7am. Sitting in the driveway ready to ride a few miles down the road for breakfast. The plan was for my daughter and I to take a Sunday morning ride — her on the Yamaha Vino and me on the steady Vespa. My friend Gordon inquired the previous evening about Sunday morning plans and I invited him along.
Three scooters on the road. A good plan. And like all plans subject to change.
At around 4am I received a text message from Aleta that she would probably not make the launch. Another from Gordon indicating a short delay. An unforeseen opportunity to sort through the stuff under the seat of the Vespa.
Making our way through the scenic farmlands of Penns Valley, past a dozen or more Amish buggys, families on their way to Sunday services.
Acceptance. At this point we’re riding towards our second choice of eating establishments — the Inglebean Coffee House in Millheim, Pennsylvania. Our first breakfast target, The Whistle Stop in Centre Hall, was closed.
Arriving in Millheim only to find the Inglebean closed. Not a problem; I know of a restaurant about 15 miles farther up the road near Hartleton.
No luck, the place had burned down.
Mifflinburg is only 8 miles away: We can have breakfast at the Scarlet D.
Closed. As is the Carriage House restaurant. Lewisburg is only 10 miles away where we finally find food. Leave it to a college town (Bucknell University) to have a place open on Sunday.
Can’t remember the name of the place we ate but the food was good and the parking excellent. What started as a five mile ride to breakfast turned into a 50 mile journey.
Acceptance.
After a few pictures of the Vespas (scooter porn) it was time to head home. One great thing about central Pennsylvania is the endless routes to get somewhere. No north-south-east-west grids for us.
The two scooters with Gordon and I aboard wandered through the mountains and forests that consume most of this area. For anyone wondering about how these scooters perform — a Vespa GTS250ie and a GTS300 Super — well, they move through these roads effortlessly up and down the mountains. Speed is limited more by the skill of the rider than displacement.
Weather was perfect and traffic light to non-existent. If only we had more time…
Not wanting to pass up an opportunity to utilize fuel fit for NASCAR and test performance we made the pit stop. Can’t speak for Gordon but I sensed both increased power and respect from other drivers.
What kind of gas was that? Sunoco maybe???
And that’s how things shook out. Change in plans, more changes, etc. Forgot to invite Paul Ruby who inquired about a ride. Damn. Wonder what else I forgot. I think I fed Junior. Washed behind my ears. Forgot to shave.
Damn great fun regardless. Just need a bit of acceptance…
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Fifty miles for a five mile ride. Sounds about right to me. Did you have difficulty controlling the Vespa after the influx of “racing gas”? Wheelies all the way home?
Interesting, all my comments on all Blogger sites never made it. Hmmm.
Anyway, I was wondering if the “race gas” made it difficult to keep the front wheel planted on the pavement?
Beautiful photos, especially like the long view in the last image.
From RichardM who’s having problems posting comments to Blogger. The show up in my email box but not on the website….
RichardM has left a new comment on your post “Lesson in Acceptance”:
Interesting, all my comments on all Blogger sites never made it. Hmmm.
Anyway, I was wondering if the “race gas” made it difficult to keep the front wheel planted on the pavement?
Beautiful photos, especially like the long view in the last image.
RichardM: You are absolutely right — the race gas made it hard to control and the scooter kept lifting off the ground and was airborne more than once. Probably explains why my center stand broke….
RichardM’s first comment that Blogger ate:
RichardM has left a new comment on your post “Lesson in Acceptance”:
Fifty miles for a five mile ride. Sounds about right to me. Did you have difficulty controlling the Vespa after the influx of “racing gas”? Wheelies all the way home?
Very pretty shots of Lewisburg. I love Market Street, where it appears you stopped, with all the little shops to wander through on a lazy afternoon.
– Joe at Scootin’ da Valley
Sunoco is the Official Fuel of NASCAR, so that’s what you got. Not that it matters, the gasoline marketers trade stocks of fuel among themselves.
Back in the day, Sunoco stations used to have a pump where you could dial in the exact octane you wanted, and were charged based on the selected octane. Since the Vespa owner’s manual sez you need to use 90 octane or higher, it might be nice to have… the usual 10-cent pricing increment seems to have gone out the window lately. Being able to use the mid-grade 89 octane fuel would save some pennies. Maybe even a quarter…
__Orin
Scootin’ Old Skool