There is a certain satisfaction of showing up on the Vespa in winter when everyone else has emerged from an automobile. Like a character from a Jack London story. I wish we had a bakery like the one you describe to visit on a regular basis. Just thinking about it has me craving some crusty bread fresh from the over. Nothing in the kitchen right now though.

The short flyscreen on my Vespa keeps the wind off my stomach and chest. A full screen would be better but like you I think they look weird. So I haven’t gone down that road. Yet.

Be careful in the cold. Even above freezing. Traction is less and people pay even less attention for scooters and motorcycles in winter.

Thank you for the supportive words and for sharing here. Hope you and your family have a great New Year!

However, this year, and because of your winter riding inspiration, Steve, I decided to brave the chilled morning air and Vespa to the bakery. Woowsie, was I cold! – and at only around 40 degrees F. I thought to myself during my entire ride, ‘I’m a wimp, and Steve does this on a regular basis in the low teens!’ Hadn’t it been for my full face modular helmet, down jacket, lined leather gloves and short fly Screen, I would have been miserable. That said, I actually had a blast and felt so damn “hip” showing up in my Vespa to a line of other bread lovers waiting to get inside the warm and deliciously fragrant bakery. The parking was easy too, pulling right up to the the bakery’s bike rack area, all while other late comers motored around and around, searching for an open parking spot.

If I were to ride more often during early mornings, I’d seriously consider replacing my short Vespa fly screen with the dorky (my opinion), but very effective full screen and keep that frigid wind chill off of me. Steve, with all of the winter riding you do, is there a reason why you still use your short fly screen and not the full screen (perhaps cut to proper viewing height)?

As a side note, the fresh and warm sourdough bread arrived to my home still very warm – transported in the Pet Carrier. My wife was impressed.

From now on, my traditional Christmas Eve morning runs to Boudin Bakery will be made on my Vespa. I guess Scooter in the Sticks inspires me, and for that I am grateful for your gift to this community.

My very best to you and Kim for the coming new year. May it amaze you!
Cheers.

Thanks Richard. We’re trying to be positive about the situation and what the future brings.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year. Stay warm!

The Charlie Brown Christmas Special is an enduring piece of work. It is one of the few programs I have on DVD and watch it a few times every year as Christmas approaches. There’s something peaceful and reassuring about it. As a cartoon I always think about it as something for kids. Until I watch it.

Sounds as if your experience runs a similar path to my own. While circumstance may be familiar I suppose the choices we make can be wildly different. And even when they’re not the outcomes can range widely due to so many things. But despite those potential differences I find it comforting to know I’m not the only one experiencing something.

Heart attack — only 2.5 years in the rear view mirror for me. While not as large in my mind as it once was it’s still there and any odd pain or fatigue can get me wondering. Has that changed for you?

I think my wife has made peace with the fact that I engage with people to some degree online. At least here on Scooter in the Sticks. But she shakes her head from time to time I’m sure.

Making photographs. Somewhere along the line the way I talk about the process changed. Not sure if it was in art school or somewhere else. But I realized I was investing more of myself in them than I realized. Add to the the deliberate manipulation of a scene by composition, camera angle, etc, was getting further and further away from the taking of a photo.

Anyways, it is late now and I still want to write a post. May just fall asleep though. The house is quiet and I can feel my eyes getting heavy. One thing is sure though — I’m not going for a ride now. It’s way too cold for that nonsense…

Hope you have a fine Christmas and best wishes for the coming New Year.

It was a relaxing day with some unexpected brightness. Can’t ask for more than that right now.

Best wishes to you and yours for a fine new year.

I hope you’re recovering and able to enjoy what remains of this holiday season. There’s a lot to be said for staying home at Christmas. As far as I can remember, my parents always had Christmas at their house. Always wonder how some people become the holiday magnets where others are drawn.

Other than the frigid temperatures here all is well. I’ll settle for that.

Thank you Steel. Best wishes for the coming new year.

I understand. Over the years our family has worked to simplify the holidays but it remains a rather intense time for some reason. Perhaps life in general is overcomplicated and is just magnified at this time of year. Something to work on I guess.

Thanks for commenting and best wishes for a great new year.

I’ve become quite a fan since I stumbled across your blog, and appreciate it each time you post.

Christmas. Where is it…I think you’ve found a good deal of it in the family and all the traditional trappings. It is also; I think, a time for introspection and reflection and a deep consideration of just why the Charlie Brown Christmas Special endures. In Linus veritas.

My wife just asked me what I was doing. I told her I was still trying to find a way to post something to my friend Steve that I’ve never met, likely will never meet, and that doesn’t know he’s my friend. She did the wise thing that 20 some odd years experience will teach you to do, shake her head, walk away and mutter “you get crazier every day”. She’s right of course.

I’m 63. I work for a Big 10 University. I had a heart attack now 10 years in the rear view mirror. I ride a motorcycle, starting again just last April after an 18 year layoff. So there are some things there…

I sincerely hope and pray for a good outcome for your wife’s health. And that you will keep on keeping on with…well, as my dad used to say, “You know, you’re just as happy as if you had good sense.” I’ve kind of lived by that.

So there. There’s that.

I really like how you “make pictures” as opposed to “take photos”.

Merry Christmas.

You should probably go to bed now.