Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.
Some rides are planned. Others are gifts. Like a perfect morning Vespa ride.
All the essential ingredients were there. On the road early with a cool mist in the air, no traffic, and relaxed in that unique way where absolutely nothing is bothering me. Sure, there’s a lot going on in my life with summer projects, desires, dreams, and concerns. But nothing is really bothering me. I suspect a morning Vespa ride plays its part.
Perfect.
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State College, Pennsylvania photographer and videographer, Mike Houtz, sent me a magical image he made on Sunday morning of Mount Nittany at sunrise with the valley shrouded in fog. I’ve been riding in that fog for the past couple weeks and posting pictures on Scooter in the Sticks so with his permission I’ll share the image to give you a bird’s eye view of the place where all my rides begin.
Mount Nittany rises out of the Nittany Valley and serves as an icon for Penn State. I first set eyes on it 45 years ago and has become a welcome sight as I make my way home. My Vespa and I live in the fog on the right side of the picture. For Penn State Alumni and the Penn State faithful I figured you would appreciate this majestic view. For the rest, this is one view of central Pennsylvania and a great place to begin some great scooter, motorcycle or bicycle rides.
I’ll let Mike decide if he wants to share how he made this photograph in the comments. I’ve seen other aerials of the mountain that are just as good. Now if I can just get him to make a picture of my Vespa…
You can see more of his work at Michael Houtz Photography. If you are interested in a print for your Penn State collection I’m certain Mike can oblige.
The familiar route under heavy skies sublime, all cares and worries washed free leaving imagination and wonder as the Vespa rolled along. Objects and places strange, new, and the ride I’ve made hundreds of times
Looking at the looming road sign brought a smile as it faced off with the scooter. A quote sang in my head…
“Wonder is the heaviest element on the periodic table. Even a tiny fleck of it stops time.”
― Diane Ackerman
How lucky the rider who finds a piece of wonderment along the road.
This morning, Mount Nittany, the quiet hill watching over Penn State, Lemont, Boalsburg, Oak Hall, Linden Hall, State College and Houserville — it possesses magic which I never tire of witnessing.
Home.
The first leg of the ritual ride ends across from Schlow Library. Ample free motorcycle parking on a Sunday morning. In fact I have never failed to find a space here, or at least I can’t remember a time.
And off to Saint’s Cafe on foot, a few hundred steps, not quite a walking meditation, but just enough time to recognize a troubling thought or happy memory.
Ah, the small rituals that make life sweet…