I decided last night that I would ride to Northumberland, Pennsylvania to visit with a few friends. Because the weather forecast called for temperatures near 90 I was up early and on the road at 6:40AM. I rode five miles before I saw another car and ten before a car came up behind me. The road was smooth and the air temperature was near 70 degrees—perfect riding weather.
The sun was stuggling to push through the morning haze and fog making the landscape look like something out of a fairytale in places. I’m always amazed at how many things I can detect while riding that are completely lost driving a car. The fragrance of fresh cut hay, manure, pine needles, a lingering campfire from the previous night… And I can feel the air temperture change as I move from the open landscape into the forest. 
This image was made not far from a spring fed lake which is frigid year round. I could feel the air temperature drop significantly as I neared.
I often liken a scooter ride to sailing. Both are limited in their ability to push faster. Both require patience and attention to many variables to achieve optimum performance. Every rise of the road, change in the road surface, breeze or appearance of vehicles all suggest adjustments and corrections. At times when I see the road stretch out in the distance it reminds me of looking out over the bow of a sailboat in the ocean—all that to cover and I can’t go any faster….
The Vespa performed flawlessly. I cruised between 45 and 55 MPH depending on where I was. 
As I neared Lewisburg I caught up with an SUV which I followed for a few miles until I got to US 11/15. The temperature was rising and the haze worsened which was apparent from the overlook about the Susquehanna River.
I traveled more rural/agricultural roads on the way home. 
My neck was cramping a bit and I stopped a few times to stretch. Not sure if I’m old, out of shape, or just slept badly last night.
I hoped to ride through one of the covered wooden bridges that I know exist in the area. Without a map I wasn’t sure where they were but did come upon one that was closed. Everything gets old I guess and these wooden bridges are no exception. I’m sure it would have supported my scooter.
The only really bad part of the whole ride was it coming to an end. While I put another 140 miles on the scooter it didn’t seem to be enough to sate the desire to keep riding. Maybe I need to take a trip of several days duration to cleanse my system of riding…
Steve,
Once again, the images are breath-taking.
Your story here gives me pause, because I have been trying to build some sort of offensive capability into my own scooter, and after reading this, I wonder if I am missing the point… again.
Still, you live in the sticks, and I live in the mean-ass city/jungle, so maybe I’m not off the mark after all.
Regardless of all that, I really enjoyed this post. Thank you, and…
Ride well,
=gc=
Steve, you can ride all you want, but all you’ll do is build up your tolerance. Much as an alcoholic gets used to a certain amount of booze in their system, and needs to keep increasing the “dosage” to maintain that buzz, a rider must constantly increase the amount they ride. Soon you’ll think of a 140 mile trip as a good reason to go for ice cream, or maybe to pick up a book that isn’t in your local store. Then, one day, you’ll log 500 miles and still want to keep going. The next thing you know you’re on your way to Kansas City to get some BBQ, or you’ll start looking at maps of California saying, “I could do that on back roads…”
I did 300 miles today with friends. We’d have done more, but one had to be back home for a family obligation, so we skipped that last detour to ride a fun pass and took the highway home. And I’ll probably hop on the bike to run down for donuts in the morning. It’s like a drug, hopefully you’ll never lose your “addiction”.
Ride safe, and keep making great photos.
I think that it is time for a book…with all your blogs! Your writting is superb!
gary: You’re right, there must be a difference between the circumstances we ride in and not having ridden in the kind of urban jungle you describe I can only imagine what it might be like. The worst “urban” riding I do is in the commercial strips around State College, Altoona, Selinsgrove— 5 or six miles of four lane unlimited access Wal-Marted mind numbing traffic lighted cage filled hell. Things happen at a rapid pace from all sides and it requires constant adjustment of lane position, consideration of what is about to happen and more.
I find myself switched into turbo awareness and ready to make twitch moves like something from a video game.
Underneath that though I remain quiet. The twitch mode and quiet are not mutually exclusive for me. The mode that is troubling for me is the angry, resentful, agressive, competitive one. I cannot put my mind there and remain quiet. And when I am not quiet my decision making power declines and I make more mistakes.
I don’t think you’re missing the point. You would not be able to write and see the things you do if you were not present and quiet. Maybe it’s just the extreme of urban and rural circumstance that is throwing you and the “feeling” each brings about. Hell, if you weren’t present you would not be able to even ask the question “…I wonder if I am missing the point… again.”
When you can’t question what you’re doing, maybe that’s when you should worry….
davet: I hear you. I know that if I had no time or money limitations I would be on the road west until the road ran out. I’m still amazed at what riding brings me.
macbodock: A book….hmmm. Maybe. I have to focus things a bit more and make a decision to commit to a project like that. Right now this is a “from the hip” activity. A book seems more formal—I would have to clean up a bit.
And as always, thanks for the kind words.
steve
Steve,
Awesome pictures of some great landscape.
Working in Seattle I am limited in my commute options to basically all urban freeway riding shared with crazed cagers. However, I’m lucky enough to be just far enough out of the city where I can venture out to the “sticks” for a much more relaxed getaway. Everytime I read one of your posts it inspires me to venture out and explore.
Awile back I asked you about scooters and commuting – well I just sold my Ducati and I am definetly getting a scooter. Much more practial for commuting. I still have a CBR but that is reserved for when I feel like throwing a bike around…
Looking seriously at one of the bigger ‘cc’ scooters(silverwing, burgman).
Steve,
Perhaps it’s not that hard to create a book.
Your photos are wonderful. Your writing equally so. Why not use Apple’s iPhoto connection to their publishing site (or MyPublisher’s if you use a PC). Both are very easy to use and make high quality books.
The books are fairly inexpensive — on the order of $10 depending upon the number of pages. So, the only remaining issue is how we would compensate you; but, that seems easy, too.
In fact, the whole process is so easy that if your photos were available in high resolution, any reader could make his own book annotated with your blog posts. It wouldn’t be the book you would have written; and, honestly, I trust your creativity and would prefer to see your version not mine.
steven: I’ll have to look into that publishing option. I would like to at least have some tangible record of the blog. I don’t have naything backed up aside from the original images. If blogger decides to shutdown I would be out of luck.
I could just cut and paste stuff but that would make too much sense….
I thought for sure there would be some way to archive my files but have not found it.
steve
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