Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650

Everyday Exploring on a Vespa

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Vespa GTS scooter along rural roadNot Much to Say, No Where Special to Go

The past week I’ve been wandering.  Sometimes with purpose.  Other times aimlessly. Each ride has been an exercise in following a whim, a feeling, going where ever the current takes me. Riding a Vespa scooter certainly makes it easy to embrace that sort of thing.

As many of you know, summer is not my favorite time to ride.  Sunny days just look sort of plain.  Boring.  And they’re often hot.  Mileage drops this time of year along with my posting frequency.

The Vespa scooter doesn’t shrink from sunshine or heat and would be happy to pound on down the road for weeks, months and years.  Wandering around the rural roads near home, I realize my mind wanders as well.

All part of everyday exploring on the Vespa.Continue Reading

Freedom of the Morning Commute

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Vespa GTS scooter at sunrise before a morning commuteEmbracing the Morning Commute

A quick post, a nod to commuting on the Vespa scooter, a recognition of the transformation from transportation to a flying freedom.

First, a confession.  I don’t commute every day.  Some days I shrink at the thought of riding to work.  It could be the weather but more often it’s a state of mind mired with indolence and too many excuses to ready body and mind for the gift of riding.  I know.  It makes no sense.

But more times than not, I do ride to work.  And one thing is always the same.  When I am geared up and ready to go, walking toward the scooter in the morning light, I feel the thrill.  It’s the same excitement from childhood as the prospect of doing something I’ve dreamt of doing.  How great is that?  A little ride on a two-wheeled machine can provide an old man such pleasure.

And one more confession.  There are obsessive days where I lust for a ride.  I care little about the weather and any mental misgivings are long swept away by a selfish drive to experience the thrill of riding.  It accounts for sub-zero rides in winter or inappropriately late arrivals at work as I roll off a 5o mile detour.  Again, what a damn amazing gift for an old man.

I think about riding when I wake.  I think about it when I’m going to sleep. An addiction? Perhaps. But my life has not become unmanageable.

Yet.

Who knows what the next commute will bring.  And what of the longer rides to come?  The real rides.  The rides of dreams.

What will they bring an old man with a scooter?

Ride More, Worry Less

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Ride More, Worry Less graphicRiding Realizations

Riding alone provides extended opportunities to think.  It’s one of the unlooked for benefits of riding that partially fuels my year round riding.  That thinking serves to clear out the noise and cobwebs that collect between my ears on a minute by minute, hour by hour basis and can lead to a wonderful variety of concerns, frustrations and generally annoying states of mind.

Spending time on the Vespa is good medicine for the mind.  That prescription provides relief that can be described in four simple words — ride more, worry less.

Comfortably reclined in my first class easy chair this evening, I spend some time inspecting those words.  I’m generally skeptical of slogans and other textual pablum that infests the interwebs.  But this one, it works.  So off I went to create a graphic reminder of the discovery I’m sure has already been made by thousands of other riders.  To non-riders still grinding their teeth in the comfort of their SUVs, or talking to the terribly under-skilled drivers in other vehicles, I can only suggest their is a path available to improve your mental wellbeing that doesn’t involve Pilates, yoga, therapy or drugs.  It merely calls upon you to step away from the maddening crowd and say you’ve had enough.

That and a scooter or motorcycle.

Post-Heart Attack Breakfast

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Breakfast of cereal, toast and fruitDaily Choice for a Post-Heart Attack Breakfast

A heart attack almost two years ago has transformed breakfast.  The once daily stops at McDonalds for a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit with a hash brown chaser has been replaced with something more predictably healthy.  Less fat.  Fewer calories.

Just about everyday now starts in the same breakfast arena; shredded wheat sweetened with raisin bran floating in skim milk, blueberries when I remember them, some sort of toast with barely a teaspoon of Promise margarine, fruit, at least one glass of water and a small handful of pills.

Luckily my culinary palate is simple and requires little variety.  It gets me going and fuels what comes next.

Vespa GTS scooter along highway at sunriseStarting the Day

At the end of February in central Pennsylvania and I’m riding to work in the morning in 50F air.  The sun was beaming through the clouds to offer a fine greeting for another day.  Riding in these circumstances is just plain, unfettered joy.  In less than 130 days I won’t feel the pressure of the clock as I ride into retirement.

I’m thinking a disciplined approach to a post-heart attack breakfast will help keep the days going smoothly.

Vespa GTS scooter near Penn State's Beaver StadiumRoad to Work

Riding across a familiar gravel road on the way to the office I just had to stop to admire the views.  Beaver Stadium, home to Penn State’s Nittany Lion football team looms on the horizon.  I’ve stood in this spot many times.  It hasn’t grown old yet.

Perhaps it never will.

2017 Brave, Bold Blogger Challenge

This post is part of a month long writing prompt challenge conceived by Kathy at Toadmama.com.

View Out the Door

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view out the front door toward a Vespa GTS scooterView to a Scooter

Home for lunch and some tennis ball tossing with the dogs.  Getting ready to go back to work, I see the Vespa waiting through the front door.  The weather is warm and has me thinking winter is over.  But it’s February and plenty of time for sub-zero weather and heavy snowfalls.  Until then, I’ll take the riding as I can get it.

Vespa GTS scooter outside of Kelly's Steak and Sea in Boalsburg, PennsylvaniaDinner Run

When the weather is warm I seem to stop to pick up dinner more often.  Not sure what process is at work.  Maybe it’s just a scheme on my part to extend the ride at the end of the day.  Regardless, the view from the backside of Kelly’s Steak and Seafood in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania probably won’t make it on their website.

Was nice to take home a crab cake sandwich and a prime rib sandwich.  The dogs couldn’t decide which they were more interested in…

2017 Brave, Bold Blogger Challenge

This post is part of a month long writing prompt challenge conceived by Kathy at Toadmama.com.