My scooter riding daughter got her first taste of fog this morning (I think) as we headed south to breakfast. I offered a few tips, watch traffic approaching from behind, clear your visor, and pay attention to everything, but I think she already deduced the risk.
No matter how often I look out across fog shrouded fields there’s a preternatural feeling that creeps into my bones, as if I’m a character in Game of Thrones and a direwolf will emerge from the mist.
I wish I could hold onto those flights of imagination. Maybe I should write a book.
Traffic was light to non-existent, at least until we got to the major east-west artery US Route 22 at Waterstreet. Our scooters, Aleta on her Yamaha Vino and me on the Vespa, wandered along slowly, ready for whatever might emerge.
Deer remain my single biggest concern since the only way to effectively manage that risk is to ride slow enough that if you see one you can evade and if you collide the impact is not catastrophic. Each mile I travel not seeing a deer is one mile closer to seeing one. Or at least that’s how my brain thinks about it.
The same logic applies to lottery tickets — each loser is one closer to a winner. Bullshit with lottery tickets and with deer.
A quick portrait during an early stop. Rider, gear, scooters, fog and a gravel road. What more do you need for a good picture?
The Vino’s 125cc engine is fine for most secondary roads but works hard to maintain 55mph so I try to find alternative routes to destinations. The old Huntingdon, Cambria and Indiana turnpike route still exists though little used now compared to the late 1800s. Another of the fine scenic byways in south central Pennsylvania.
The old turnpike route took us past Pulpit Rocks, a notable geologic feature and now a National Historic Landmark. I had never been through here before and plan to return to explore the rocks with a camera.
By the time we got to the Standing Stone Coffee Company in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania is was ready for something substantial for breakfast. This cafe is a gem in this neck of the woods and the Standing Stone Florentine breakfast sandwich was outstanding.
Everything tastes better after a long ride.
Everyone notices something different on a ride or in life. I saw two motorcycles parked across the street. Aleta noticed free WI-FI. As things wrapped up we had a discussion on the next leg of the ride. She wanted to ride onto Altoona to visit her grandparents but I needed to head home. Riding to Altoona would mean Aleta would have nearly 90 miles of riding ahead — alone on unfamiliar roads.
Ten miles down the road we stopped at a flea market, the last stop before I turned northward toward home with Aleta joining me. Both of us were feeling the pressure of the clock as the day wore on.
The last 30 miles were under a bright sun and blue skies with temperatures rising toward the mid-80s. Summer is fading in the rear view mirror and my preferred riding season is approaching. Passed my oldest daughter on the way into Boalsburg as she was running up the road but my attention was on a passing truck and a line of parked cars. Found out later that she was on her first run since giving birth to granddaughter Emma.
Maybe someday Hannah will give up the running shoes for a Vespa.
That’s a great pic at Pulpit Rock. It’s almost as if the scooters are looking ahead, sniffing about, wondering if they can make it up the path.
I checked out the path — the scooters could easily navigate that.
Huntingdon, Cambria and Indiana turnpike route. The section Huntington to Alexandria, is that also known as Pike St, State Rt 4005, Alexandria Pike Road?
Robert, that section of the road is the old Alexandria Pike Road. It runs parallel to US 22 some miles to the south. It comes out at the state prison in Huntingdon.
Beautiful pictures Steve. The road you took was so pretty, I think it is definitely scooter worthy & the scenery spectacular. I can definitely feel the coolness in the air and the tang of Fall. I think its time to switch out of the mesh jacket for the season and back into full textile, its starting to get nippy now as the temps are dropping from extreme of the late 28 to 30c back down to the very low 20C’s to mid teens. The trees are looking tired as if they want to shed their leaves.
It was 60F when I left that morning and I chose my First Gear Kilimanjaro textile jacket. The mesh would be too cool for me. I almost turned on the heated grips at one point.
All the plants here are heavy and tired. Soon things will be falling at a great pace and winter will be upon us…
“I wish I could hold onto those flights of imagination. Maybe I should write a book”.
Yes maybe you should, perhaps a series of the collected essays from Scooter In The Sticks. Obviously you haveconsiderable material. Now as to these early morning foggy rides…
The daughter in this essay is obviously notthe daughter who recently gave birth. Mind the photo of her in her gear looks similar to you Steve, as to the face and the spectacles.
Trying to discern age difference between daughters; assume both live within reasonable distance of “home to you and Kim.”
And then there are the two dogs, companions of a different form; still happy animals.
The Instagram photograph of the two dogs in the water is typical of dogs in the warm temperatures that are currently being experienced. Wonder how long it took for them to become dry? The smell of a wet dog, not one of my favourite odours.
Still amazed at the variety of rural roads in Pennsylvania; need to keep reminding myslef the different times of settlement in your home state versus where I live in Southern Ontario. Here concessions, and lines in more or less symetrical patterns in the rural roads; unless marked you could well be come confused. And in maybe a large geographical area.
One of these days I’ll venture south into a foreign country once again.
Two books are on my list of things to do — one as you describe, and a second a work of riding fiction. Who knows when or if I’ll get to those projects.
Aleta is the scooter rider, my step-daughter, and two years younger than Hannah. Hannah would rather run than ride. And both live nearby. That’s nice.
Our dogs have long hair and take time to dry. Luckily they don’t smell too bad wet though that is somewhat dependent on the water they’ve been in.
Our roads — simply fantastic for riding — scooters, motorcycles, bicycles. Few straight lines, more like paved cow paths, they wander around over hill and dale. A great place for riding adventure.
Very nice post Steve. That rock formation is really nice.
Pulpit Rocks demands more exploration.
Lucky you to have an offspring that enjoys riding and wants to join you every once in a while.
Definitely. I’ll have to see if she wants to take some longer trips. Maybe a camping trip.
I second the thought that you are really fortunate to have an offspring who not only rides but seems to enjoy riding with you. Very nice photos and I am interested in seeing more of the rock as well. Nice portrait and candid of your daughter.
It is nice to have a family riding partner. If I could get Kim on a scooter and as obsessed as I am, we would probably already ridden to Alaska!
Not sure why the comment posted 3 times, though the site did take almost 10 minutes to post the comment…
Weird. I deleted the other two.
Is that deer sign in the US??
What, no bullet holes?
Bullet holes appear north of Interstate 80. The south is more gentle with signs…
May I ask where Aleta found her great riding jacket? I’d appreciate the brand name, too; I’m interested in learning more about the scooter fashion scene.
Beautiful route and rock formation. PA’s scenery never ceases to amaze me. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Not sure where she got it. I’ll ask her to respond directly. I do know that she’s coveted a Corazzo riding trenchcoat in black.
The scenery in central Pennsylvania is great and the opportunities to turn off the main road are endless.
That trench will be my reward when I get rid of the rest of the weight I gained post foot surgery.
It’s a nice trenchcoat.
I found that jacket at a Cycle Gear store in/near Baltimore. Pretty sure this is it. 🙂