As I dream of warmer weather my thoughts tilt towards some kind of scooter trip. I recently purchased a rear rack so I can load more gear onto the scooter—a sleeping bag, tent, pad, backpacking stove, etc. Right now I have my sights set on something north of here, perhaps a trip to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon in Tioga County. It’s about a hundred miles of rural backroads and beautiful scenery. I’ve investigated some campgrounds but mostly I just want to take a leisurely ride, see the landscape, be alone with my thoughts.
I hear a lot of talk about rallys and group rides but I just can conjure any interest in doing that myself. I like to ride alone. Or maybe with my friend Paul. But the big social events aren’t in my future.
Rode today to do a few errands and then took a swing out around town to see the open fields. This photograph was taken along one of the farm lanes I like to explore….
I continue to be in awe of your photography. What a beautiful composition. How do you keep your scooter so clean?
I also share your sentiments about group rides and rallies. The local “scooterati” live for these events, but I always feel constrained in the group setting. The freedom to go where I want, when I want, is my main reason for riding. Two or three friends make for an enjoyable ride, but ten or twenty gets to be a drag.
Ride well,
=gc=
Maybe that’s something that comes with age. Now there’s a scary thought…
Ride well,
the clean scooter has to be digital touch-ups, right?
I really identify with your comment about enjoying the landscape and being alone with your thoughts. Groups rides are not my thing, either.
One of my fondest memories is a solo ride over a Memorial Day weekend. This was in 1987. I rode down from Washington and ended up in Brookings on the Southern Oregon coast. I had my Silver Wing ( the bike, not the scooter ), a sleeping bag, a can of Sterno with a small rack, peanuts, M & M’s, and powdered soup.
On the coast the RV and camper people were fighting for the last spots in the state campground. An old lady told me about a forest service campground 8 miles up the single track road. I rode up the canyon. The weather got warmer. I found the campground. There were twelve spots and only two were taken, including mine. I camped on a spot that was a bluff overlooking the river. What wonderful solitude. Talk about a golden time!
Enjoy your ride wherever you go!
Gary,
Thanks for the comments on my photographs. I photograph the scooter almost as much as I photograph my wife Kim. She only gets black & white pictures though.
Kim Project Series
How do I keep the Vespa so clean? That’s the magic of a grey scooter. Trust me, its dirty. The fenders, engine, wheels are a mess. You just can’t see it. It needs a bath bad.
Scooterati. I like that. I don’t think I will ever really get into that social aspect of scootering. I’m too “distant”.
Irondad: Not digital touchups. This is pure. All I do is adjust levels, resize, sharpen and save for the web. I’m looking forward to one of those isolated campsites overlooking something. Can’t wait to go on my first camping trip. I guess I could go now. Why wait for warm weather?
Because you get warm backpacking. YOu get cold riding. So I think I will wait for warmer weather. At least 40 degree days.
I envy you your trip Steve, I shall have to do a run to somewhere beautiful too soon.
Peak District sounds good right now.
Wow, I have really found it difficult to find the information I am looking for using the blog search. This is a very different world that search engine results. Regardless, I did enjoy reading your post.
–Best of luck,
safety glow sticks
lightstick,
Welcome to the blog world. I agree, finding blogs is pretty coincidental, for me at least. I do like the things I find though.
Mad,
I just bought an issue of “Rider” magazine and it describes a trip just north of where I want to ride. It is a very rural area of south west New York. I’m there!
steve
steve
Quite funny. I’ve been to open scooter club rides for like 5 or 6 times now since I started riding 3 months ago. I have yet to talk to someone, as I usually ride them alone, since they are marked. When a I do end up in a group, I try to ride last, and drop out now and then so I can be alone in the scenery.
I found some groups ride fast, others more slowly. Definitely prefer the slower ones. Going slower on bigger roads seems more easy in group than alone. I don’t feel so hunted by cars then as usually I want to keep ahead of them rather than having them up my ass.
Oh maybe one day the social bit will work out 😀
Wow, you found a old post. I reread it and what I said then holds true for me today.
Group riding is work. You have to pay so much attention to the other riders that you miss the scenery and the wonderful feeling of being alone.
I try to be social but I suppose it’s not in my nature, or I’m too shy to engage or something like that. But every once in awhile I do get a chance to talk with another rider and I’m glad I did.
Have fun on your Vespa Sprint 125. Be safe!
Thanks Steve, you too!