Play With Us Daddy
Except for the dogs nothing was going to stand between me and a ride on the Vespa. Each day begins with a moment of revelation as I push the blind aside to see what the world is offering. Some mornings find a faint, hot glow from the sun yet to breech the horizon. This morning it was a blanket of white, dragging me into a cold place where body and spirit contested with a strong, serious desire to ride.
Like helpless children, the dogs need me for food, water and a serious amount of action. I can pace across the garden in myriad pathways collecting steps on my iPhone that easily consume a mile or more as I throw tennis balls for the dogs, wearing them out, draining the energy gathered through the night.
I swear they know my plans to leave them behind, looking at me with imploring eyes, “Play with us daddy”. Watching the the sky and thinking about a ride on the Vespa I could hear the rider in me chanting, “Let it snow…”.
Snow on the Road
In minutes, my riding world moved from wet with incidental snow to snow and the road is getting slippery. For a moment as I stood along the road trying to keep the camera dry and considering the road surface I started to grumble about winter.
I have had enough.
The evaluation of weather and road was inconclusive but without any striking warning signs. So on I went.
Snow Covered Rural Landscape
Riding has its own rewards with a chance to witness the world just being one. The snow covered landscape presents a world of quiet solitude that I find energizing. When I see scenes like this I wish I could paint because a photograph just doesn’t adequately reflect the magic of a place — the energy and thrill of being alive — wind and cold and snow striking skin, firing neurons and bringing the brain into communion with the world.
I knew I would enjoy the ride. Let it snow.
Vespa in a Winter Wonderland
There are times when I look at the scooter along the road and I feel as if I’m in a fantasy — a sudden beautiful moment that I can only describe as a gift. It’s an experience born of moving slowly, stillness, and generally an incompatible experience from what I read in motorcycle magazines where speed and breathtaking performance are the focus.
But how many horsepower do I really need to ride?
A View of Mount Nittany
The weather moved quickly through the valley and after an hour or so the roads and paths were wet with the temperature hovering in the mid-30s. The biggest challenge was keeping the visor clear of fog. At some point during a ride the “adult” in me steps up to spoil the fun and guides the Vespa toward errands and chores. I’ve not yet found a reliable way to ditch that guy.
He does have his advantages including always having enough cash for a stop at a cafe on a cold morning for tea and a biscuit. And with one last, long look toward Mount Nittany I started toward home, satisfied with a small ride on a snowy morning. Thirty miles of road time can be some fine medicine.
Is this the last snowy ride of the season?
We in parts of Southern Ontario are, like you
receivng snow in April. Somehow methinks February and April
reversed positions. This morning Saturday April 9
was the coldest April 9 since records have been kept as of 1879.
And then there is the snow, on hillsides, on the verge of country roads,
on my garden and yours, and also on your two resident two Begian sheep dogs.
You do realize Steve, Mother Nature is tempting you to ride in the snow, and me unable to ride to contemplate same. I look at my truck normally pristine at this time of year, covered with a shade of white from salt-covered snow, plus road soil collected from rural roads, me in search of that eleusive photograph. Much like you on two wheels photographing the ancient volcano known as Mount Nittany.
Due to my slowness in responding I feel much safer in saying that there will be no more snow. No more! It is pretty stuff, not always terrible to ride in but always makes some sort of mess of the Vespa. But that’s fine.
Ancient volcano? No, no — Mount Nittany is a truncated syncline…
Love the doggie photo! We live pet-filled days vicariously through you and some canine-owned homes nearby. Our own pets now are in heaven, where they are (I hope) waiting for us to get there so we can toss a ball for them.
Thank you for giving us those wonderful memories.
The dogs add an element to life that’s hard to describe to those people who have never shared a life with them. They are work, can be frustrating and are demanding at times. They also reflect lessons in living that are hard to miss and valuable beyond treasure. Two of them are staring at me now and I know what they’re thinking….
Great pics of the dogs! Really hope spring weather starts to kick in soon, tired of the snow. Thanks for the post, love your blog!
Thanks Linda. Spring must be here for good now.
Wow…Steve, we’re so close, yet so far away. Those photos prove it.
I was dreading yet another forecast of snow (even though it would likely be the last), and was seriously relived that all we got around Asbury-way was soggy rain, albeit seriously cold soggy rain. Today was mighty crisp, temp-wise, but sunny, and I was able to dress for the ride without feeling bulbous. It was essentially an errand ride, with lots of traffic to deal with, but still enjoyable.
No dogs to placate, but one cat whose bowl I’d neglected to refill. She was chill about it.
Its was a reasonably fine time to ride considering the quality of the snow and the temperature. At least that’s what I tell myself. But I’m happy to ride in above freezing temperatures for awhile…
beauty of a third shot!
Thanks Dom. It was hard not to stop for that picture.