There’s a full moon overhead and the plaintive sound of a worried dog drifts in the window along with the cool, damp air. Something is happening as the world resigns itself to the coming of winter. Everywhere there are signs of the strangeness that seems to follow the murk.
Where has the light gone?
Historic Boalsburg absorbs the changing of the season and soon will be looking towards its Victorian celebration of Christmas. Dead leaves are beginning to pile on the road offering unsuspecting riders a slippery surprise if they’re not careful.
This Vespa parking space is just a couple hundred feet from Ken Hull’s Moto Hang Lounge — home of Pistons and Pints.
Halloween isn’t far off and the artist’s in State College, Pennsylvania seem to be embracing the chaos of the season. Unfortunately, the model in this painting must have been riding without a helmet, something every rider should think hard about before pressing the starter button lest you look like part of the Halloween landscape.
Junior seems unfazed by the change in the earth’s energy and whiles away his days eating, sleeping and chasing women when he can. Border Collie’s are fast but so are Belgian Sheepdogs. Try as she might she just couldn’t open any distance between herself and his ardent pursuit. Junior’s no dummy though — he’s hedged his bets by carrying a tennis ball on the chase should there be a change of plans.
Somehow, looking at this picture, I keep thinking of Jack Riepe…
Riding in the murk — I have to admit that I love it. The gray, dark, damp days where the sun struggles to be seen. Even short rides can turn into gothic novels. Mount Nittany, an icon of Penn State, remains a fascinating subject to me, not unlike the Vespa itself. Not sure why, I just keeping running the camera in it’s direction.
Trips to Saint’s Cafe are far more satisfying when the world feels forbidding, when the fading light along forested roads reveal shadows of phantoms and ghosts and others of my twisting imagination. As Gordon talks with another patron I could not help think of how the place could be a scene from Dark Shadows and at any moment Barnabas Collins would join us for tea.
The delusion flew as I realized Collins is a vampire and he wouldn’t be joining us in the daylight.
Thankfully, I have a good dog to keep me safe and grounded lest the season sweep me deep into the eerie terrain of mystical stories where much seems possible. And just as it was at 9 or 10, I loved this time of year when spooks and demons became as real as Superman and the Man from U.N.C.L.E.
And now, as then, my trusty dog stayed close to keep the bogeyman at bay…
You’ve such a great dog Steve….too bad about his non-interest in sidecar riding. The only thing, in my admittedly biased view, keeping Junior from being perfect! 😉
I wonder, if Mr Riepe, will rise to your comment.
dom
Charlie6 (Dom): Maybe I’ll try him again with a sidecar the next time I have a chance. Who knows — maybe age and experience will slow him down enough that he’ll stay in the hack.
Spoke with Mr. Riepe today on the phone — he’ll be emerging from his cave soon.
As always ….my quick stop by scooter in the sticks proves to be most enjoyable and Junior is lovely!
Regards LEN