I was struck how colorless the world can be during my ride to work. Makes sense how those shades of grey can pile on to your brain in winter. A glimpse of blue sky and sunshine is cause for celebration. The grey on the ground reeks havoc on the metal and machinery and I’m sure it was responsible for the failure of my rear brakes. All that salt silently chewing and gnawing as those fine machine parts. Perhaps I should wash the Vespa once in a while. I missed the blue moon at the end of December.
It was nice to ride without snow on the road. The only other two-wheeled vehicle in the parking lot was a colleague’s Yamaha Vino. He got the good space.
I can surely identify with the blues from grey weather. Seattle, of course, is famous for overcast and low light levels in winter. Today, however, was almost spring like in the mid-50’s with pretty blue sky. And this, after 40 mph winds overnight! What a breath of fresh air to make scooting pleasurable today.
Hoping your day was similar.
Steve:
we are having a heat wave here in British Columbia, temps were around 50F today, when the normal temp should be around 40F, but frost is forecast for Friday.
Perhaps you should paint your scooter red, or yellow, instead of keeping it grey, then you will have some bright colors to see whilst riding
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
A guru of black and white photography bemoaning the lack of color? Interesting!
Can you see the bright yellow of your jacket in the mirrors?
Steve, you should do a write-up about the Scoot Boot scooter trailer. I make them and I live in the country and I drive it around with my scooter. It’s really a great thing as you can keep your scooter and haul more stuff at the same time.
Our valleys are particularly prone to a very distinctive kind of winter greyness. Where the Allegheny Front drops off and the Appalachian ridge and valley section begins, the wind currents result in increased cloud cover compared to much of the rest of the Northeast. Lingering snow and the leafless mountains and the low overhang of clouds makes for an especially glowering greyness.
That said, this winter has not been (yet) as grey as some recent years. Maybe because it’s been so windy, and we’ve been blessed with some great sunsets.
My photos have never succeeded in fully capturing the distinct Central PA grey winter. Maybe you can achieve that difficult feat.
Hey Steve,
I ride with Yellow Safety [shooting] glasses over my eyeglasses, which not only enhances my vision, it brings a bit of “sunshine” in on cloudy days. Although helmets are not mandatory in New Hampshire, eyewear is –though I do use a helmet on some winter days, too!
On a trip to the Seacoast for service on my Genuine Buddy, I took some photos on the coast, just before the hurricane in early November. The “gloom” was clearly apparent! Best regards and wishes for sunshine in your winter rides.
Steve, while you were seeing grey Monday, here in the western foot hills of Maine a storm left us just seeing white. My cousine could only describe it as beautiful,but then she`s been living in Arizona for 20 years. I could share her appreciation for nature`s beauty only untill the town truck plowed another foot of it on the end of my driveway. So, obviously I have not been riding this week. But that`s ok. Last week I did get one good ride in. That`s me holding 2nd place in the Cold Weather Challenge. Take care. Look forward to hearing from you again. Alan
You are just going to have to get a sidecar my Friend!!! I saw a couple very cool ones in Bozeman this summer, I think I send you the photos, but I can do it again…
Be well… Seattle! Maybe we will finally meet you soon…
Ara & Spirit
Chuck: Those sudden warm spells in winter are real blessings. We’ve had a few days of it here.
bobskoot: Having a red scooter would severely limit my photo palette. I just have to stick with grey. But maybe I can get some accent colors!
irondad: Sounds like all I do is whine and complain of late. It’s the photographer in me taking control.
I’ll be back to loving the greys of life before you know it.
Dan D: You certainly describe the winters here well. And photographically they are hard to do justice to. Time and practice would help me but I find myself less and less willing to spent time photographing in the cold…
Bob Olcott: Yellow glasses. Now there’s an idea. Will have to look into that.
Any ride along the seacoast in any weather is a great ride in my book. I hope to one day find the opportunity to ride on two wheels with the ocean off to my right (or left).
Alan: Congratulations on your Cold Weather Challenge entry. We’ve had no weather cold enough here to join the competition.
Hope the snow gives you a break so you can get out and ride a bit. But at times it is beautiful. Especially so I bet with Arizona eyes!
Ara: I’m not sure how Junior would do in a sidecar. But the idea of it sounds cool.
Give Spirit a pat on the head for me and a couple of those fine biscuits you make!