The picture of Jacob Marley’s ghost in Dicken’s A Christmas Carol dragging along a ponderous collection of chains and metal boxes always flashes in my head when a week has been abnormally intense. Riding early Saturday morning I could almost hear the clanging and crashing of metal on the highway as the ride steadily stripped away everything that was unimportant until I found myself standing along a quiet, empty road listening to the birds and knowing again what is important and what is noise.
The specific details don’t matter. Everyone gathers their own chains and weights. I’m grateful for the perspective that a ride can deliver. Yesterday morning was a fine day to ride despite the huge temperature change from 45F when I departed to 77F when I pulled back into the driveway. Forced to choose a preference I lean towards the colder air. This part of Pennsylvania has an exceptional collection of roads suitable for two-wheeled exploration. While many find thrills in a rapid consumption of miles with lots of wearing down of the sides of the tires I tend to find thrills in what I see. Stopped along the road near Spruce Creek I took a few moments to look in the water for trout. Only a few miles upstream is the exclusive Spruce Creek Rod and Gun Club, a fishing site called by some the best trout fishing in the eastern United States.
While I generally don’t push the Vespa hard on the road there are lots of places that it’s hard to resist especially considering how little traffic there is on the road. Deer are always a hazard but on this day I only saw a few wild turkeys.
I don’t even know the name of this creek. A Pennsylvania Stream Map created by Professor Howard Higbee years ago still is the definitive resource for identification. Higbee was a professor and soil scientist and worked with our office to produce the original map. It is still for sale by the College of Ag Sciences for $19.95. Click HERE for more information.
No road is too small to explore. This one, Turnpike Road, was more like a long driveway than a road. I followed it along for miles until it turned to gravel and passed through a farm and into an Ag Security Area where I decided to turn around. The road did continue on over a hill and may have eventually run on to another paved road but I just wasn’t in the trespassing mood.
Find the Vespa. As the temperature hit 77F I decided it was time to head home and fix the lawn mower. Riding – lawn mover. I know, not everyone’s first choice but for me the right one. I got that puppy running and cutting grass with near perfect mental and emotional balance. *grin*
And today I’ll being wielding a shovel and rake with something approaching rapture. All thanks to a ride on the Vespa.
Dear Sir:
Speaking of Jacob Marley’s ghost, your post this morning reminded me that there are more than a few details I have to check on the K75, after my inglorious shakedown weekend.
My riding partner’s machine is giving him grief today, so we are just going to do a short run out for brunch. Thoughtful pictures as usual. The “S” curve has me thinking that I need to get a signature shot for my blog.
By the way, you said something nice about something I wrote a post or two back. Do you mind if I add that to my site page?
Fondest regards,
Jack Riepe
Twisted Roads.
Very nice pictures of those curvy roads….
Jack Riepe: A signature shot for your blog….hmmm, that’s a tough one. So many thoughts spring to mind. Too bad you didn’t have a camera focused on the woman who flipped you off. That would have been one sweet signature reminder….*grin*
Feel free to post whatever I said. I think it was that your posts are the only ones I ever read aloud to my wife.
Charlie6: Thanks! You have a lot of nice roads out your way too.
Steve:
Very nice pictures and nice twisties too. I’ve been doing more solo rides too. I think that as you are riding alone, your thoughts become clearer, more focused and sometimes they lead to problem solving as the scenery passes by. Group riding involes a lot of multi-tasking: following the leader, watching lane placement, keeping an eye on the rider behind, scanning for cars that make break into our formation about compromises as to where to stop, how long to rest, where to eat, all of these things just interfere with the simplicy that our machines should offer
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
Too warm to ride…a common theme in my life. With this stupid Lupus, heat is not my friend. Another reason for disposal of the motorcycle. Have found when it gets humid (that comes first) and hot (as in temperature
be it marked Celsius or Fahrenheit)
then it is time to admit an air-conditioned vehicle is preferable. Be it a 460 design or
otherwise.
And the rise in humidity and heat, when it comes on real sudden ass it has the last two or three days is perhaps, even worse.
Know how you feel Steve, alternate methods are calledfor.
Steve: you make some interesting comments about the pleasure connected with riding alone. I certainly have many times found the same joy with riding, but also find myself a little bit jealous of people that ride with others or in a group. Some of Jack Riepe’s tales of the obviously great riding companions he has, makes me a bit jealous. Up until now, most of my riding is alone. Back in my bicycling days, I used to belong to a bicycle club and we made many close friends and experienced some wonderful times together. I miss those days.
We are though in the process of trying to start a scooter club here. We intend to pattern it off the operations of the bicycle club. The goal is to make new friends and participate in some group rides.
I appreciate BobSkoot’s comments about group riding as well. Our initial scooter rally is this Sunday and one of my fears is that somebody may not pay very close attention to their surroundings and have an accident. I hope I am not being overly cautious, but I actually prepared a handout with a map and some excerpts from the motorcycle safety manual concerning following distances and group riding.
I am very excited about the rally and hope it leads somewhere beneficial to all.
“I wear the chain I forged in life.” Your post loosened the chain and brought back many memories of growing up and riding in Central PA. As always, thanks, Steve.
bobskoot: I agree with your characterization of the benefits of riding alone. I suppose I get enough social interaction at work that I covet riding alone. Group riding has always required so much more energy. It’s like being at a party — requires a lot of attention and personal energy to keep up. I guess I am painting a loner picture of myself.
Bryce: Heat is something I don’t relish. I know around here it seems the warmer it gets the more motorcycles are on the road.
Kim and I are dealing with the heat. We are looking at Sanyo split-system AC/Heat Pumps for the house. If it’s too hot I’ll stay at home…
cpa3485: Jack Riepe writes some wonderful description of his rides with friends and groups and I don’t disagree at all with it. I just find my personal inclination and needs point me towards being alone. My head gets full of noise and a little ride drains it away best.
Hope your group ride goes (went) well!
Paul: Central PA would be a great place to form memories as a kid!
you’re an interesting man Steve
I love this website. Perfect.
http://www.ivoog.com
This is without a doubt the most consistently excellent blog I read. You get it Steve…you know why we ride.
Thanks