Scooter in the Sticks

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

Riding on Warm Nights

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Vespa GTS scooter parked on the street in State College, PennsylvaniaAppreciating the Evening

As the daylight lingers a little longer each day the drastic cooling that takes place in winter and early spring slowly goes away.  And suddenly I realize I’m riding on warm nights.  Completely comfortable physically seems to allow more focused attention on the air — the warmth as it flows across my chest as I ride. It’s also filled with a vast collection of smells and fragrances — honeysuckle and Russian olive flowers perfume the evening air.  And moving across the landscape I can feel the subtle changes in temperature as the Vespa scooter cuts through invisible rivers of air flowing downward across the valley.

A hand clad in thin leather feels the throttle directly, so different than winter with heavily insulated gloves. I feel myself flying, soaring, enjoying every moment of the ride, free from the past six months of battling the cold.

Riding on warm nights.  I feel good.

I feel free.

Riding at Night

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scooters parked on the street at nightWith the days shortening the chances that I’ll be on the road after dark have increased.  The drop in light levels parallel a drop in temperature.  It was 71F when I rode into town just after sunset and 90 minutes later it was 62F.  Glad I decided not to wear the mesh summer riding jacket.  In a few more weeks there will be few motorcycles on the street at night.

Vespa GTS scooter parked along street at nightAfter a few errands and chores I had one last stop to make at a pizza joint to bring home a few snacks. While the ride was uneventful I’m starting to gird myself for the coming cold weather.  I try and ease myself into the season much like I do getting into cold water for a swim — easy does it.  Before long I’ll scoff at sub-freezing weather and think these chilly rides with the thermometer in the 60s is positively balmy.

An Even Keel

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View of Buddha in store windowAfter a couple weeks of riding silence I found myself again floating over the road with the familiar, remarkable feeling that nothing mattered except the pavement unrolling ahead.  Later in town I was presented with an iconic symbol of quietness.  For an instant I thought I could understand.  Riding through the world I felt as if the Vespa was part of some heavy existential keel stabilizing mind, body and spirit.

An even keel, another unlooked for result of a simple ride.

Vespa parked along the street at duskAt dusk after a short ride I felt in the center of the world.  Strange to feel as if nothing but this moment matters.  Fleeting, but instructive as I rushed off on foot to meet friends.

Vespa and motorcycles parked in heavy rainAn hour later I’m pounded by rain under the wet glare of night.  The earlier feeling of connection surrendered to the more immediate concern of navigating safely home.  Several times the dazzling light of oncoming traffic made it seem impossible to see the road and I found myself accepting with faith that no holes or concrete blocks were in my path.

Riding in the Dark

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Vespa GTS scooter at night in the snowJust typed “Vespa GTS scooter at night in the snow” as the alt tag for the above image and thought “What the hell are you doing riding in the dark?”.  After some thought the best I can come up with is a line from the the old Florida Citrus Commission campaign (remember Anita Bryant) “A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.”

Substitute “a scooter ride” with “orange juice”.  I just needed a little ride and it was dark outside so what do you do?  Sit inside on the couch? Even a 20 minute ride will change the way you look at the world.

Besides, it wasn’t cold — temperature hovering at the freezing mark.  A the roads were mostly clear of snow and ice and not much traffic around.  The Vespa has a bright high beam headlight that illuminates the roadway making scanning for obstacles simple.

Vespa GTS scooter on Church Street in Boalsburg, PAMost of the holiday lighting is gone save for some twinkle lights wrapped around light poles in Boalsburg and a shrinking collection of lights on homes.  Doesn’t dull the thrill of riding.

An aside related to the photos.  Made them with a Canon G15 point and shoot camera.  I continue to be amazed at what it can do.  This one is a handheld shot at ISO 1600 with the zoom at a medium range setting. You can shoot pictures in the dark. I realize it’s another matter entirely to be riding in the dark.  Some might say a fools errand and on the surface I might agree.  Looking deeper it’s not so simple. It may seem risky but it only seems that way.

At home now drinking juice and gnawing on French bread.  I am absolutely certain it tastes better because of the little ride I took earlier.  Isn’t that your experience as well?

Into the Night

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Getting fuel for the Vespa at Sheetz

Saturday night and at home cooking dinner utilizing my limited culinary skills when I realize I need a can of mushroom soup.  For non-riders I imagine a nighttime trip to the grocery store a nuisance at best and more likely a major frustration.  For a rider like me a trip into the night is a welcome chance to ride.

I feel comfortable riding the Vespa for 125 miles before worrying about fuel.  At each fill-up I reset the trip odometer and refuel when the counter shows 70 miles.  The added trip to the gas station provided a little more riding.

Vespa scooter at Weis Market grocery store at night

Riding to pick up mushroom soup is about as mundane a ride as you can get in the United States.  I’ve spoken to three riders in the past week — one rode across country again, another had just returned from a trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway and the third from Colorado.  I rode to the grocery store for a can of mushroom soup.  But it was at night…

Vespa scooter and Mt. Nittany at night

On the way home I stopped for a picture of Mt. Nittany.  It was black and I could barely see so I decided to try a high ISO setting on my little Canon G15 — ISO 12800.  I was able to make a hand held exposure at 1/4 sec. at F2.8 of the Vespa idling in a field with the mountain in the distance. Definitely a lot of luminance noise in the picture but it does a decent job of depicting the night time world of a Vespa ride.

Home now, dinner finished, dishes done and ready to move on towards dreamland.  Glad I had an opportunity for a little ride, if only to fetch a can of soup.