Starting Point
Never sure exactly where I ride begins. A morning fuel stop seems a convenient starting point but sometimes a ride begins in my head days earlier. Not in this case though. Took a day off work, at the last minute decided to go for a ride with my friend Paul with a sense of riding north through Sproul State Forest.
Walking through the garden this evening I thought about how much I love seeing the world. I’m not referring to traveling to the four corners of the earth to see the world. I mean the visual stories that are all around, everywhere, always changing and right in front of me. Did some quick calculations around the years we’ve lived here, knowledge of the distance of a walk around the yard, and a conservative estimate of the number of times I’ve walked and come up with 625 miles in the 20 years we’ve lived here.
NOTE: A reader pointed out the 625 number and I realized I miscalculated. The walking mileage in the garden for 20 years is closer to 14K miles.
And I still crave those walks for what I’ll see. Riding the Vespa through the same roads and counties I’m doing the same thing — seeing the world.
The Allegheny Plateau
Riding up onto the Allegheny Plateau took Paul and I past Gum Stump and Yarnell as we steered toward Snow Shoe. The area is still rustic despite changes brought by the shale gas development in the area.
Despite a forecast of no rain through the morning rain drops began to fall early. Radar maps on my iPhone indicated heavier rain farther north which precipitated a change in plans.
Mobile Gas Pegasus
Riding through familiar territory ignites memories of place and time. Forty years earlier I gassed up my orange VW bug. Now the building looks sadly at a world that’s content to let it die. The Mobile Pegasus has been gone for 15 years.
It’s a gift to remember. Riding is the delivery vehicle.
Space for Lazy Riding
The road winds lazily through Moshannon State Forest, 296 square miles of forests, roads and streams. Even though it would be easy to race through this area and notice little more than there are a lot of trees, I know I’ll be back again and again because I’ve barely scratched the surface of understanding this place.
Rhododendron Blooms
It was here that I lost Paul. He pulled off the road to explore a creek and I rode on a few hundred yards where I turned off the road to make a photograph of a Rhododendron flower. Paul didn’t see me and rode on.
I learned a Vespa can run down a Ducati.
Wall of Green
Further into the forest brought the road along a 20 foot wall of rhododendron bushes. I would hate to have to navigate through that tangled jungle of plants.
At this point we had ridden about 50 miles. Breakfast was in the back of our minds and soon a decision would be make to head to the Naked Egg Cafe in Pine Grove Mills, Pennsylvania — just 40 miles away.
Black Moshannon Lake
Paul made a mental note that this is a pretty nice picnic spot. I’ve been here before, the last time to eat my traveling lunch while watching the geese swim in the lake.
The bowl of shredded wheat I had hours earlier was beginning to wear off leading to a more focused effort to get something to eat.
I had steak and eggs for breakfast, had a fine ride with a friend and had the opportunity to see the world.
Doesn’t get much better than that.
Melu says
Beautiful places you have nearby, Steve. I never tire of your pictures. Especially love the one of the garage and the last one of the lake. Your pictures are like mini vacations for the mind.
Steve Williams says
“Mini vacations for the mind.” I like that. Exactly how many rides function for me. The noise in my head just dissipates… There is a lot of beautiful places here. They’re not grand or majestic but consistently beautiful. Makes the rides always much better.
dom says
Steak and Eggs, best breakfast choice usually. Though the meat-heavy Irish/English breakfasts were pretty good too. Just don’t ask what the black and white pudding is made of….just saying.
Steve Williams says
It’s the rare breakfast choice in my post-heart attack low fat diet.
Black and white pudding — sounds more like something I feed to birds than I would eat myself!
Bryce Lee says
Sounds to me seniority as it were has or will allow you a four day weekend.
Friday July 1, 2016 was Canada’s National Dominion Day as it were, July 4 is the same for the United States, and a Monday; buffered by Saturday and Sunday. Good planning!
Now as the rhododendrons; your climatic zone is just a wee bit better than where I livem which is one the north end of the zone to grow this variety of plant. Here, best protect your rhodie(sic) from harsh winds and plant behind a wall or outbuilding; it may well not survive winter. Where you live, the climate as noted is just a wee bit more temperate and where you found the wall of same, the area appear well protected.
A ride with a friend who doesn’t always notice you, and a decent meal for breakkie is always good. Sounds like you have the type of breakfast initially i have, shredded wheat or Muffets in a bowl with warm 1 percent milk, no sugars other than what’s in the wheat itself…
Steve Williams says
Just a sudden opening in my calendar that I’ve become smart enough to take advantage of. Experience more than seniority.
Rhododendrons thrive here in the shady forests and along streams and creeks. In our shady woodland garden we have a couple lovely ones growing. So far winter hasn’t harmed them. Even our bamboo grove of Phyllostachys aureosulcata thrives and provides a wonderfully thick and tall area of the garden. The dogs love the jungle…
I think my breakfast is a bit less austere. I sweeten my shredded wheat with raisin bran and add a handful of frozen blueberries. And always skim milk. I could eat that everyday. Hope I don’t find out down the road it’s bad for me…
BWB says
Yes, it’s nice to remind oneself that “the world” starts right outside your front door, and the unxplored bits a goodcdwal closer than might be inagined.
After a late start at work in Gotham yesterday, and resultant late arrival back home last night, I’ll start today off with the 12-mile solo bicycle ride I assured Sig. Other I’d take since I begged-off joining her at the gym a half hour ago. Then I’ll make breakfast, then (hopefully) install the replacement left-brake lever and right-rear reflector on Melody from the care package I git from Scooterwest yesterday. I think Ann has some event to drag me to later, but I might get some time to grab that Vespa and do some minor exploring myself, maybe even more tomorrow.
Again, lovely photos, rhododendrons and all.
Steve Williams says
The world is everywhere you look — indoors and out. My brain will filter it all out if I allow it. It’s the great fight I wage.
Sounds like your personal and social engagements will keep you busy. Finding time to do all the things we must and/or want to do is a challenge.
Good luck getting your Vespa fixed up and finding time for a ride.
Dar says
I think sometimes people forget how wonderful where they live is, and that there are lots of adventures and places to explore. I often forget the fact that where I live is considered a desired vacation spot to others in the world. I love your pictures and the stories that go with them. I also love that a vespa and ducati ride together! Here in our motorcycle culture scooters and motorcycles usually don’t mix due to snobbery – ugh.
Steve Williams says
Same thing here. Lots of people come here to vacation for a variety of reasons. I get to be here all the time!
There isn’t much mixing of scooters and motorcycles here either. It’s rare to see it. Paul is an eclectic rider who at the moment has a Ducati, Piaggio Fly, ’64 Vespa and a Cushman traffic unit vehicle. He’s not wedded to any particular machine. He just likes to ride.
Steel says
I occasionally follow some threads on an adventure motorcycle rider web site. They can be mighty interesting and the riders often have some amazing tales to recount, along with striking photographs.
However, like you, I find great pleasure in just ambling along the backroads near where I live. Once I get out of my urban home, the countryside here is fascinating. I feel quite content to make a day trip out riding through areas that are often no more than 30-60 miles from my driveway.
Maybe some day I’ll feel compelled to ride around the world, but I kinda doubt it.
Steve Williams says
I used to read a lot more of those adventure rider stories myself. I stopped because I was never interested in the travelogue of “went here, then here, then here, then here…”. I wanted to know how the rider felt, thought, struggled in their head. They generally don’t write about that.
Ambling around, even on short rides, is where I exist right now. Those 30 – 60 mile rides are common for me and satisfying to boot. Like you, maybe someday I’ll take some long rides…
Paul says
SW. May I use one of your photos on my scooter webpage? I tried to paste the photo I took in your photo where I’m on my knee into this but it didn’t work. It’s kind of cool.
I was thinking about your comments above and when you and Jerry and me were at that Mobil Pegasus gas station. All those photo trips we made together. After he passed away I thought that part of my life had ended but I see it hasn’t. The sensations are similar the message is the same we are doing our lives.
Steve Williams says
No problem. I’ll email you the photo.
I miss Jerry. Those were fine times and had donuts and Red Zingers. We need to take a ride to Bilgers Rocks again. And Moose Meadow and Wycoff Run. If only for the memories…
Mike says
625 miles in 20 years, that’s about 1Km a week. Better get a bigger yard Steve!
So glad that you get to see the beautiful world beyond and post pics for us to enjoy.
I don’t know whether you have ever viewed my Flickr page but if you ever do you can see what I’ve been up to. Nothing brilliant but it’s home.
Thanks
Steve Williams says
My math might be fuzzy. I checked this morning the walk distance before sitting down in the garden to eat breakfast and respond to comments. Walked one half mile in the garden. And will walk another half before chores, work or ride. And then more in the evening. Not sure how I calculated that 625 number. Math was never my strong point. A quick review and the number is much higher — over 14K miles pacing just under an acre of woodland/naturalized garden. No wonder my feet hurt.
I do look at your flickr photos from time to time. The recent cyclone pictures were pretty intense.
Mike says
That distance sounds a lot better Steve. I guess your excursions on the Wasp add some foot miles as well when straying off the beaten path.
Thanks for keeping in touch with me and others, it adds something very personal to your blogs.
Steve Williams says
Since my heart attack I pay much closer attention to how much I walk and try and move as much as I can. I have a daily goal of 10 thousand steps. Some rides where I stop a lot and wander around I can collect a lot of foot time.
In terms of staying in touch — I really appreciate the comments and inquiries I receive here. It was unlooked for when I started blogging but became an unexpected gift in terms of information and support. I feel honored that you take the time to share your experience and observations here. I will admit though that lately with work becoming more demanding I’m not responding as quickly as I would like.