COLD MORNINGS
A conversation with a friend this morning reminded me of the powerful influence my body can have on my emotional and spiritual well being. A sore back transports me to decrepitude and despair. Burning neuropathy in my feet can engender belief that my life is in decline and only hopelessness and death await.
Winter makes things worse. The cold can no longer be held at bay as it once could. Now it flows through bone and sinew causing me to shrink into the warm spaces of home, the heated places in my mind. I grow more and more immobilized by thought and circumstance.
And then a text arrives, “Scootering tomorrow?”
I’ll soon be 69 years old so it may be hard to believe those two words have power to energize an old man. I can’t, It’s still strange to for no other reason to suddenly be excited, lighter in spirit and hopeful of the day. Just at the prospect of going for a ride.
My friend Paul and I decided to ride our scooters to breakfast. He’s not usually a cold weather rider so I was surprised he was willing to go early when the thermometer would be pointing at 34F. I stopped along the road to make a photograph. He didn’t get off his scooter and I learned later he was discovering that wind penetrates zippers on jackets.
COWS DON’T WALK IN STRAIGHT LINES
The 35 mile ride to breakfast takes us along some fine back roads. A close look at maps in Pennsylvania reveals a deep secret about roads — cows don’t walk in straight lines. In central Pennsylvania, many of the secondary roads were once cow paths and farm lanes. And often they reflect the meandering nature of the animals that used to wander, or the farmers who were unable to drive their team of horses in a straight line because of the many and varied obstacles.
And now, as a scooter rider, I reap the rewards of those actions. The new, planned roads in many places see straightening curves and making transport more efficient as a noble goal. And I suppose by many yardsticks it is. But I’m grateful that so many vestiges of the past remain here where I ride.
WISHING THE SNOW WOULD GO AWAY
Weather is a powerful force in my life. Especially as age and infirmity lays me bare to the power of the cold. I find myself thinking of how fragile I feel when the cold creeps in. Where has the strength to endure and conquer even the coldest days gone while riding? I can’t imagine cruising along anymore at 50 miles per hour in sub-zero temperatures.
Even clambering over the guide rail to make the photograph was a challenge to heave my body from one side to the other. The whispers of time remind me of who I’ve become, and what is on the road ahead. I ride the Vespa with a newly informed awareness of the gift it is to be on the road. I remind myself not to take it for granted and relish every mile.
POOR PARKING
The distance between the white lines of street side parking spaces in great enough to accomplish the biggest of SUVs. How is it that we couldn’t fit two scooters between them. A scofflaw or merely a reflection of the beginning of the doddering, curb-bashing, door-dinging future.
THE BREW
Tyrone, Pennsylvania has a fine new cafe — The Brew. It was our destination for breakfast and did not disappoint. Anyone riding or traveling in the area would do themselves a favor by stopping in for coffee and breakfast. And on Friday and Saturday from 5pm until 10pm they open a taproom where you can enjoy beer and food.
RIDING WITH FRIENDS
As much as I need to spend time alone, the silence and space give way to recognition of the power a friend can have with their presence. Even when they can’t seem to sit up straight for a photograph.
COLORFUL VERSUS PLAIN
I can go through life with a wardrobe consisting of black t-shirts and jeans. The only variation is the addition of a flannel shirt or sweater in cold weather. That comfort in the familiar was reflected in the difference between our two breakfast choices. I’m the plain one.
ONWARD TO MOTORCYCLES
Being so close to Kissell Motorsports we had to detour to pay them a visit. Two Vespa scooters in the parking lot among BMWs and Moto Guzzis has to be a rare sight. Something no one seemed to care about.
NOTHING TO BUY
Kissell Motorsports was jammed with motorcycles. This was the section for used machines. Spring riding weather is not far off and they are definitely ready to send people home with a motorcycle. As I wandered through the store it was kind of sad to realize that there was nothing I wanted. Everything was big and complicated. Simplicity doesn’t reside in the majority of modern motorcycles. But business is brisk according to the owner and his investment in new inventory would seem to bear that out. I suppose simplicity is not something most riders want.
THE INVENTIVE MR. RUBY
Ever the problem solver, ever the engineer, my friend Paul acquired a garbage bag and crafted a windproof garment for the ride home. He reported that it worked exceptionally well and from this day forward he will carry a garbage bag with him for those unexpected cold days.
I’ll check RevZilla to determine if they have any exotic Italian or well-engineered German bags for serious adventure riding.
THE THRILL
The air remained brisk for the ride home though body and mind had adjusted and hardened against the cold to the point where I was once again thrilled to be facing down the element while riding my scooter. An old fantasy that still quickens the pulse and reminds me I’m alive.
Seeing the sky reflected in a large puddle of water drew me like a magnet for one last picture before the final dash home. The ride roused my spirits weighed down by the cold. It always does but I can forget as I sit inside wishing for the world to change. A fools errand.
I can’t change the world and it’s a waste of breath to wait. It’s best I change myself…
It’s best I go scootering!
Nice read for a Sunday. My Brother Tim passed Friday morning. I was with Tim & my Sister Mary. His pain is absorbed by Christ. It was a tough one but I learned so much and the People that took care of Tim. And the train of Life Goes on.
Peace be with All
I’m sorry to learn of Tim’s passing Mike. It was a final gift to him for you and Mary to be with him. You’ve experienced more loss than most. Accepting the idea that the train of Life goes on is a bitter pill. I pray your grief is soon replaced with good memories of Tim.
He certainly was a character. I remember an experience with him back in 1991 vividly. I got home from work on a Friday evening and decided to take my pack and walk to the top of the mountain above Boalsburg to spend the night. On the way up the trail I stopped at Sand Spring for water. It was dusk and I heard something rustling in the Mountain Laurel. Hoping it wasn’t a bear I saw a man in Army fatigues emerge from the shadows. I squinted a bit to see who it was and finally said, “Tim?”
Seems your brother was spending a few days in survival mode with nothing more than the clothes on his back and a big knife. He was dirty and I could see his jacket was burnt. He said he had slept too close to the fire the night before. That news was delivered in a way that made you think that it had happened before.
Tim had a fire going nearby and invited me to sit for a while. I should correct something here — he also had some beer. He offered me one that he had drawn from the cold water of Sand Spring and we talked for an hour or so about survival, camping, and the things we were doing in life. He invited me to spend the night at his campsite but I had another site in mind. We bid farewell and I started up the trail toward the summit under the dim light of the moon.
The next morning I returned the same way toward home but Tim was already gone. I didn’t see him again for years but that memory of him lives on. Perhaps you’ll sort your own fine memories.
Best wishes through this loss to you and your family Mike.
Pleasant thoughts for another old guy who’s sitting in an armchair waiting for the weather to warm before venturing out.
There’s an allure to an armchair in a warm home. Definitely a gift. Definitely a reminder of how good life has been for me.
I hope the warm weather gets here soon. I saw that knowing some of the heaviest snowfalls I have experienced occurred in late March. Ugh…
Bad back. How apropos. My latest ailment is severe back pain, causing worry about how am I going to shovel snow or mow grass, carry a bag of groceries or ride!
“Cows don’t walk in straight lines.” Ha! Good one. I love the photo of the curvy road
. . . and that crazy jacket Paul wears.
Thanks for the tip on The Brew.
There’s nothing like a bad back to turn your life upside down. And feel far older than the years indicate. For the short term I suppose it’s easy enough to get someone to mow and shovel and grocery deliveries are pretty easy now. But still….
I love that stretch of road. There are others that I look forward to. One coming up into Sproul from Renovo comes to mind. No cows there though. Just drunk woodsman I guess.
The Brew is a nice addition to Tyrone.
Such a welcome heartening message for this grey March morning… thanks, Steve.
I’m hoping for some ease in the greyness. Spring can’t come too soon for me now.
Your best post in quite a while. Thanks
Thank you for your kind words. Perhaps as the weather warms my rides will give off a nicer tone!
I went riding with some friends today, it was cold and wet but still a Great time. Hopefully nice weather is just around the corner. Thanks for the story Steve, always enjoy them.
Riding in cold weather, especially when it’s above freezing, can be a great time. A little preparation in terms of clothing and riding can be enjoyable. But I’m ready for warmer weather. I just let the dogs out and its snowing again. Oh well, an opportunity to practice patience.
Steve;
I sold my KLR in 2019 and I now regret doing that. I thought I would be moving to a different part of the country then but the pandemic and other things ruined that. I have been looking for another bike since 2020, but even though I have found several very nice machines, I can’t seem to pull the trigger and buy one. Some of my hesitation is no doubt due to my acute awareness of aging and loss of strength, deteriorating vision, etc.
I would advise you to hang on to your two-wheelers as long as you can. Once you let them go, it is hard to get back in the saddle for a multitude of reasons, and life is diminished by not taking wonderful, empowering rides like those you beautifully describe in your blog. I can assure you of that. So hang in there!
Steel
I’ve always told myself that if I got rid of a scooter or motorcycle I could always get another one. But I understand the realities to which you refer. Age and health concerns have already begun to color my thinking. Some are irrational fears based on arbitrary things like my calendar age, but others are real and require some honest inquiry. So hesitation in light of those things makes complete sense to me.
The other thing I tell myself is that I will continue to downsize in terms of the weight of a machine. The KLR now feels gigantic to me. That meaning so tall that it engenders fear of falling over. It’s been a few years since I’ve ridden one now but my imagination has turned it into a BMW R1250 GS Adventure in terms of size and weight. Thankfully, unexpectedly, the Himalayan feels really light in comparison to the KLR even though the actual weight difference is small. I suspect the weight of the Himalayan is closer to the ground.
I’ll take your advice and hang onto what I have until I can’t ride them. And then a little longer to make sure that’s the truth.
I hope you find your way back onto the road in some way. I will miss those experiences when the time comes. Surely there will be something to replace them. I hope…
Hokey smokes this is a grand SITT posting. There’s so much going on. I thought it must be 5 postings. I like how it starts…” Burning neuropathy in my feet can engender belief that my life is in decline and only hopelessness and death await.” Sheesh! How uplifting and cheerful. ; – )
We had a busy morning Paul. I really enjoyed getting out despite the cold.
Yeah, the burning feet. I figured I needed to switch things up. I had complained about my back enough!
Jeez Steve. To quote Monte Python, “You’re not dead yet!”
Absolutely!
So what’s the verdict on that unusual looking bagel?
It’s called a Rainbow bagel. It has some food coloring mixed into the plain bagel they make. I’m not sure if there was any meaning beyond that.
What an excellent writer you are! This was an engaging post to stumble across as I research Scooters for my 15-year-old’s first ride. Now, I’m sharing your post with the 5th graders I am teaching the history of the 50 states to tomorrow; essential question: “What do cows and roads have in common in Pennsylvania?” Fascinating little historical fact thrown in there! I am also toying with “What kind of bagel are you?” Keep up the great posts! Following.