If you really want to know what Middle-earth is based on, it’s my wonder and delight in the earth as it is, particularly the natural earth. — J.R.R. Tolkien
Awakening from a dream only to find another. For a week at the beginning of December each day began shrouded in fog and mist. And on a few sub-freezing days the world was painted with ice crystals while riding in frozen fog.
I understand Tolkien’s wonder and delight at the world. I need not go far to find it myself. The Vespa has transported me to and through many wonders.
These mornings have been the coldest riding so far this fall and for the first time required some extended thought and consideration of the road surface and potential for ice. For successful winter riding I believe a fundamental shift in thought and temperament is essential. I counsel against sub-freezing riding for the simple reason that most riders have a difficult time becoming someone else in winter.
I love being alone in the fog, standing on an empty road lost in fantasy, a prisoner of imagination. I’m living in my world, but just down the road, just out of sight in the fog is another.
Riding in frozen fog is doubly challenging due to limited vision on top of the potential for ice on the road. Riding is different; more controlled and governed. Roads covered in frozen fog aren’t the place to lean aggressively through turns or push the envelop of speed and power. It’s a different kind of riding.
Subdued, ice covered scenes lined each side of the road as I wandered along on the Vespa. Making photographs was, in part, an excuse to test the surface of the road with the sole of my boots. Most of the ride showed little ice on the pavement but since there’s been no salt yet this season I couldn’t count on a dry surface.
A Hollywood production would make a scene like this. Riding along through the morning revealed a continual magical landscape that left me wide-eyed and smiling.
And cold. The time has come to put the Tucano Urbano muffs over the handgrips to keep the wind away from my aging fingers.
How often do you ride and find yourself wishing? Wishing for more time, for one more ride and one more road…
When I find myself wishing I wonder if I’m sensing time slipping by more quickly, or maybe just realizing how fleeting all of these experiences really are. Like fog and frost.
I’ve driven or ridden this stretch of forest road countless times since I first made the journey in my VW Beetle back in 1972. And now I stand there thinking I may never pass this way again. Fear and anxiety live in the fog and mist.
Riding down the mountain toward town I had to stop periodically to warm my hands — additional evidence that I need to get the muffs on.
All I want is to see the world one more time. The fog strips away the noise and confusion leaving the bones of the world. I think I can see where I’m going.
Making photographs in the cold weather calls on me to sacrifice my hands in order to manipulate the tiny buttons and wheels on the digital camera. After all these years you would think I would have solved that problem.
At this moment I decide to ride toward hot tea and warmth and give up the pursuit of the magic landscape.
On the way to the Pump Station in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania I stop to admire round bales in a field. They stand like ancient dolmens on watch for something I can neither know or understand.
Perhaps overwhelmed by the visual part of the ride, the constant scanning for ice, the continual eye movements looking for vehicles fore and aft, I begin to fall slowly back to earth from the creations in my head, unexpectedly exhausted from the ride.
And that is a glimpse of what it’s like for me to ride in frozen fog…
These are the first glimpses of December that I have seen that make anything around here this time of year feel like Christmas.
I think I need snow and nighttime Christmas lights to fully trigger the holiday spirit. But I’m glad they helped you. Nothing but warmer weather and rain in the forecast for the holidays here.
Fog makes you hear the silence. And once again I feel enchanted by your pictures and narrative. Thank you.
You’re right! I hadn’t thought about it that way but fog dampens out all the noise — literally and metaphorically. The ocean kind of does too only at the other end of the scale with massive and relentless roaring.
Have a great holiday!
Such incredible beauty. It makes me grateful to be alive. Simple as that. Thank you for those pictures. I wholeheartedly agree with you: It makes one want to see the world one more time. And again.
I think at the very end, I’ll want to see things one more time. I don’t want to close my eyes…
Your photography and philosophical commentary, as usual, ROCK! Thank you Steve, and Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas! And thank you for your kind and supportive works. I appreciate them.
Steve you own the fog, you really do, and this ode to nature is beautifully done.
I’m not sure I own the fog but I’m clearly a follower. Must be why I like the movie Brigadoon so much. I’m shooting more “Vespa-free” photos on my ride. I have a new Epson P800 printer to make some nice prints. I still owe you one…
My only motorcycle accident was because of Black Ice. I heeled the bike over on what I though was a puddle and we both slid down the road. Banged up a perfectly good machine.
Black ice is just one of the risks. Today I rode over a huge swath of ice that was a result of someone throwing a bucket of wash water into the road. I saw it in time to slow and pass over in a straight line. But it’s the sort of thing you would not want to encounter while leaning. And that’s the challenge — to ride at a speed that you can manage what you can see.
Black ice is another story but it’s visible as well but requires some sharp eyes and anticipation. A banged up scooter is part of the risk. So far after 46K miles I’ve been down once and that was one of the first rides in the snow. That experience opened my eyes to a lot of things not the least of which was my complete lack of skill and experience.
Hi Steve,
Hope your keeping well,
Wonderful pictures….You could almost drop a Xmas calendar together with those image….I would buy it!!
Take care Steve, Happy Xmas to you and your family and all your fellow followers.
Kind regards
Len
http://www.reglazeit.co.uk
I’m healthy so far, at least as far as I can tell. Trying to live a healthy lifestyle.
I’ve thought about calendars and cards and such but just haven’t had time. One of these days though!
Merry Christmas Len to you and your family.
While the photos make it appear too darn cold for wanting to ride, I am glad you did. The photos are beautiful. The first is my favorite.
There is just something mystical about fog. I always enjoy it.
Yes, there is a trade off between the sights and the cold. I keep leaning toward the desire to see the world and suffer the cold but I suspect there will come a time when the warmth of home will win more and more often.
Until then I’ll keep wandering on two wheels with camera in tow.
I like the canopy one and the hay roll one best. They might make dandy prints. 20″ long.
I ordered some Epson Exhibition Fiber paper. Should be here on Wednesday. Want to try and print the image with the round bales. Time to get up to speed with the new printer…
Which reminds me…I need to get to work on my inherited Epson R3000: one clogged channel to fix, but otherwise okay. 🙂
Beautiful!
Thanks Robert.
We still need to get together for coffee. Things are hectic but the coming week will be much quieter. Maybe if you’re around…
Thank you! You always give me a nice reminder to remember it’s the little things that really matter.
It’s easy to forget the details that form the tapestry of our lives.
Riding the Vespa always seems to open my head up to the little things…
At least you Steve are not creating the fog!
Have had some really dense pea-soup fogs in the last week as well; wonderful
for photography, not so for operating any form of vehicle.
As to water turning to ice; watch out for the exit areas from car wash facilities both automatic and spray. The water drips from the vehicle on to the road, and often freezes…
There are so many places that generate water on the road from natural springs to dripping cars. Just need to be ready…
Very nice Steve, a magical journey that you’ve shared here and the feeling of that foggy world follows. As Hannah mentioned above, yours are images of winter not seen here, at least so far.
Still no real evidence of a “traditional” winter here. Tomorrow it’s supposed to get near 65F. How’s Santa’s sleigh suppose to work without snow?
great shots of the hoar frosted scenery!
Thanks Dom. Easy pickings when things look like that. No matter which direction you point the camera it’s a good shot.
Steve: These images are stunning. Period.
“Seeing the world one more time.” It seems to me that we never receive the world, even the immediate world we know a bit better than the rest, exactly the same way each day we open our eyes. At least I feel that’s true for those of us paying sufficient attention. I think this spurs the desire to see the world the next day, and the day after that – an enthusiasm fired by unvarnished curiosity.
My foggy ride was about a month back, and, brief as it was, it was mostly magical, and ethereal…and partly nervous-making, as it was the first ride on the Vespa in those conditions, and approaching dusk at that. At least I didn’t have to worry about ice on the road.
Here’s to more eye-opening rides!
Thank you for your kind words concerning the photographs — I appreciate them.
I think you’re right about curiosity — without it things would quickly become boring for the routine parts of life, of which there are many.
Fog can definitely be exhilarating. And also anxiety producing depending on location and circumstance. I remember more than a few foggy rides that were so bad that I was juggling foggy visor, lack of visibility, potential for sudden high speed vehicles bearing down on me, it left me riding slow, toward the side of the road listening for traffic so I could get out of the way. Almost pulled over and waited for the fog to clear. Looking back I probably should have.
Again, wonderful offering. Being relatively new to your site and, after it’s discovery, having binged on the content, there seem so many conversational roads that could be traveled. ‘Many commonalities amongst bikers. Not only the lust of ownership and the exhilaration of riding, but the myriad thoughts in the film clips scrolling inside our helmets as the miles pass. That is , if one doesn’t succumb to inviting iTunes along. In the relm of winter riding/ photography and Urals: I’m hoping you’ve viewed Hubert Kriegel’s adventures on “thetimelessride.com”
Many thanks,
T
I think you’re right about commonalities among riders whether on a scooter or a motorcycle — some riding experiences are universal. I love the image of film clips rolling through our helmets. That pretty well describes things for me.
I’ve never understood the iTunes or other audio inputs while riding. For me I want to be as alone with my thoughts as I can.
It’s been awhile since I checked in on Hubert Kriegel. He has some amazing stuff and his story is as well. Thanks for the reminder!
Steve, I envy you your frozen fog. We rarely get mystical, magical fog in my neck of the woods, and never frozen fog.
If I were asked to pick a favorite, it would be your fourth photo, the tree tunnel. It reminds me (and I’m now reminded that we might have exchanged similar comments last year around this time)… It reminds me of the scene from A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott when Scrooge is on his way home through the fog that fateful night–“Scroooooge… Ebenezer Scrooge…”–awesome, just awesome. Methinks it’s about time to watch that great movie again.
If you are visited by ghosts this year, may they be friendly, delivering only good tidings of great joy.
I watched the George C. Scott version of the Christmas Carol about a week ago. It’s one of my favorites and you’re right about that scene. Luckily, I didn’t hear any voices whispering, “Steven Williams” or have any weird forebodings in that place.
And so far no ghosts. I did see “The Force Awakens” this evening though!