Sunday morning in a slow rain, meandering over familiar roads on my way to meet a friend in town. I’ve stopped in this same place many times to gaze towards Mount Nittany, watch the landscape swallow up the road in an easy turn. Twisting my boots into the pavement checking the traction, evaluating how much oil and scum was washed off through the night, gauge how far I could push the Vespa while riding though I never push very far. Still, it’s comforting to know what to expect.
Made this image with the iPhone camera using the Camera+ app. Processed the image in the HDR mode. I continue to be pleasantly surprised at the technical and creative range of these devices. Feel bad now that I dropped in on the pavement. No damage save for another scuff mark. Saw a student in town last week busily texting on an iPhone with a shattered front. Didn’t seem to slow them down.
The rain slowed to a mist as I threaded my way through the alleys and streets of State College, my destination arriving too soon, the ride ending before I was ready. Humes Alley is a favorite backdrop, old brick, hand lettered signs. About as close as I come to an urban environment on any regular basis.
Prime parking for Saint’s Cafe — just twenty yards to the front door and never any charge. At least not until the Borough decides to give me a ticket. Or tow the scooter away. So far Kelly Alley is my first parking choice.
Rainy days are for laying in bed or on the couch, reading a book, watching television, or indulging in some other sort of horizontal enterprise. On the way home while making this picture I decided to pursue the bed despite how much I love the light on this kind of day.
One last picture before home. The monochrome nature of things in the rain almost prods me on to ride farther.
Almost. But there are naps to take and other things to do.
That’s how to make good use of a rainy Sunday.
I love the atmosphere that the rain and clouds create in your pictures. And isn’t the dry and warm home, a cuppa and a nap a welcome reward after a ride in bad weather?
Beautiful photos!
Scooter purchases have risen dramatically in the past year. They are a fun, economical form of transportation.
Dear Scooter In The Sticks (Steve);
I must have missed something… What did you mean by “dropped in on the pavement?” Or was it supposed to be “dropped IT on the pavement?”
Saturday would have been my first day to ride, but declined due to the on and off nature of the thunderstorms. IO do not share your enthusiasm for riding in the rain. I spent the day going over the K75 instead. I was anticipating a big problem, and found only a little one instead.
Still, by looking at the bike inch by inch, I found three or four little projects to keep me busy this week. And now it appears it is going to rain through Friday.
Such is life.
I am dying to read your report on the K1600.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
SonjaM: A long ride always makes coming home a delight –especially in less than ideal weather. In winter a hot cup of tea or cocoa is the beat.
Sergei: Thank you for the kind words about the pictures. My little point and shoot is nearing the end of its life I fear so I am going to have to make some changes.
Unite tire changer: Ah, yep!
Mr. Riepe: I dropped the iPhone. Still works though. Typing this comment with it. Pecking actually.
I’ve seen the weather report and don’t like it. And Idon’t want to putter around the scooter either.
You would like the K1600 GTL. Don’t wait for me to yammering on about it. Just buy one. You only live once. And unlike me you’ve already drank the Kool-Aid!
I like the colors in the first picture, very nice.
Overcast/rainy days are great for people shots in my experience…fleshtones are good, no one is squinting and light sensors aren’t fooled by bright sunshine abd deep shadows….almost as good as the golden hour eh?
Dom
Redleg’s Rides
Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner
Love the atmosphere the pictures convey, love the writing. Every time I read your blog and look at your pictures, I contemplate moving from TX to PA. We rode our scoots this weekend, too: Through endless suburbia as anything else would require a trailer. In short: I am so envious…
The clouds do add a lot to these photos and I especially like the first and last shots. You still manage to get nice colors and contrast where I usually only get grey. You’ve mentioned Mt. Nittany before. Is that the hill in the background disappearing in the clouds?
Steve:
You had me worried when I thought that your Vespa ‘bit the dust’, then we find out all is Okay and it was only your iPhone.
I think bright overcast, or cloudy days are best for photos with the filtered light. The sheen on the road and refections of the pools of water help too.
I still think the K1600 GTL is overkill when an R1200R would do just as well, not that I am thinking about one or anything like that
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
You probably know it, but there’s motorcycle parking on Pugh St. right around the corner from Saint’s. Your short scooter will fit in there better than most bikes.
I got lucky today. Rode to Osceola Mills and back by way of South Mountain and other back roads, with very little rain.
Charlie6: The golden hour is hard to beat when it is working. Around here it’s not a reliable source of photographic lighting. Rain and overcast are more reliable.
Schnarpsel: I grew up in endless suburbia. When I moved here almost 40 years ago I knew I was home. Wilderness is not far away, even in Pennsylvania.
RichardM: The presets in the Camera+ app can add color. And in Photoshop you can alter the vibrance and color saturation. Remember, all photographs are lies.
That is Mount Nittany in the background. I get to see it almost everyday unless I take the southern route to work. But it is pretty dominate in the valley so it is hard to miss.
bobskoot: Yeah, I should have been clearer about the phone hitting the pavement. The Vespa hasn’t been there since it tumbled when I had to make a choice between it and my Nikon almost four years ago:
THE PRICE OF BETTER PICTURES.
The K1600 is a lot of machine. And a lot more than you actually need to ride somewhere. But then that’s true of the vast majority of motorcycles. What’s unique about this big bike is that it doesn’t actually seem like a big bike when you ride it awhile.
Poppawheelie: I didn’t know there were any motorcycle spaces on Pugh Street. I know there are some by McDonalds, on Hiester Street, Allen Street, and by Starbucks on College Avenue.
Often when I visit Saint’s I park on Allen Street across from the library.
When you were coming back from Osceola Mills did you cut across the Sand Ridge Road through the State Gamelands? That’s a curious road, especially as it descends off the mountain towards Bald Eagle. It reminds me of goat tracks in the Alps.
Oops! I meant Allen St. (face flush) No, I didn’t ride the old Tyrone Mtn road this time, but have many times.
BTW, a link you might enjoy.
http://scottiestoybox.com/2011/04/13/different-you-will-love-these-photos-from-carlitos/
Sexual innuendo on scooter in the sticks? I’m astonished. You’ve got them so well trained no one noticed. I must call riepe immediately.
Dear Steve:
I never iiked the taste of Kool Aid…
I met the BMW guys by accident. There was tradition, but no ritual. There was commitment, but no obligation. There was solidarity, but no rules.
The only rule with these guys is “Don’t be a douche.” This isn’t true everywhere the roundel flies. But it is true here.
It wasn’t Kool Aid they poured me, but a mug of espirit des corps.
Do you know why I’m surprised you haven’t bought a BMW? Because they are the official motorcycle of personal desolation. I was under the impression you’d been there.
The K1600 is the perfect compliment for a Vespa. You use the Vespa to ride to Saint’s Cafe. You use the BMW to ride to Saint Mary’s, Alaska.
I can hardly wait to read your ride report.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Steve,
I have to ask you how you like the GIVI top box. I am planning on getting one for my ’09 GTS300 and I am having issues finding which is the exact one for my bike. Could you tell me which model you have? I would love to pick one up when I am in the States in June or July (I live in Canada). The other thing I need is the backrest for it. Do you have one? And where did you pick yours up from? I am guessing it was Kissell. Any info you have would be greatly appreciated.
-RH
Conchscooter: It was a Freudian slip. Riepe is still King.
Dear Mr. Riepe: Sounds as if you’re kept on short leash. At least you have friends to torment you. I on the other hand travel alone. Mostly…
I’m procrastinating on the review mostly because of deadline pressures at work.
Rueben: Kissell Motorsports is a dealer for Givi which I didn’t realize so I had ordered my E370 from Twisted Throttle.
As much as I hate to admit that people said I would love the top case they were right. I love it. Completely functional. Comes with the universal adapter plate and in all this recent wet weather it is great.
And the look has grown on me.
You could do a Rollie Free on the Vespa seat. That would satisfy a horizontal activity on a rainy day. Or was that not what you meant? 🙂
Steve, thanks for the kind words.
Believe or not, the roll numbers a simple numerical progression marking the number of rolls since I got back into home developing b&w six or seven years ago. It works out to just over two rolls a week, every week, developed in various kitchen darkrooms over the years. It’s a system that’s been working well for me.
While you might find my digitized output impressive, I’ve always been inspired by the idea of three prints a week. I’ve tried it from time to time, but I can’t seem to make it stick; I always blame the fussiness of inkjet printers, but in reality, I’m somewhat adverse to putting things down on paper.
cheers,
Matt Alofs
1pt4.com
irondad: I didn’t know you had a comedic side. I only think about riding.
matt~: I have no way to digitize negatives so I have to make prints and scan them if I want to post anything. Maybe if I had a scanner I wouldn’t be as impressed with your output. Last time I used one I spent so much time cleaning up dust that I swore it off. And the negs were clean!
Making prints is fun once I get into it but the time commitment can be daunting. I’ve done it for a long time then stopped and am having some resistance getting going again.
I’ve had too much digital Kool-aid…