If I had a quarter for every time I was asked “Can a scooter ride with a motorcycle?”…
The answer is simple — yes, and no.
On this morning last week my Vespa was an acceptable riding companion to Paul Ruby’s BMW K1200GT despite the gap in size and power. In this case the riding styles of the riders matched making the machines incidental to the ride. No freeway tricks or backroad racing involved, just a leisurely 38 mile tour through the woods on the way to breakfast.
The woodlands and waterways in Black Moshannon State Park are more like the arboreal forests of Maine than the typical Pennsylvania ones. The last flowers are blooming on the lilypads before everything recedes into fall and then the cold of winter.
Speaking of motorcycles and scooters mixing — there’s a reason why the BMW isn’t in this picture. Fine, soft gravel provides uncertain footing for the big bike where the scooter, while no dirt bike, is easier to flog without fear of dumping.
My wife is the naturalist in the house, by temperament, training and love. I know this plant as Doll’s Eyes. She does too but consistently shocks me with her encyclopedic knowledge of scientific names (in Latin) of plants as Actaea Alba flows from her lips. I tell myself I’m smart in other ways.
On rides like this I wish she had a Vespa and we could ride together…
Ruby and I arrive at the Retro Eatery in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania for breakfast — hungry. It’s a great place to eat and not what I would expect to find in P Burg. If you’re out that way it’s worth a visit.
Paul always investigates the menu and engages in a range of culinary evaluations. Regardless of where we are though the end result is the same: waffles and bacon.
I’ve never questioned the choice. Some things are private.
After breakfast we made a quick stop at my entrepreneurial enterprise that promises to make my retirement years profitable and comfortable. I see new socks and underwear in my future.
We took the long way home — a 50 mile trek across the edge of the Allegheny Plateau until we descended into Bald Eagle Valley and the beginning of the ridge and valley section of Pennsylvania. The abrupt changes in natural and geologic landscapes are a pleasure to experience and with the tutelage of my loving wife I see a lot more than I used to.
Just not in Latin.
If it makes you feel better, my wife has an amazing green thumb but a plant is a plant to her. If it’s a tomato plant its a tomato plant! What type of tomato does not matter.
Robert Wilson: I think Kim’s knowledge stops at the edge of the woods. Food plants are food plants much in the same way as your wife sees them. At least I think that’s the case. We have no garden since Kim transformed it into a native woodland. Moss, lichens, Wood Asters, Morels, Snakeroot and other natural plants living beneath a canopy of 70 foot spruce and fir trees are the order of the day.
Steve:
I really liked those “dolls eyes”, they are not so exotic when you talk Latin.
You two have too much fun when you ride to breakfast. I wished we had more time together. I really wanted to see an Amish buggy on the road.
Hmmm, bacon and waffles for Paul, and eggs with lots of bacon for you. You two don’t need menus
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Hmmm, that plant looks like it’s from another world. Pretty strange.
I find that I always carefully look through the menu even if I always end up ordering the same thing. Nice that you have such a choice of diners. We only have a few places worth “riding to eat”.
Steve, Paul is a treat, simple as that.
Looks like we share ordering breakfast somewhat in common, Richard too.
I usually order the same thing too, but only after reading the whole menu carefully. When I stray, as I did yesterday, I am often disappointed, and imagine how tasty the ‘usual’ would have been.
The Vespa is no match for the Beemer, but complements nicely. Can’t rocket to the horizon; doesn’t exude precision German engineering; does better in heavy traffic; might be more comfortable; definitely does more to improve any landscape.
Scuterium italiensis itineratus .
Unlike Bobskoot, I found the Dolls Eyes a bit freaky….some previously unknown flaw in my character I am sure.
I’ve ridden a couple of times with Martha, her on scooter Stewie and me on Brigitta, the R80 Beemer…the pace was sedate and enjoyable.
Your posting makes an excellent point, the machines don’t have to match for a ride to be enjoyable.
bob skoot: I definitely feel fortunate to find myself where I do when it comes to riding. So many interesting paths and people when you get off the main road. I too feel bad that I didn’t have the chance to show you some of the magic of the area when you were here. Amish buggies are easy to find.
Ride safe!
RichardM: The Doll’s Eyes are strange. Plenty of others from Indian Pipes to glow in the dark fungus about. And a fair number of poison plants to look out for — Ivy and Giant Hogweed perhaps the most common. And then we have Kudzu invading in the southern part of the state. Mile a minute weed they call it. Don’t leave your bike in one place too long lest it disappears!
We have good diners everywhere. Any direction you go there is a good place to eat. No wonder my midsection is growing…
David: I’m such a creature of habit when it comes to breakfast that I only scan the menu to look for the item number — Give me a number 3, scrambled, homefries, wheat toast and crispy bacon….
Paul definitely is a unique individual and the stories are many…
I’ve put a thousand miles or so on five different BMWs and I can certainly appreciate the mighty differences between them and the Vespa in terms of function and performance. And I also recognize the pros and cons related to size and weight. Trade offs for each and ultimately ends up a personal decision on how a rider wants to characterize their experience.
For me, right now, the Vespa remains the machine of choice. All others are novelties. Someday it might change when my riding needs do.
Charlie6 (Dom): I had to go back and look at the Doll’s Eyes and tried to see them with fresh eyes. I guess they are sort of weird, almost alive and I could see some freakish plot from a Stephen King novel where they would be up to no good. You’re probably sensitive that way.
As far as machines needing to match closely I think it falls into two categories:
1. Physical ride requirements. If you are pushing the envelop — speed, terrain, weather — then maybe you need to keep the bikes close in ability.
2. Cultural requirements. Clubs and Gangs whether Harleys or scooters — sometimes you have to have the right machine if you want to get along..
Williams Billiards?
Explain yourself your Steve, please…
You have to inspect the menu closely to make sure you aren’t missing something good. Then you order pancakes and bacon. The only problem with following you with the big BMW is when you go off roading to take a photo. But I’m getting better at that too. Gravel and dirt, steep grades and wet graass, no where to turn around. The trick is to have a back up plan. Even if the back up plan is to let it fall up hill instead of down hill into the creek. That’s a plan isn’t it?
Perhaps the only thing more beautiful than your writing are your lovely photographs! I just found your website not up to an hour ago, but already, I feel like we’ve been friends for decades!
Keep on writing, shooting, and keep on keeping safe!