Almost a month has passed since my last post. During that time my local Vespa dealer worked diligently to solve my rear brake problem and finally determined a failed rear caliper was the culprit. After a brief wait for parts I got the GTS back with what seems like a monster powered rear brake. It’s during times like these I fantasize about learning to do some of the motorcycle maintenance myself. Once I’m back on the road those fantasies evaporate. Gone. Who cares. Such is the nature of my desire to turn wrenches. Maybe when I mature a bit I’ll change.
There have been a lot of fine riding days missed. I know why many riders have two machines. No reason to be sidelined because of some repair issue. Someday perhaps. My wife expressed a passing comment that it would be nice to have a scooter so she could ride along on some of my adventures. I’ve spent some time looking at alternatives. Who knows.
The ride to work this morning was fine, a thin morning fog gave way to a little glistening light when I stopped to make this picture.
I had lunch yesterday with my friend Gordon at Otto’s Pub and Brewery in State College. Gordon and I have been working on the 3 Prints Project but an illness in the family has kept me from getting together with him. It was nice to see a friendly face and have a good cheeseburger.
It was a good cheeseburger. So good that I didn’t think of a picture until a less than gourmet view was available.
The title of this post reminded me of Willie Nelson’s song “On the road again”. Glad that scooter is back up and running fine. I was going to be mad If you stopped blogging just after I had started my blog.
Your post brings Pirsig to mind. To turn wrenches…or not to turn wrenches. It seems that the understanding acquired through riding and that intimacy with your machine is good in itself. Does it matter who turns the wrenches?
I too would rather ride than turn wrenches and try to take my machine out every day. Like a dog that benefits from being walked, the machine benefits from that quality time as well.
As always, your thoughts on the experience of riding are inspirational and motivating. It’s good to see you back.
Dear SCITS (Steve):
I owned one of the most primitive motorcycles in the history of biking, 25 years ago. It was a Kawasaki H2. Aside from the transmission, and syncing the carbs, the bike was a simple as it was primitive.
New motorcycles and scooters are incredibly complicated… To the point where some shops can’t figure them out either. I think is is incredible that your shop had the machine for a month, before discovering the problem was in a brake caliper!
Two years ago, BMW had mine for two weeks trying to diagnose a failed oxygen sensor. I can’t even image what an oxygen sensor looks like. I suspect it is a little bird in a cage.
I admit I do not have the cranial capacity to work on my bike, and I think a scooter, with everything over the back wheel, must be a lot more complex.
Your rides sound so delightful that I intend to head out your way later on this summer. I wouldn’t dream of imposing on your good nature or impinging on your privacy, but it will be great fun to write a blog with my bike in classic poses like yours.
I regard your style as the unique “Huson River School of Scooter Photography.”
Fondest regards,
Jsack “r” (Toad)
Twisted Roads
To avoid break downs and other problems with scooters I have the answer……..buy HONDA
glad you got your wheels back and you had that extended warranty…you sure did a good job on that food.
enjoyed your post
Looks like the cheeseburger was a definite hit … but you don’t like tomatoes? Think of the lycopene you left on the table!
Ouuuuuuu, Otto’s cheeseburger, I’ve had one of those. Time for another one….
I am so glad to hear you back on the road and back on the photographic journey. Your B&W photographs are to me an enjoyment of the past when film photography was the main stay. But of course sharing your digital memories are fantastic. I have just finished enjoying “The Long Way Down” starring Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman – there unique adventure on the open road and motorcycle break-down. Now I don’t have a big bike but I see no difference in those enjoying the same on a scooter whether its a 50cc or a 650cc scooter. Of course the road way will be different on a 50cc-150cc scooter but the scenery will be same if not better.
Ride safe,
Phil
beautiful pic of the scooter bathed in warm sunlight and use of foliage as framing….very nice! Someday, my pics will be as yours…
and yes, get that spare scooter….
I have read nearly your entire blog now. I kept checking back for another update, and I got lucky today. I am an avid motorcyclist, and have owned hundreds of bikes and ridden for years. I just recently purchaed a scooter so I could slow down and be comfortable – and began blogging about it. I found your blog and as an avid reader and former photography major (long time ago) please continue your wonderfull blog.
JIM: No plans to stop blogging. Just a lot of things happening lately that have kept my focus away from riding and blogging.
Patefermente: I have been thinking a lot about Pirsig the past few months and will be posting about it soon.
Wrench turning has some magic to it beyond the obvious. It’s just taken me awhile to see it.
Thanks for your kind words about the post. It’s always nice to hear.
Jack: The complexity of even the simpliest machines today is kind of disheartening. My Vespa has some sophisticated electronics that scare me when I think about a failure on the road. It would probably mean trucking the Vespa home. On the other hand the modern machines are so much more reliable. So I guess the only option is to move onward, hope for the best, and if something happens use it as an opportunity to practice patience and personal growth!
Let me know when you are planning to ride this direction. If the planets align correctly we can cross paths.
anonymous: There is a lot to be said for a Honda. I’ve eyed up the Little Ruckus more than once. And my wife sees herself learning to ride on a Honda Rebel.
But all machines breakdown. I saw a brand new Honda Accord being hooked up to a tow truck along the road today.
Despite the brake problems I feel good about the reliability of the Vespa.
Baron: I’m glad I bought the extended warranty. It would be a bitter pill to swallow to have to pay AND wait!
I need two scooters.
Chuck: There were so many tomatoes on that burger. It was far more than I ever eat. I’m still full!
pitchertaker: You need to stop by again. I was just talking about you this evening to Kim. I characterized you as the ultimate on the road photographer despite not being able to find any pictures in Pennsylvania.
Pvino: I’m struggling to get back in the groove in terms of black and white photography. I need to mix new chemicals and get my ass in gear. Four rolls of film sit here waiting for attention and I hauled the Leica around today.
Soon. soon.
I enjoyed watching Long Way Round but realize that kind of adventure is not something I would ever do myself (or want to). It is like seeing a dream coming to life but better a dream…
Charlie6: Your pictures are great. I love the recent one of the bike with the cows in the mist. You have such lovely landscapes to ride in.
I think a spare scooter or motorcycle makes perfect sense.
jason: I’ll be interested in following your blog about scooter experiences after years on motorcycles. I’ll keep working to produce pictures here and give myself as many excuses as I can to ride.
Glad to hear your GTS is back on the road. Mine is still laid up, the mystery of why the engine shuts off for no apparent reason still beyond the grasp of my local scooter shop. And this during a record-setting string of warm, sunny days in Seattle. Someone, somewhere, is messing with me, and I don’t like it. But there’s not much I can do…
__Orin
Scootin’ Old Skool
Orin: Have you tried posting on the Modern Vespa forum to see if any of the technicians who frequent that site have ideas that might help?
Nothing more depressing than undiagnosed mechanical problems—especially on a Vespa that really needs to be ridden…