Vespa Snow
More snow during the night — not what a rider wants to see in the morning. A quick walk to the end of the driveway showed the street to be mostly wet. Coupled with the promise of the temperature rising above the freezing mark another winter ride on the Vespa seemed in order.
Looking at the snow covering the car, trees and house had me thinking the snow-covered hills and trails outside of town would be a winter wonderland.
Riding a Vespa Toward the Snow-Covered Hills
This was only the second winter Vespa ride this season that I wished I had mounted the Heidenau Snow Tex tires on the scooter. While the roads were mostly wet in the valley the mountains might introduce more dubious traction. A winter rider has to consider the limits of skill and equipment.
Considering Snow and Ice
Heading into Rothrock State Forest provided a typically beautiful encounter with nature, one made better by the fresh fall of snow. Unfortunately the journey would be cut short as the roads got worse and I had to turn back. Turning back — for some reason that’s still a discouraging decision after all these years of Vespa riding.
Emerging from Winter
How much longer can it be before dealing with snow is in the rear view mirror? Looking back at the snow shrouded ridge conjures mixed feelings — a recognition of the beauty of winter, and the visceral disdain for the cold weather of the past four months. I should consider myself lucky I don’t live in Alaska.
Soon it will be time to wash the winter from the scooter. A labor that I won’t shirk but engage as a ritual work celebrating the coming of spring and warmer days of riding.
I hope this is the last photos of the Vespa in snow I post for awhile…
Read More About Riding the Vespa Scooter in Snow
Error in Judgment is a story about how a mistake regarding the weather can turn into a challenging ride home in the snow after work.
If Ansel Adams had a Vespa …
Ansel would have a platform on the back to set up his 8×10 camera!
Thanks for the kind comparison.
If Ansel Adams rode a Vespa he’d have a small trailer for his gear.
However good analogy.
Thankfully Steve has modern photographic gear albeit physically smaller.
As to winter my snowdrops appeared in my front garden in theSunday morning warmth from the sun, poking their heads above the snow drifts.
Winter is lingering. Spring plants have bloomed and died from the cold. Soon, soon it will be spring.
Though my weekend ride was in 70 degrees and dark blue skies I think I would rather have shared your ride. Your pictures are always fantastic but the one of the Vespa on the hill is beautiful and almost makes me miss snow.
That’s saying something if the picture is having you consider abandoning blue skies and 70 degree temperatures. While I find the weather extremes often provide visual stimulation, I’m growing weary of the challenges they can present. Was out walking early and it seems like the air is getting foggy along with the cold dampness. Plan to ride but am longing for the days when I don’t have to spend so much time suiting up…
Lovely pics. I love all the lines in the last shot. And the headlight in the first pic is a nice touch. A bit of hope amidst the gloom.
“Hope amidst the gloom.” That’s it!
Loving the last pic! This year is the closest we have had to winter for years, there were even days that I had to take snow in to consideration. I am hoping we still have some more rain coming.
The conditions were perfect for that shot. I’ll have to make a print of it to see how it looks.
Rain. That’s up next I suppose.
Fantastic photos. Wow.
Thanks for the kind words Tyson. Like so many things, you keep doing something and eventually you have a success.
Hi, Steve,
Enjoyed the post about winter riding, even as I’m sitting here enjoying the mid-eighty degree weather in southern New Mexico.
Took a short jaunt on the Vespa yesterday of about twenty miles, and the only downsides were the auto traffic and sweating! It’s a terrible situation, but I’m holding up as well as I can.
Your weather may be bad so far as scootering goes, but as shown by your photography it does wonders for that mental reminder of what used to be our daily routine in Michigan.
Regards,
Karl U
Mid 80s. I feel your pain. Sorry to hear you have to struggle with so much in the heat. *grin*
Photography has a wonderful ability to trigger memories. And sometimes create them. I don’t think many consider them that way.
Ride safe in the nasty New Mexico weather!
Ah…so you got caught too.
I think I posted my foibles earlier (as well as on MV, replete with photos), where I didn’t get caught out by snow on the road until my (thankfully short) return trip back from a client’s home. A bit touch-and-go on the roads, and a seriously touchy trip back up the driveway, but rider and bike made it back intact. This has been the sneakiest, snarliest Winter for me to date. Good to see you got back okay as well.
Fingers crossed that this is about it as far as snow is concerned till next Winter.
Glad to hear you made it home intact. The sudden snow can be disconcerting. Especially the first time you feel the tires begin to slip out from under you. That’s when it is driven home how precarious riding is on two wheels. Requires an entirely different approach that they don’t teach you in school…
I’m hoping snow is done here as well.
Dang Steve, your first day of Spring photos are in wild contrast to weather conditions we’re experiencing here in Colorado! It was almost 80 degrees F this weekend so of course no fresh snow pictures from me.
Best I could do was to show what snow remains on Pikes Peak…..
Well, maybe it’s over now. One last snow to remind us who’s in charge…
I’m looking forward to some warmer, drier weather.
Steve,
That last photo is jaw-dropping gorgeous. I’m anxious to get out but am trying to be patient for some salt rinsing rain. Our roads are still literally white in too many places and not the very pretty white you share in your contrasting hues.
Thanks for the kind words about the photo Coop. It’s hard to miss when you’re staring at something like that.
Salt…. it does some nasty work.