butchered for the time and place) for the day and then sit myself down at the keyboard and make sure everything worked. If nobody had arrived and my coffee hadn’t dripped, I usually played my version of sleigh bells and kitten on the keys first. More than once had been told by early
arriving staff that such music was
inappropriate in a church and especially the Lord’s Day! I did blow out the cobwebs using a particularly animated version of the trolley song after getting my coffee. It too did what it was supposed to do, check all the reeds stops and pipes. Usually the minister was there listening before he went into his study to prepare the morning. He did come out one very cold Sunday three weeks before Christmas and suggested I play Sleigh Bells with all the available animation. It shook up the place and got things rolling quite well. I finished the service with Frosty the Snowman, all very odd on a three manual classical pipe organ. That was 35 years ago.
The minister is now gone, the organ was sold and that church is now a parking lot.

I’d also had enough of hoopla preaching and holier than thou attitudes to serve me a lifetime. My next religion was Sunday morning motorcycle rides with a friend. He owned a BMW, I was by that time (mid-1980s) commuting from Burlington to Toronto to work so Sundays were my play time. A good friend who was the also an educator and I would meet to ride for a bit and then have breakfast in some obscure place. Problem was, this is Canada, a very much puritanical attitude on many things including breakfast places on Sunday mornings. So it was often a matter of finding a place open and one that didn’t serve poor food. I had a book on the bike (which I can’t find) of all the decent open places within a 250 mile radius. We’d stop enroute for an apple or orange each and talk. Sometimes it would be brunch. Either way we’d ride, rain or shine from mid to late March to
late October. Usually by the end of
Octotber both bikes would be away until spring. We’d make a point of meeting over Christmas and attending the new year’s bike shows. He is now retired, still rides but like me is realzing the LACK of freedom from idiots is so much worse these days.

He was not surprised when I told him my physical body and yes too my mental state was not happy about
the mad world of wheels out there.

What used to take ten minutes to get into the country now takes an hour, or more and that’s over a change over the space of thirty years.

So I feel honoured Steve you’ve allowed us to join you at breakfast as over the shoulder viewing arrivals, and for us to listen to your projects and commentary.

I keep wondering if your pick me up truck passed all of the required state inspections? And the no dog at home syndrome is disapatting

Now who was the bloke in the red shirt, again? And now that the Triumph has been returned, I am thinking if it weren’t for the paucity of decent Triumph dealers here in Canada I might also return to riding, on a Triumph. Sadly I can only dream now, maybe when
the world becomes happier and people learn to respect others would I ever consider returning.

Do know if I searched for you, I might find you on the Penn State campus at The Creamery?

If a trip there happens, that may well be a place to visit.

I’ve not had it for a week now and already I miss it. Maybe I need to talk with Santa…

As far as I am concerned, only two companies still make classic-looking motorcycles: Triumph and Harley Davidson. And not all of their models qualify. But right off the shelf, you cannot beat the Triumph Bonneville for its classic good looks. I’m delighted to find out that it rode like a champion quarter horse too.

In a perfect world, I’ll own one of these too. Your ride report was a hair shy of rapture.

Fondest regards,
Jack “reep” Toad

The V-Strom is on that list. Seems like an exceptional machine for traveling.

I’m certain I’ve sent new riders to Kissell Motorsports. Over the years I have been stopped by a lot of people who have followed Scooter in the Sticks for awhile and it was just what they needed to move off center and buy something.

Up next in my non-Vespa riding is a 2009 Kawasaki KLR 650. This has long occupied my “do anything bike” thinking as I would dream about long trips.

Anxious to see how it handles on the road. It is so tall!

Charlie6: Thank you! If one of the manufacturers wanted to employ me as a blogger I would certainly consider early retirement. *grin*

I think the first motorbike I ever rode was a Honda Mini Trail 50. That was back in 1966 or so. And the memories of that experience still echoes in me.

If I have any regrets it is that I let decades pass before getting my Vespa scooter. Even though I remember how much fun riding was as a kid I didn’t allow myself to enjoy it again until 2005.

Doesn’t make a lot of sense. Maybe it’s time for you to get something to ride too!

Angelo: The riding position on my Vespa is extremely upright and with my legs together almost perfect for my 55 year old frame. No back or neck issues. If I am riding for over six hours though my wrists can start to ache a bit and sometimes my backside needs some rest.

I did notice some new aches while riding the Bonneville the first day as I adjusted to a different riding position and I was worried about that.

But the next day I was fine. I think my body adjusted fine and that the aches were part of the adjustment.

I am not sure I could adjust to any leaned over positions like you would experience on a sportbike though.