With morning temperatures consistently near 40F and above the ride to work is effortless. The chore of putting on a lot of gear to insulate from the cold is in the rear view mirror. And the extra time allows me to take more leisurely and relaxing routes to work. The above picture was made on a lane crossing one of Penn State’s farms on Friday morning. Often the gates are closed when cattle or horses are put out to pasture.
Tremendous clouds and piercing light this morning demanded a slight detour to make a picture of Meyer’s farm outside of State College. When the weather is frigid I am far less likely to stop, especially in locations I have photographed before.
While this scene is pretty what you don’t see it the fresh manure I walked through to get the picture.
Worn brick and written admonishments contrast the usual bucolic landscapes I seem to be drawn to. Passed this scene on my way to meet a friend at Saint’s Cafe. Last time I photographed this place I was on a Triumph Bonneville. The Vespa looks fine here too.
Alleys are magical places. Whenever I have the chance to explore in towns and cities alleys are my first plan of attack. While Calder Alley in State College, Pennsylvania is pretty tame as alleys go, it still offers some interested colors and textures.
Notice how I am slowly digressing away from any direct riding references? The Vespa is the perfect foil in this area.
My friend Paul Ruby usually parks his motorcycle here. He thinks it belongs to him but I still belong to the school of who ever gets their first owns the space. Seem the American thing to do.
Another morning in Saint’s Cafe. Sitting at the table getting ready to write a few notes in my journal I could not help but notice the odd juxtaposition of characters. The beam of light on a red head of hair was just gravy in my book.
Paul Ruby.
I stole his space for nothing because he arrived in his 1962 Mercedes Sedan. Paul is a collector of machines and you never know what he might show up with. An old Vespa, Ferrari, Harley, or bicycle. A few weeks ago he stopped by my office at lunch time so I could take some pictures of his latest acquisition.
Now he has a Ducati 1198. This is a class of motorcycles outside my experience or desire. I’ve sat on them but my body cries out, “Please, no, don’t make me ride on this.”
So far I’ve ceded to my body’s wishes.
The weatherman says it will be almost 70 degrees tomorrow. I’m convinced winter has passed and my whole life as relaxed. As much as I enjoy riding year round I admit that this winter was tough. I’ll have to reflect awhile to discern the reasons. Something to think about on these nice, warm day rides…
I, too, am convinced winter is moving on. This weekend I gave my Symba a bath. I had covered it with an agent to protect it from corrosion. This spring cleaning is quite an effort.
I, too, agree with you about alleys. They are amazing things and small machines navigate them so well.
Thanks for taking me along,
Keith
Sometime this afternoon ( Sunday ) Spring will officially be here. Mostly I will know because the rain will be a bit warmer.
One of my resolves this year is to spend more time in leisurely riding. Besides relaxing, part of the plan is to start “making” photos. Most of mine seem to be photojournalistic ( I think I hurt myself thinking of and typing that word! ) documentation of my fast paced life!
Your blog is restful to me. Now I have to do it on my own!
Dear Scooter In The Sticks:
I was out on my K75 the other day, and like yourself, I ran around some local cornfields in transition, getting a thin layer of manure on my tires. My true purpose was to run absolutely fresh, ethanol-free gas through the injectors, and I stopped at the fuel pumps.
Before I could get off the bike, a woman I did not know came up to me and said, “Spring is a time of renewal, for the soul, the mind, and the heart.” She kised me fully on the mouth and whispered, “Nothing says renewal like a red BMW K75 and warm massage oil.” She then slinked off to a waiting Maybach Zeppelin, got inside, and pressed her lips against the glass window, before driving away.
Do you think manure played a role in this?
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Circle Blue: If it starts to snow again I think I will have to sit down and cry. Winter has to be over.
Time for me to take the winter tires off the scooter.
irondad: I think the toughest, most emotional season change for me is winter to spring. So much crap working on a rider and by the time it comes I am pretty worn.
When I hear the term leisurely rider your name doesn’t pop into my head. You are a serious rider. The camera may help though. It has kept me from becoming a serious rider.
Good luck “making” photos. It is a rewarding but frustrating path. Stick with it though and you’ll have some fun.
My blog is probably restful because I am usually writing things late in the evening when I am drifting off…
Dear Mr. Riepe,
Your comment was complex and puzzling, and I felt I should consult my wife. She immediately felt something mythic was at play. Three formations crossed paths this weekend: a Super Moon, for one, hung heavy in the sky—casting its power like a pearl of wisdom. Then you crossed paths with a powerful matron returning home from a spa/spiritual retreat. Seeing your tortured body clambering off that old red K bike—and perhaps influenced by the sight of your Buddha nature—she was reminded of young Prince Siddhartha (in her mind, Keanu Reeves in a loincloth, draped in streams of long raven hair). She recalled how the prince first left his palace and—with horror—faced the real world: the less beautiful, the poor, the sickly, the aged and the dying, and vowed to not rest ‘til he could end all human suffering. Bolstered by this image, the handsome woman leaned in more closely than normally, and—like a Great Mother—kissed you with pity, and offered her best advice on renewal: Ditch the bike but save the oil–a massage might soothe the knots in your poor K bike-ravaged body.
With her olfactory receptors overloaded with jasmine and neroli, it’s doubtful she even noticed the manure.
Another great set of pictures, and an excellent learning lesson in how to pose your bike. Thank you.
Dear Steve:
I really think the manure had something to with it.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
PS: As soon as this most recent flare-up of arthritis is put in check, I am riding out to Boalsburg for a bagel and a cup of Lourdes water.
I wanted to believe that winter was put out to pasture (miraculous manure notwithstanding) but the snow in my forecast for tomorrow makes keeping the faith difficult.
-Joe
SonjaM: Photographing the scooter has become a photographic project and one that has revealed a lot for me on how I see things. I tend to flourish with the same subject.
Dear Mr. Riepe: You just go on believing what you will. One of our fundamental freedoms in this country.
Hope the arthritis clears soon so you can enjoy the warm weather and take a ride up this way.
Joe: I’m blanking any references to snow or sub-freezing temperatures from my mind. I just can’t wake up and see snow until next winter….
Hi Steve. I didn’t see you and Gordon at the coffee shop this morning. I hope you enjoyed yourself at the opening last night. I really did. It was relaxing. I liked the conversation you and Allison had on scooters and motorcycles. It’s funny isn’t it how our lives and children’s lives more forward in unexpected directions(?)like this. That my friend Steve would be giving my daughter scooter pointers. Thanks for the good words on my photos too. I still have three pieces of KFC left. Ooo baby. Nice photo of me and the 1198. You sure are good with that camera. PDR