Fuel stop at a local Exxon station to prepare the Vespa for a trip to breakfast some 50 miles away. Riding before sunrise is a quiet experience. The world is asleep and the roads clear — a perfect time to ride.
My friend Paul Ruby wants to visit Mamie’s in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, a small eating establishment with a hearty breakfast and baked goods selection. Probably not the best choice for my post-heart attack diet but I can indulge every now and again.
Paul and I have made this trip before. Each time it’s a different experience.
As 6am arrived the sun hadn’t breached the horizon leaving the world in that pre-dawn glow I love so well. For a moment I thought how easy it would be to just ride south, across the Mason-Dixon line into Maryland and on into Virginia toward Front Royal. Just a short ride from there onto the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Not sure why that came into my head but for a period of time I was doing the time calculations to get there and home before dinner.
Sunrise offers a strong lesson in the machinations of the earth as it turns on its axis. I’m always surprised at the speed of the change from dawn to sunrise and on into morning. Standing in a bean field I feel blessed to bear witness to the magic.
There are miles of fine roads and riding before breakfast. As I notice views in my rear view mirror I stop and command Paul to turn around and become a model. While making this photo I sense the first gurgling of desire in my gut — time for breakfast.
Arriving early meant we could park right in front of Mamie’s Cafe. Being quite hungry as I write this post I’m not going to dwell on breakfast save for it was good, it was a vegetable omelet, and it was big.
I also bought a fresh doughnut but only had a couple bites. It felt like trouble.
One the way home we found a narrow road wandering up and over a mountain. One of the things I love best on a ride if finding a new path to a familiar destination. The view was unexpected but appreciated.
You can see Raystown Lake in the distance.
Far from the drought consuming the western parts of the United States, central Pennsylvania is lush with corn, soybeans and alfalfa hay in fine shape. Our machines are simple trespassers in a pastoral scene.
While no big sky in terms or what you might see in Montana this is perhaps as good as it gets in the ridge and valley region of Pennsylvania. Looking down roads that lead away toward the horizon triggers desires to keep riding and exploring to see what’s over the next hill.
But all rides come to an end — but not without generating some pleasant memories to call up during some darker day…
Steve,
What I love the best about your choice of riding a vespa is that you have several friends who ride motorcycles and that you ride with them. One of the worst things I have noticed about two wheeled moto culture here on the Island that there are definite divisions between brand, scooter vs motorcycle, etc and i have never understood the nonsense. Nice to see two beautiful Italian beautiful bikes riding together. Great pics!
Paul is flexible when it comes to riding and sort of goes against the grain in terms of moto culture so the two of us are a good fit for riding. But I see a lot of what you describe — riders grouped by brand, by age, by machine type, etc. That seems to be common. I’ve spoken with a couple of people who make their motorcycle choice solely on what their friends have rather than what they want themselves. Peer pressure at the adult level I guess. Or maybe it’s like joining a club.
It’s what’s really cool about the Boalsburg Moto Hang — the 50 or so collected machines runs across all styles, types, ages, gender..
I used to ride with my brother all the time. He rode a Harley Springer Softtail. So long as we kept to 2 lane blacktops, it worked fine, although his bike was too big and heavy to stop frequently, so the rides tended to be destination oriented. Lots of people would get a good laugh when we would pull up.
It can look strange when a scooter and a motorcycle arrive together — reminds me of those old Warner Brothers cartoons of the big dog and little dog walking down the street…
You’re right though — sticking to two-lane roads a 250cc scooter and maybe even a 150cc scooter can ride along just fine unless the motorcycle rider is a racer.
I was riding with Bob Leong (Bobskoot) a few years ago when he brought the Vancouver Scooter club over for a rally, I was on my motorcycle at the time and when I pulled into the hotel that the scooterists were hanging out at a few not related to our group were really quite vocal and calling me a “shifter” and “get out of here, you don’t belong”. Ugh it s ridiculous because I had just sold my Yamaha vino a few months before. Bob ever the gentleman had a word with them, he was also riding his Vstrom at the time. The other 30 scooterists from Vancouver made up for the bad manners of the few.
I suppose it’s more an aspect of humans in general that motorcycle riders in particular — the desire to gather and create an us and them mindset. On the political landscape it causes pain around the globe. Not enough Bobs in the world right now to smooth things out.
I miss Bob. Every time I use my radio trigger for my camera I think of him — he was responsible for a lot of upgrades to my photo gear.
As usual, Steve, many great pics here, but I especially like the one with the flowers, the bikes, the rolling landscape, and the distant silos. What a peaceful looking spot.
It was a peaceful spot. Big open areas in central PA often have that feeling.
I am the only one among my “two wheel” friends that rides a Vespa. All went well for a while, but those who rode the larger bikes tended to use highways and tended more towards “destination” rides rather than the meandering on two lane blacktops that I prefer. So now, I tend to ride alone.
Sounds like you’re going to have to find some other riding friends who are not in the destination mode. Riding a scooter means accepting a different life on the road. Meandering instead of miles. That sort of thing. And riding alone has it’s benefits!
I liked the third shot best, all the lines pointing to the vanishing point on the horizon, alluding to sights yet unseen, roads yet ridden, memories yet to be made.
“Memories yet to be made.” I like that Dom. It’s exactly what’s happening for me.
Awesome. Just awesome!! Too hot here to ride. Keep the picture’s coming Steve! Soon it will be fall… sigh
Sb.
Too hot? I thought anything under 140F was good riding weather out your way???
I’ll try and keep some rides and pictures flowing. Having a non-riding career gets in the way though…
Man look at how pretty our landscape is around here. I didn’t even notice it until I saw it in your photos above. Don’t let me wear white socks anymore when you have a camera. Mary says when I wear white socks with black shoes I’m un___ able. Sigh. I’m going to steal your photo of me riding along the yellow lines for my website. I was reading the comments above and it bothers me what people are saying about divisions people make based on motorcycle brand and type. If they do that with motorcycles can the same people do that with people of different religion, race and country. My tax guy quit the ‘Harley’ club because they thought his 600cc Burgman inappropriate for their club. Hey Aurelio that’s my grandmothers maiden name she’s from Torino Italy. Are we related?
I can’t be fashion police for you Paul — you just have so many violations that I couldn’t enjoy the ride! 🙂 I can send you images for your site without the Scooter in the Sticks watermark.
“I also bought a fresh doughnut but only had a couple bites. It felt like trouble.”
Those sweet, delicious bastards. Love to hate them 😀
Inspiring words and photos as always, Steve.
I feel like Homer Simpson when there are doughnuts around. I just can’t risk a binge with them now. Sad.
Thanks for the kind words — I appreciate your input since you are one of, if not the, premier moto blogger in the world.
Steve: The photos inspire me to join you and Paul one of these days! You really see the beauty of PA when you’re out there. MM
It’s a different world when you’re seeing it from astride a scooter or motorcycle. Well worth it to get on the road.
Very early morning riding is what I enjoy the most, as well. The only problem is getting out of the house early enough. Even when I get up at 5 a.m. by the time I get out of the house it’s minimum 6 o’clock (I have to eat a good breakfast, sorry). By the time I get out of the city (40 km of riding), it’s an advanced morning. It will be easier in the fall, though 🙂
As to the bikes vs riders, I wonder how many people actually ride the machines they really like riding. A PTW is a thing a guy sticks between his legs and it vibrates, so I guess for very many riders it’s a choice made by their genitals, not their hearts. When I see how many riders lumber on big cruisers or super sports in the congested Toronto….
I bet their hearts would select more friendly machines. It’s kinda sad to see women
falling into this same trap. I guess they want to be seen as “equal” to men. What a foolish way…
I wonder…it is so much a case of ‘to be seen to be equal’ or is it a lack of exposure to a different type of bike?
If their partner is one to fall into the clique-ish trap and derides all other types, be they sport, dual sport or whatever, that mindset would likely imprint onto the lady and the thought to try different models out may never occur to her.
Unfortunately I have no solution to this other than to try and be a good ambassador of riding what you love and to accept that all two-wheels are awesome. =)
“Unfortunately I have no solution to this other than to try and be a good ambassador of riding what you love and to accept that all two-wheels are awesome. =)”
Great idea!
I’m lucky that in 5 minutes I’m out of town and onto meandering roads. I love leaving early but like you I need to have a good breakfast now. Not necessarily first thing but within an hour or so.
I don’t understand a lot of motorcycle choices and wonder if comfort and utility plays a role for a lot of riders — male or female.