The last day of 2013 and it snows — a little. Enough to give pause to any decision to ride the Vespa. Walking Junior up the street I do the usual traction testing with my boot and try to imagine the roads beyond our neighborhood and consider alternatives to a morning ride like doing laundry or scrubbing the bathroom.
It’s not long before I’m standing in an empty cornfield watching the sun try to burn through a passing snow squall, wondering if the scooter is going to fall over on the uneven surface. When weather moves quickly through the valley I need to pay close attention because traction and visibility can change quickly making riding difficult or impossible. Today I have a few errands to run but no time to really get lost.
Surprising variation on main road surfaces. Some wet while others built up a sheen of snow and slush. Salt trucks were out but because little snow was predicted I suppose their hearts weren’t really in it. This particular road was much more slippery than I expected, that detection made again by testing the road surface with my boot.
Slow riding here — 20mph seemed about right provided no panic stops were needed. It also means pulling over for any traffic approaching from the rear — just to be polite.
Not sure what the new year will bring but I try to be open to possibilities. There’s much to be grateful for and a lot of work ahead. Riding the Vespa is a part of my road ahead and it’s nice to live somewhere that makes riding pretty easy.
Errands finished and the weather continuing to intrude so I head towards home where it’s warm and cozy.
Glad I have winter tires. Looking forward to a few hours of above freezing temperatures so I can wash all the salty grim from the scooter. It’s really red. All the gray is from the dirt and salt…
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Steve:
I am noticing a new trend. Your first photos is “sans Vespa”. Don’ think we haven’t noticed.
be careful out there.
Have a relaxing New Years Eve by the fire
see you next year
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
And there we were flying all the way to Germany in search of Christmas snow – totally in vain (they had spring-like temps there) – when all we would have needed to do was to book a flight from TX to PA. Darn.
Happy New Year to you Steve, and thanks for all the great posts.
Have a great New Year, Steve!
Very “artsy” first photo.
Happy new year!
bob skoot: Hadn’t noticed the trend in first images until you pointed that out. I’ll try and remedy the problem. Have a great New Year!
Schnarpsel: Being in Germany can’t be that bad unless you went to ski.
Hope you have a great New Year!
Lucky: Nice to see you here. Have a Happy New Year!
RichardM: Artsy — can’t go wrong with wisps of blowing snow…
Stay warm and Happy New Year.
Great photos. Here, in Kansas City, your columns and theme seem so Cervantes-like, so Beat. Okay, so romantic. thank you so much. ron
All the best – Scooter in the Snow!