autumn Archives - Page 2 of 6 - Scooter in the Sticks

The Heart of the Ride

December 14, 2020 by Scooter in the Sticks 18 Comments

Vespa GTS scooter on rural road. — A decision point. A pause to consider where to wander.

The Heart of the Ride

I wake in the middle of the night and think. Sometimes about riding. More often about the deranged state of everyday reality. I prefer thoughts of riding. Of moving, traveling, experiencing. It’s the heart of the ride.

Autumn almost escaped. It’s the swiftest of seasons. The landscape changes from green to orange to a drab, monochromatic scene as the trees surrender to the power of autumn. I feel a physical and emotional quickening as time churns in me as it drags me toward winter. I know something is ending. And something else begins.

I find myself once again standing alongside the road with no idea where to go. A drifter on a scooter with nothing pressing to do. A ride on the Vespa affords me an opportunity to bear witness to the rapid transformation of color, light, and fragrance. And like so many rides without plan or destination I find my only goal is pushing the scooter out of the garage. Where I go from there is anyone’s guess.

It’s the journey that attracts me. The mystery. The tapestry of unknowable experiences that may await. And these are the things I think about while riding my Vespa. It doesn’t happen in the car, or even very often on the motorcycle. Riding the scooter takes me to the heart of the ride.

Haunted in the Autumn Landscape

November 10, 2019 by Scooter in the Sticks 27 Comments

Vespa GTS scooter on a rural road — Riding through the autumn landscape and memories of the past.

Sometimes Riding is Secondary

Do you set time aside to take in the autumn landscape? To remember times in the woods?

The autumn landscape in central Pennsylvania is nothing short of stunning. I’ve been witness to the symphony of color and fragrance for 47 years — on foot, riding a bicycle, from within an automobile, from the air and astride a scooter or motorcycle. Of all the ways I have enjoyed these landscapes the most compelling has been with the Vespa scooter.

On this particular day, I was not concerned with the ride beyond its ability to move me into the world. I wasn’t thinking of performance, lines through curves or anything like that beyond remaining safe and aware of the road. I just wanted to take in the scenery.

How often do you “watch the woods” and look at the autumn landscape? Or any landscape you happen to live in?

Another Turned Page: Autumn Scooter Riding

October 30, 2019 by Scooter in the Sticks 20 Comments

Vespa scooter along a rural road in autumn. — Enthralled by the dazzling light and color of autumn.

Autumn, the magic hour of light and air of the year.

The dazzling power of autumn sunshine quickens the spirit. The helmet visor is often up to absorb the energy that temporarily dissolves care and concern to nothingness. Autumn scooter riding is magical. I’ve been riding and witnessing the world but giving voice to the experiences has eluded me.

I’ve been riding, consistently these past few months, but I’ve not given voice to experience nor story. Why? Because autumn is the season in which I notice the march of time, of the world, and of myself. Another turned page of my life. The world is crisp, golden and I’’m hypnotized by the leaves fluttering to earth. But something is different now. Friedrich Neitzsche wrote, ” Notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.”

My soul is restless. It happens this time of year.

Gripped by Grayness

November 15, 2017 by Scooter in the Sticks 18 Comments

Moving Through a Gray World

As autumn fades and winter approaches it feels as if a heavy, gray blanket is being pulled across the world. Perhaps it’s just me gripped by grayness. Doesn’t help that I had a head cold for a week which is now burning into my chest and leaving me feeling indifferent to pretty much everything. With great effort I push myself out of the house. If not to ride, at least to walk.Continue Reading

Light and Shadows

November 6, 2017 by Scooter in the Sticks 16 Comments

Valley Girl Sweets

Not sure if there’s a point to this post. It was a beautiful day to ride, a small ride in the magical autumn light of long shadows and mild, fragrant air that lulls the spirit into a relaxed state before the jarring blow of cold weather. The light and shadows of late afternoon.

Perhaps I’m writing to remind myself of the warmer days. Or gird for the cold to come.Continue Reading