Thanks for your kind words about the show, and apologies for the delay in responding to your comments. Regarding being an explorer. If I were a real one, I would be riding a 50cc scooter around the world!

And you, sir, are hardly a “would-be explorer”!

Thank you for your kind words about my photographs. Discovering the landscape on the Vespa is a central aspect of my riding and photography. I’ve made photos with the iPhone — it certainly has adequate resolution and would be fine for a lot of what I do. Occasionally though I need a telephoto lens to create the perspective I want. I use a point and shoot camera for this. Cameras aside, the biggest challenge is selecting the scenes and composing things to help reflect what you feel in the world. Looking back at my early riding photos I can see how things changed with practice.

More adventures are sure to come.

I try to duplicate the look of your photos but my iphone7 just doesn’t do it — I suspect I don’t have the eye either.

Anxious to see more of your adventures.

Central Pennsylvania certainly provides the canvas to create beautiful rides. Weather helps form the images and as you know, the photographer can manipulate perception of a scene by what is chosen to include or exclude. My own bias tends to eliminate evidence of traffic from pictures which can create a mood of isolation that may be different when standing there. But even then, this is a beautiful place to ride.

The folks at Piaggio know about the show and the work I do but I suspect it’s far afield of their marketing strategy and product positioning. An old guy wandering the sticks isn’t a big sell.

Now that the show is over I’ll have some extra time to ride again. Or more importantly, think again. Weird how draining it all was. In a good way. But still it robbed me of a lot of desire to get away on the Vespa.

Hello David. I’m glad you find some value in the things I share on Scooter in the Sticks. Looking at your blog, it’s obvious we share a kindred connection to riding. And I confess a secret love of the BMW bumblebee coloring. And strongly considered acquisition of a 1988 BMW R100 GS. But as you share on your blog — the difference between that vintage bike and a contemporary GS (for me the F650GS at the time) was enough to not pull the trigger. Still — I love the idea of that old GS.

Your wife can probably see a difference in you when you ride and don’t ride. I won’t go as far as saying riding would replace therapy, but for me it has a profound effect on my outlook on life.

I’ll keep riding and writing until the thrill is gone…

Michael arrived safely and we had a fine visit. That story will appear in an upcoming post. Unfortunately I didn’t photograph him with the dogs. He likes dogs — they got along famously.

Attendance we good on the weekends when I sat in the gallery. Saturdays saw between 20 and 40 visitors. Sunday about 20. Good I’m told for that location. Lots of fine conversations about riding, photography and the Vespa.

Glad the material got to you in good shape. A mere echo of the show itself.