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One Last Vespa Ride in the Snow

April 23, 2012 by Scooter in the Sticks 17 Comments

I swear it was 80 degrees last week.  This morning it’s snowing.  I feel as if I’m living in one of those science fiction disaster movies where the world is about to end in some cataclysmic natural conflagration.  Despite my imaginings I took the opportunity for one last ride in the snow.  A few moments is all it takes to douse the little Canon G9 camera with liquid ice while making this picture.

Wet, heavy snow, falling at the freezing mark is more a problem of vision than of traction.  Large globs of icy slush gather on everything while at the same time fog becomes almost impossible to remove from the inside of the visor.  Still, it was one last time in the snow.  Call me crazy but I’m drawn to it.  And now I expect warmer weather ahead…

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Comments

  1. Charlie6 says

    April 24, 2012 at 2:14 am

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  2. Charlie6 says

    April 24, 2012 at 2:15 am

    I meant to say:

    I like snow riding, please send the snow back this way…..

    dom

    Redleg’s Rides

    Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner

    Reply
  3. Circle Blue says

    April 24, 2012 at 3:02 am

    Not snowing here, but temperatures were back in the 30’s this morning. One of the reasons I love my DOT approved snowmobile helmet is for the dual lens visor–no fog.

    I agree the weather has been very strange indeed. Hopefully, this is your last snow ride of the season.
    ~Keith,
    Circle Blue

    Reply
  4. RichardM says

    April 24, 2012 at 5:32 am

    I had heard that it was snowing in PA today. A colleague from RI said that schools had a “snow day”! I think that our snow is finally almost gone in Fairbanks.

    Reply
  5. ToadMama says

    April 24, 2012 at 7:30 pm

    CRAZY! 🙂

    Couldn’t resist. This has certainly been a roller coaster of a weather year!

    Reply
  6. Clifton's Place says

    April 25, 2012 at 1:15 am

    Hi Steve; Rain-X to treat both inside and outside of the visor. Really helps with the fog, above or below freezing.
    here in CA (Central Alabama) we had no snow this winter, but did have some 20s at night. I need to move farther south…

    Reply
  7. Bryce says

    April 25, 2012 at 2:10 am

    Steve: Southern Ontario also had snow; given the winter this year has been very dry, the fields appreciated both the snow and the rains that followed. We really need another week of gentle rains to bring the dry soil to moist levels.

    As to your little G9, sold mine along with my Nikon D90. Purchased a Pentax K-R which is lighter in weight and just as capable.

    Reply
  8. scooter moped says

    April 25, 2012 at 8:20 am

    Really great..

    Reply
  9. Jack Riepe says

    April 25, 2012 at 5:15 pm

    Dear Scooter In The Sticks (Steve:

    I wouldn’t even think of riding in a falling snow, howsoever light. I’d be worried about putting my foot down on ice, or dropping the bike on a frozen glazed-over corner.

    Now, regarding the fog in your helmet. Nolan helmets was one of the early pioneers in developing a fog-free, flip-face helmet that I came to love. And it saved my head in a crash once too.

    Nice pictures…

    Fondest regards,
    Jack/reep
    Twisted Roads

    Reply
  10. Steve Williams says

    April 26, 2012 at 3:02 am

    Charlie6: You can have all the cold, wet, damp, snowy, icy weather you want. I’ve had enough!

    Circle Blue: I’ll have to look at a snowmobile helmet. Seems every time I buy a new one it’s summer time and I don’t think about the cold weather needs.

    I’m with you about hoping this was the end of the winter weather.

    Reply
  11. Steve Williams says

    April 26, 2012 at 3:04 am

    RichardM: A toast to warmer weather!

    ToadMama: It has been crazy weather. No giant hail or anything biblical so far.

    Reply
  12. Steve Williams says

    April 26, 2012 at 3:06 am

    Clifton’s Place: Can’t move too much farther south without a boat can you?

    I’ve not tried Rain-X on the visor but on your recommendation I will.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  13. Steve Williams says

    April 26, 2012 at 3:08 am

    Bryce: We’re not in a good way for water here either. Very dry winter and very little spring rain so far. We need more if we expect local farmers to grow any food for us.

    My Canon G9 is a workhorse and built like a tank. Will keep it until it quits. I thought is was about to quit a couple years ago but it keeps on going. Just like the Vespa!

    Reply
  14. Steve Williams says

    April 26, 2012 at 3:10 am

    Mr. Riepe: There are plenty of things you would do that I’d never try. So we’re even.

    Kim has a Nolan helment. Very nice. I couldn’t bring myself to spend that kind of money. You rich BMW riders always have the best stuff.

    Reply
  15. Biker Betty says

    April 28, 2012 at 6:10 am

    Love your first photo. Not sure if we are done with our snow yet here in Colorado. Our roads are too dangerous when it snows here. I just got a new helmet, Scorpion, that swears it won’t fog up. Hasn’t got cold enough to see if that is true. I do love that helmet, though.

    Reply
  16. Clifton's Place says

    April 28, 2012 at 7:11 am

    Farther south – I have a cousin in Orange Beach, on the Alabama gulf coast, less than 200 miles south, but far enough to make a difference; being “buffered” by the Gulf, it very rarely drops to freezing, and rarely gets above 85. Very nice.

    Reply
  17. discount motorcycle clothing says

    May 4, 2012 at 9:36 am

    a brave rider, but i know what you mean. riding in the snow kind of has to be done, partly because of the stupidity of it 🙂

    Reply

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