Didn’t think I would find much traffic on Thanksgiving morning. With most people already at their destinations and the rest staying warm inside I had the neighborhood to myself. Mostly.
Cold can be deceptive. With the sun out it “seemed” to not be so bad but just a few moments with the gloves off left my hands hurting. A little wind combined with 23F did its work.
State College, Pennsylvania is dead on Thanksgiving morning. Penn State is closed and everyone is somewhere else. Would have parked the Vespa in the middle of the crosswalk for a picture except my luck would have the only police car on patrol roll up as I was lining up the shot.
Reminded me of Abbey Road.
Allen Street, the hub of downtown State College was empty. Reminded me of holidays of my youth when everything, everywhere closed. God help the person in need of food or fuel.
The road this morning led out of town to Cracker Barrel where I would meet a friend for Thanksgiving breakfast. His idea. Last night I suggested Denny’s. Nothing with a more local flavor was open.
The parking lot at Cracker Barrel appeared to border on the tundra. Perhaps because I parked beyond the cars to gain this view. Everything isn’t always as it appears.
Breakfast was ok. The company much better. Always nice to get together with friends. Cracker Barrel had a big fire burning in a huge fireplace. I could easily have lay down in front of it and gone to sleep. I’m that kind of guy.
At home, with no fireplace in sight, a hug with Junior would have to suffice. Kim caught the action.
As much as I like to ride, it’s good, no, it’s great to be home.
The day when weekend Sunday and holidays meant everything was closed and shuttered tigh, are long past.
Today the rural transportation routes are devoid of vehicles save
for a small white coloured petrol powered
two wheel device with winter tyres.
With a young at heart but still all there bundled against the cold
rider. Feels sort of weird, eh?
And that photograph of you Junior prove both of you are big softies.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family from the northwest end of Lake Ontario.
Bryce Lee: Junior is a softy when he deems it profitable to get something he wants. Otherwise he is on perpetual patrol. Funny how those herding dogs never stop watching and checking things out. Nothing goes unnoticed.
I’m trying to learn from him and apply some of the that keen insight to the road!
In the first picture, it looks really desolate.But the hauntingly empty streets of State College looks just as desolate.
We looked for a Cracker Barrel here and discovered that there is only one in Minnesota.
That first picture looked so cold it made me shiver. Of course the fact that it’s -20C (-30F) here at he moment helped. Great shot tho, as is the one with the Abbey Road crossing (you’re dating yourself with that reference.)
hi Steve.
that first picture looks of another world! Cold indeed!
totally love junior he’s great …I’ve got a border terrier ….currently curled up next to the heater….certainly not on the ready.
great empty streets.
must get the GTS out soon
kindest regards LEN
Steve
lone riding is the best.
perspective, as in life, it drives what the viewer sees and perceives….and the message the photographer wants to send.
thanks
dom
The Thanksgiving Photos of Allen St. and State College remind me of a photo I took of my Scoot being the only vehicle on Ocean Boulevard in Hampton Beach, NH the late afternoon before the hurricane arrived, a few years back. Steve, Since I know you’ve ventured to coastal Maine, I thought you might be familiar with the location (though all the storefronts were boarded up in my photo)!!!
RichardM: There are a lot of places not far from my home that can look desolate. A dozen miles farther and it gets desolate — no cell coverage, no power, no nothing. Very weird.
Cracker Barrel is something I see along the interstate highways and that’s why we have one here I guess.
Canajun: -30F — wow, that’s harsh. The only time I experience temperatures like that is in the ice cream storage warehouse for the Berkey Creamery at Penn State. It’s kept at -35F and is strikingly cold. I go over and visit when it’s 95F outside in the summer.
Abbey Road — yeah, I guess I am slowly become an old man…
len: As much as I like riding the Vespa, if someone said I would have to choose between riding and having a dog, well, I think the dog would win. Nothing quite like being trained by a canine!
Get the scooter out before it gets too cold!
Charlie6: Lone riding is my ride style of choice for most of the time but part of the time I like hitting the road with a friend.
Bob Olcott: I’ve not been to Hampton Beach though have seen signs along I95 indicating its existence.
Hope you got in before the hurricane got to you!