Riding in Winter
It’s no secret I’ve not been riding much this winter. The snow tires are still sitting in the garage, the GripStuds I purchased are still on my desk, and the cold weather gear is hanging in a frigid garage which makes the prospect of pulling on frozen riding clothes even more unlikely.
Still, I find myself on the road propelled by the weakest rationale to do so; the sun is out, it’s above freezing, or I need something to eat. Amazing how often a ride is predicated on eating.
So off I went through the still snow covered landscapes of central Pennsylvania to lunch at the IngleBean Coffee House in Millheim, Pennsylvania.
Island in the Snow
After what seems an eternity of darkness the sun reflecting off the snow created a dazzling effect — for my eyes and my mind. The familiar thrill of riding something with a motor and two wheels was back. The fact the temperature was 35F didn’t matter. I was having fun. The kind of fun experienced as a kid at an amusement park, or playing in waves at the seashore.
I was as giddy as a drunken man on the scooter.
A Quiet Corner
A grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, a journal and a quiet corner of the IngleBean was exactly what I was looking for on a cold afternoon. The meandering ride was relaxing but few things are as rewarding as time alone with my thoughts in a cafe.
Blue Skies
A blue sky has power over wind and cold. The sun would set before I would get home and the thermometer would hover at the freezing point causing a rift between more meandering and avoiding the appearance of ice. Stopping to look up and admire the contrails seemed a reasonable activity considering the situation.
Sort of like charging a battery.
Sun Setting Over a Vespa Scooter
If pushed for reasons why I like to ride I need look no further than this picture. Despite living near a major University with its attendant sprawling communities it is possible to feel completely isolated and alone on the road minutes from my front door. While it may not be wilderness, it satisfies my needs for solitude and escape.
On the Road
What is adventure?
The dictionary describes it as an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. Often in unknown territory. Except for the unknown, I suppose I’m often on an adventure. And perhaps I don’t really know a place save for the way home. Riding the meandering backroads is all the adventure I require at the moment.
There are times when I look at maps and imagine rides to far flung places but circumstances don’t allow it right now. So a trip to the IngleBean Coffee House will have to suffice for adventure.
Nice lonely trees photos.
Nice sentiment too.
Thanks!
I remain a sucker for lonely trees.
I’m always envious of your quiet, rural roads Steve. Just the images alone take me to places not found in Florida. Especially during “snowbird” season. And the coffee house photo is to die for. While “some day” may never come, I like the thought of trailering my 2 wheels to those precise roads although with zero experience in snow, I’d stick to the other three seasons. Thanks for the words and photos.
Pennsylvania has some remarkable roads and landscapes for riding if you want to “get away from it all.” That includes up and down hills and mountains on winding roads.
Riding in winter is overrated! The other three seasons provides more than enough satisfaction.
I’ve heard that farmers sometimes leave small stands of trees in otherwise barren fields for the cattle to have some shade in the heat of summer, but I don’t know if that’s true.
That’s true Joe. But usually it’s the single tree. When there’s a little group of trees there’s probably some other reason they couldn’t take a plow to it.
How are things going with you? Haven’t seen a lot on your blog since last fall.
Sounds like a good ride Steve, the isolation conveyed in your pics is gratifying.
The ride out to that particular cafe is always nice. And there are three or four varied choices of routes that can be taken. Each have their own peculiar scenes and traits. If it weren’t so miserably cold and rainy I might take one today.
Ride to eat and eat to ride. Sure works for folks in this part of the world, most of whom have built up quite an appetite over the past five months or so. Thanks for providing another venue Steve.
I think all the eating gets in the way of me exploring further out into the world!
I know you don’t post often but I look forward to every one! (I’m a near-daily rider here in NYC, even in winter.)
I used to post a lot more when I was working. Now that I’m retired I don’t seem to have the time. Not sure what that’s all about yet. I have plans to ride and post more but haven’t figured out how yet.
Can’t imagine what riding in NYC would be like. Driving in a car was a challenge. Certainly harder to pull over to make pictures!
Bonjour Steve,
Belle balade et jolies photos comme d’habitude.
Pour e^tre un aventurier, il suffit juste d’avoir une vie intérieure riche; ce qui semble être ton cas mon cher Steve…
Hello Steve,
Nice ride and pretty pictures as usual.
To be an adventurer, you just need to have a rich inner life; what seems to be your case my dear Steve …
Laurent.
I hope to remain an adventurer for a long time!
J’espère rester longtemps un aventurier!
Hi Steve,
So good to hear you had an enjoyable ride. The weather was indeed beautiful yesterday! I almost stopped by to see if you were interested in a ride, but as it turns out you would have already been on your way.
Judging on the island photo above, I’d estimate that your ride was a “3-hour tour, a 3-hour tour…” (Rim shot)
So far my 3-hour tours have not found me stranded or with a TV show. Who knows though…
We need to take another ride soon. And I need to post the story of our last ride. Man oh man am I slow.
I’d love another ride. It will be good to catch up after all these cold months!
I’ll be in touch.
Nice photos, and I seem to like the trees in the barren field ones the best. (Not sure why) but it sounds like you had a nice trip out on the scooter. I did manage to get out on the Ural on Saturday but I was only there for a couple of days. Too many errands to run….
Errands. I don’t remember having so many when I was working. My personal life seemed much simpler back then. What happened?
Anyways, hope to get out for some more riding, writing and photography soon. A lot going on at the moment besides errands that is slowing things down.
Ride to eat and eat to ride seems to work pretty well in this part of the world too. Most every rider I know hereabouts has developed quite the appetite too over the past five months or more.
Ah, the wisp of spring is in the air, and seems to have filled your heart with fresh spirit after this loooong and difficult winter…enjoyed one of those a few days ago, just walking, before the icy sidewalks and snowflakes layered my optimism…. soon…..
Spring is here for sure though the rain keeps things still a little distant. One really warm day last week had me thinking of summer. I’m ready for warm weather.
Have you meandered the thought to the 2019 Vespa 300?
I’ve looked at it but to be honest I think I am going to keep hammering away at my 2006 GTS until it just dies.
It is still too cold to ride for me here in Philadelphia, especially with snow on the ground.
And the motorcycles you ride aren’t the sort of thing you want to take out in the goop and slop of winter. Soon though we’ll have some warm weather and the roads will be clear of grit and grime!