Scooter in the Sticks

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

How to Squeeze More Out of a Ride

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Vespa parked on parched, cracked dirt

I’ve listened to more than a few riders share, “If I only had more time to ride…”.  Perhaps every rider has had those thoughts.  Over the years I’ve realized that the amount of time on the road isn’t the only measure of riding satisfaction.  Changing the tempo and cadence of a ride can lead to some strange places you might not normally experience.  One hot evening I found myself wandering on the baked limestone mud near a quarry and feeling as if I landed in some otherworldly place, if only for a few moments — an experience lost if I had continued down the road as planned.Continue Reading

The Night Visitor

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Memorial Day is drawing to a close and I have no riding or Vespa pictures worth sharing.  Aside from my own creative failure I point to a lack of sleep due to a night visitor who kept Kim and I up far longer than anticipated.  After watching a movie until almost 3am we were later awaken by a clatter in the front of the house.  As I threw up the sash instead of finding jolly old Saint Nick I was face to face with a black bear dining on one of our bird feeders.  By the time the local constabulary pushed him down the hill towards the woods I could see the faint glow of dawn.  A few more hours sleep and Junior wanted his turn.

So I’m tired and not particularly thrilled at the prospect of returning to work tomorrow.  Holidays make me think about retirement.

If you do need some riding fix, check out Poppawheelie’s ride up the Grossglockner Pass road.
Riding in the Alps….

Into the Night and Cold

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Almost dissolved in the recliner this evening but ended up in the dark and cold on the Vespa. A cloud of salt dust blowing along the road as the traffic passed, what little there was, the rest of the world seeming to choose some other place to live than the road.  Anyone searching for solitude can find it here at night in the cold.
Left the house without my little digital camera and had to rely on the iPhone, not especially good in low light but I lean heavily on images in my posts — feel mute without them.  Don’t often play with the apps to warp images into little fetishes.

Part of the credit for the success of the evening belongs to Heet.  The last couple cold weather rides were a bit frustrating because of fuel line freezing.  Poured a little of this magic elixir into the fuel tank and no more no start events.  At least not this evening at 21F.  I have enough now to get me through the rest of the winter.

My first stop of the evening was for fuel, to mix the Heet with gas and venture off with crossed fingers.  The world is salt covered right now.  The scene actually looked like this.  Yesterday I had lunch at the Happy Valley Brewery in State College, Pennsylvania and the parking lot, a freshly constructed blacktop area, was almost pure white and not from snow.  Just the dregs of road salt.

My poor Vespa…

I had three goals for the evening — test the fuel fix, go to the grocery store, and stop by the Piston and Pints get together that was taking place at Legends Pub in the Penn State Conference Hotel.

Riding into Innovation Park I was wondering if anyone would show up.

It was a full house at the hotel and a lot of familiar faces at Piston and Pints though no motorcycles.
Didn’t attempt any pictures inside, was in a bit of a rush because here was more riding ahead, and I wasn’t sure if the fuel line was going to freeze.  In the lobby I talked with a few guys and they had a fine suggestion that I might try — use a few of the chemical heating bags on the fuel line to thaw it out.  Worth a try and certainly cheaper than a tow.

Dom Chang, author of Redleg’s Rides, suggested a couple cans of Sterno under the engine.  That may work for a Ural but I have my doubts about it for the Vespa.  I’ll have to think a bit on that.

The trip to the store was for the essentials limited only by what I can fit on the scooter.  Then off into the night and cold.  It’s hard to describe how much I enjoy these rides.  I described the experience to Kim as similar to Junior’s excitement when the tennis balls are brought out — an burst of joy packed energy.

Oh to ride…

Chasing the Night

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I’ve had a picture in my head for a few weeks — a picture of the Christmas lights in State College in the snow.  Bad planning on my part let that opportunity slip away as the temperatures soared and the snow melted.  Even so, I rode into town thinking there was still some sort of possible picture to make.  More bad planning — I arrived too early.  At 1:20am there is still a lot of activity on the streets and I just couldn’t get myself or the Vespa in the position I needed.

The bars close at 2am and by 3am things should be in better shape for the picture I want to make.  I’ll just have to get my head around staying up that late or getting up that early.

For this ride it was a pleasure to ride with the temperature near 60F despite a brisk wind.

Riding at Night and Other Photographic Pastimes

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Walking the dog at sunset and the sky opens and momentarily illuminates Boalsburg.  An iPhone picture doesn’t sate my visual survey and the little photographer voice tells me I should be riding.  The 82 pound dog at the end of the leash says otherwise.

By the time I’m on the road the sun is gone and the light is fading as mist begins to gather along the ground.  Luck figures into photography more than I like to admit — F8 and be there kind of stuff…

Riding into the night still provides a thrill.  Some say a dangerous one which I keep in mind and make plans to manage.  Give me the right night, a camera and keys to a scooter and motorcycle and I’m off to see the stars…