Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.

Thinking About Riders

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David Masse lying on the road in Sproul State ForestPeople You Meet on the Road

Riders are unique individuals. They may ride the same scooter or motorcycle, or dress according to a code or style, but when you look closely, they’re different in small ways, and big. Thinking about riders I’ve known, I’ve not met two who are the same.

Recently I had the opportunity to ride again with my friend Paul Ruby, and with fellow blogger and Vespa rider, David Masse, who had ridden his scooter from Toronto, Canada to have a closer look at the sticks of Pennsylvania.

There’s a special magic in the mountains and forests of central Pennsylvania that can cause even the most even tempered riders to succomb to a sudden onset of riding madness — that temporary giddiness that results from flying through the world on two wheels. And when it happens, it’s hard to tell where it will lead.

It’s not often that you meet a Canadian lying in the road.Continue Reading

Alaskan Rider in the Sticks

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Richard and Bridget Machida at Penn StateRichard Machida (motoblogger and rider) and his wife Bridget put aside -18F temperatures in Alaska to make there way to the sticks to say hello.  I have to apologize to Bridget for not paying closer attention to the inherent wide angle distortion when making this photograph  and trying to get them and the tower at Penn State’s Old Main building in the photo.

We strolled across campus and talked about riding, motorcycles with sidecars, traveling and work as I tried to point out a few highlights on the University Park campus of Penn State.

Richard and Bridget Machida in BoalsburgDinner time found us in front of Duffy’s Tavern in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.  This is turning into a pilgrimage location for URAL riders — Richard on this night and not long ago Dom Chang, author of “A Redleg’s Rides“, had dinner with me here.

The conversation took turns and traveled through many topics including Richard suggesting more than once the addition of a side car rig to my riding choices.  I politely declined adding I’ve given close friends orders to shoot me if they see me wearing a white belt with white shoes, or if they see me towing a side car.

I’m certain Dom Chang put him up to the side car suggestions.

Richard MachidaDay turned into night and Richard and his wife had to get on the road.  One last picture which brought, “No flash?”.  With the Canon G15 with its fast 1.8 lens and ISO 6400 you can shoot in low light without a flash.

This is the third time our paths have crossed — once at the BMW rally in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, once in the Denver airport, and now here in Boalsburg.

It’s a small world.

MoosetardBefore leaving Bridget reminded Richard that he had a present for me — a fine jar of Alaskan Moosetard.   Their website suggests a person goes wild with this stuff.  I hope I don’t wake up with a headache and discover I bought a URAL.

Seriously though, I want to thank Richard and Bridget for taking time from their trip to the East from Alaska to drive up to see me.  I’ve met a lot of fine people through blogging.

Have a safe trip back to Alaska and I hope the temperature rises above 0F for you!

Nature of Friendship

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two men looking at photographic printsPhotography Bonds

My friends Gordon and Paul at Saint’s Cafe looking a photographs — one of the common bonds among us.  Paul I met at a large format photography workshop he was teaching over 20 years ago, and Gordon in the MFA program at the School of Visual Arts at Penn State nearly 10 years later.

I call them both friends.

Photography has driven connections between us and created conversation and travel to serve our collective camera masters.  It’s a powerful enslavement that has been with each of us for a lifetime.

And both are riders.

Gordon Harkins on Vespa 300Riders All

Gordon pilots a red Vespa GTS 300.  I’ve suggested he could assume a role on Sons of Anarchy but would have to abandon the scooter.  So far he’s shown no interest.

Paul Ruby leaping at the sight of a Vespa scooterPaul is a more eclectic rider and at home with a Vespa or a Harley and everything in between.  During rides I often have the opportunity to photograph one of his spur of the moment performances.  I often wonder at what age a broken bone will occur.

Gordon Harkins and his Vespa GTS scooterDefinition of Friendship

If I can call you at 3am and say “help!”, then you must be a friend.  Having someone in your life that you know will be there when you need them, no questions asked, is a gift beyond treasure.  I believe it’s a rare connection.

It’s not something we talk about or make an agreement about — I sense it.  I hope the others do as well.

Paul Ruby with a yellow Ducati motorcycleViews Through the Looking Glass

I’ve collected a number of pictures from our times together.  Paul always has a new motorcycle love — this one several machines ago — a bright yellow Ducati 1098.

Gordon Harkins with his Vespa scooterGordon rides only his Vespa scooter.  Not other machine has materialized in his garage.  At least as far as I know.

Steve Williams and Gordon Harkins with their Vespa scootersIt’s good to have friends who ride.  They understand the obsession, the desire to get away on two wheels, the phone calls requesting a truck and pick-up at at remote location.  This photo was made during a ride through Moshannon State Forest.  Red may be the fastest color in Vespa mythology but the silver scooter is by far the more beautiful…

Paul Ruby exercisingThis has become a familiar scene while riding with Paul — his back stretching exercise which appears in a variety of locations — on the road, on the side of the road, on a motorcycle, on a scooter — he’s an equal opportunity stretcher.

Gordon Harkins and Paul Ruby discussing cameras

A person is fortunate to go through life with a couple friends — especially ones with so much in common.

I’m a lucky man.

 

New Vespa Rider

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three scooters along the roadIn February I received a message at the Modern Vespa forum from a would be scooter rider.  He had a plan and a long held dream of owning a Vespa.  During the ensuing months he’s graduated from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, purchased a Vespa, and rode to the Boalsburg Moto Hang with his son.  And now we’ve also gone on a ride together.

Meet Steve Albrecht.

Steve joined Paul Ruby and I for a short ride — we had just a bit over two hours to scoot through the countryside.  With so little time I didn’t want to stop much for pictures and instead keep riding.  But a couple pictures were in order.

Steve Albrecht with Vespa scooterSteve is still displaying the “look” of a new Vespa Rider — that glow that comes from doing something you really enjoy.  I remember it from the first ride to now and assume it will continue until my last ride.

At least that’s my plan.

Vespa scooters in Bellefonte, PennsylvaniaDespite my plan to keep riding Paul is unable to resist the opportunity to eat requiring a stop in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania for a quick snack.  I suppose riding and eating is an axiom that a new Vespa rider should be exposed to so they can factor it into their two-wheeled future.

Mathematical axiom:  (Ride duration) x (30%) = (Time spent in coffee shops, cafes and restaurants).

Vespa scooters along a rural roadDespite limitations of time and food diversions we had a pleasant ride under a hot sun through the hills and dales of central Pennsylvania.  And we managed to get Steve’s sense of direction turned around which holds great promise for him on future rides — the chance to get lost.

Being lost is something I miss — it happens far too infrequently.  Being lost on the road is a fine place to be.

Thanks for coming along on the ride Steve — hope your time as a new Vespa rider following along two old coots was a pleasant one.

Tranquility Interrupted

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Gordon Harkins with his Vespa GTS 300“My Vespa is dead”.  That’s the message I got while sitting at the Pump Station awaiting Gordon’s arrival.  A quick conversation led us both to believe the battery was dead — a victim of too little riding during the winter despite being tethered to a Battery Tender.  Tranquility interrupted because of a dead battery is not the way you want to start your riding day.  The call reminded me that I want to think hard about purchasing an emergency battery for the scooter.

I arrived at the scene with the little bag of tricks.

Gordon Harkins with a Torx bitUnlike my older Vespa GTS 250 that requires a common Phillips head screwdriver to expose the battery his bright red 300 calls for a Torx bit.  Like a blind squirrel finding an acorn, Gordon had one with him and had already removed the cover so we could jump start the scooter.  I’ve jump started mine several times from a car battery.

Out of habit I flicked the kill switch on and off and hit the starter button.  The scooter engine turned over and came to life.  Gordon had one of those looks you get when you think you’ve done something stupid; I probably had the look of a magician who just pulled a fast one over the audience.

The kill switch contacts could have been dirty or the battery really is on it’s last legs.  For now it was enough to have the engine running.

Gordon Harkins on Vespa 300There’s a special camaraderie among scooter and motorcycle riders that does not extend to automobile owners — a willingness to help out when things breakdown on the road.  Not just with friends, but with strangers as well.

Vespa GTS 300 on the roadI followed Gordon home to make sure the scooter functioned ok and to let Lily the Hammer, my wife’s Belgian Sheepdog puppy play with Gordon’s dog for awhile.  Success on all counts and tranquility interrupted gave way to a fine day.