I could not resist stopping to talk with this horse. I figured he might be related to my Belgian Sheepdog Junior being a Belgian draft horse. Pauses like this during the morning ride to work are sort of, well, therapeutic. Calms my squirming brain before sitting down to a day’s work. When I first stopped this horse galloped off, undoubtedly frightened by the mighty roar of the Vespa. It did not take long for his curiosity to get the best of him though.
The chilly 39F morning ride was replaced by a near 60F ride home. Warm enough that I found myself engaged in my usual Family Circus style circuitous route home weaving through every lane and field I could find. I had forgotten the little thrill I get just poking along and seeing what the snow had hidden for so long.
I don’t ride in groups and seldom ride with anyone at all. Looking at this scene reminded me of what I find most powerful in my little adventures — solitude, escape, and a feeling of being alive and walking on the earth.
Just another plain ride to work.
I really like the composition of the shot of the Vespa and the tree. It looks like you had beautiful weather.
Richard: It was marvelous weather for a ride home. If only I had the time to keep riding and follow the sun west…
I agree with Richard’s comment about the composition of the scooter and the tree, although you have to look hard at first to see the scooter. Maybe cropping it a little might help, so it is easier to see the bike and in that way I think it would be an even better image.
I did wonder if the horse had come to check out how many horsepower the Vespa had….. sorry…. !
Gary France: I had shots composed more tightly where the scooter was more dominant in the frame and I went back and forth between them before choosing the one I did. The closer shots were about the scooter while the wider view was more about solitude. I figure everyone will have to click the image to see the large version.
I took a look at your blog– very nice; 13K miles and more on a Road King this summer in the US is quite an adventure. I’m certain a lot of people will be interested. Good luck!
Nice pictures. Wish my commute was a little less urban. This morning was cold but should be in the 50’s this afternoon. I rarely make little extra side trips during the commute because frankly there isn’t anything more unusual to see in any route I take.
Last night though I picked up dinner on the way home and the extra couple of miles was a nice break from the routine.
Steve (and fellow readers),
May the Spirit of Saint Patrick grace you, as well as the spirits of horses you pass en route. I stopped to photograph a few “quite neighborly” horses I was scootin’ by, during the winter here. A few times I’ve stopped to chat, in the past, and always enjoyed their momentary company!
Steve:
I have to agree with your selection of the tree & Vespa from far away, uncropped. I clicked on it and found that someone may have left a camera bag in the foreground. What luck, there may be an M6 in there too.
Back in the old days of film and B&W developing we had to make our prints to show the perforations. That way others knew they weren’t cropped. With digital it’s harder to tell.
as usual, your pictures steal the show . . .
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
I really like the picture of the tree and the scooter. Nice shot. It really visually conveys that you don’t need to ‘belong’ to enjoy yourself.
There’s just something about riding alone. It’s a very calming and restorative time.
“I don’t ride in groups and seldom ride with anyone at all. Looking at this scene reminded me of what I find most powerful in my little adventures — solitude, escape, and a feeling of being alive and walking on the earth.”
Amen, amen, amen!!! You nailed exactly how I feel.
I quite like the pic of the vespa and the tree. Very nice job. I am also enjoying the 30s in the morning and 60s in the afternoon.
Hi Steve, I love seeing pictures of your ride to work. Aren`t we lucky living out in the sticks. I know you would enjoy riding the Vespa through Oxford Hills. Much of the route surrounded by woods, rather than the open fields in your photos. And on a rare occasion, the moose will appear at Crooked River. Quite a sight, especially while sitting on scooter. Alan
cpa3485: I used to say the same thing about much of the travels I would do until I started taking pictures. I mean looking around and taking pictures and not just the quick snapshot. It interrupts the ride but I was amazed at how much more I would see both while shooting pictures and during plain old rides.
More urban landscapes seem like visual goldmines to me. I just seldom have the chance to see them.
Bob Olcott: Horses are amazing creatures. I only admire then from afar but I have seen enough of them to know they are special. There were times in my past where I dreamed of owning one along with a few hundred acres of land adjoining one of our state forests or gamelands.
Just think, it could have been Steed in the Sticks…
bobskoot: I wish there was some kind of treasure there. Believe me I keep my eyes peeled. Just last week I found a $10 bill in an unlikely place.
Alas, it was just a piece of a log that someone probably used to sit on or something.
Thanks for your kind words about the pictures. As always it’s fun to make them.
Lloyd: Every once in a while I stumble on a picture like that. And almost always I am alone when it happens. I wonder if that means something?
Giest: You are exactly right. The big gift of riding.
irondad: Maybe the only difference between you and me is velocity?!
Well, maybe more than that…
Chris Luhman: The weather seemed to change suddenly. Was in town this morning and there were motorcycles everywhere.
A more reliable indicator of the arrival of spring than that old groundhog…
Alan: I love Maine. Kim and I used to vacation there often. I think it would be a fantastic place to ride.
No moose around here but we do have Elk. One my list of photos I hope to make someday is a picture of the Vespa with an Elk.
Regarding photo of scooter on hilltop with lone tree: I see you’ve turned up the heat! Is that that tree you shoot annually on the left on the way to Huntingdon? How you got the scooter up there…oh wait a second…you inserted that by photoshop. Paul
Paul: Photoshop? That’s a straight shot other than a little futzing around with the exposure. I ride my Vespa to these places!
Similar look to my favorite tree in Huntingdon County but this one is on Penn State property. Granted, they have a lot of it.
Nice scooter! Isn’t it great how much more aware we can be of all that’s around us when we’re out scootering?