Scooter in the Sticks

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

Warm Day, Cold Day

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Two motorcycles parked by a farm field.
As spring approaches more and more riding days appear.

A Bright Light

A faint wisp of steam rises from a mug next to my easy chair in the living room as I watch large snowflakes descend from the heavens. The aroma of cinnamon toast fills my head as I wonder why winter has been such a burden. Despite efforts to blame it on pandemic uncertainty, rising prices at the pump and grocery store, or a raging war in Ukraine, I can’t quite help but think I’m merely suffering the effects of age on my body, mind, and spirit.

While I don’t feel it’s universal, it is common, and I can easily enumerate a list of changes that have no other explanation. I’m powerless to change some of them, but others are absolutely within my arena of action.

Two days ago it felt like a warm spring day as I went for an afternoon ride with my friend Paul. The sky was clear, the sun bright in my face, and a breeze seeming to clear away any gloomy energy hanging in the valley. It was a good ride. I was a good day.

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Into the Woods

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Vespa GTS scooter on a forest road
A stop in the woods as I made my way toward the top of the mountain.

Exploring in Spring

With the arrival of spring new roads and path open for riding the Vespa. With the melting of mountain snow, I can head into the woods again. Riding on dirt and gravel is not the first choice for most scooter riders. My Vespa GTS performs adequately only because my style of riding is slow and steady. Neither the tires nor suspension allow me to race along as I might on a dirt bike.

Still, I was excited to venture through the woods and on into the mountains. The approach on paved roads offered the familiar sense of flying I’ve felt before, but when I adjustment to the gravel roads was like moving in slow motion. The road and landscape come into sharp focus and I seemed to be seeing everything.

It’s these startling shifts in perception that happen while riding that keep me riding.

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Signs of Spring

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Vespa GTS scooter in car wash baySpring Bath

It’s a sure sign of spring when I finally decide to spray the salt and grime off the Vespa.  The temperature rose into the sixties and it was time to pull the Termoscud apron off the scooter and run down the street to the car wash.  Doesn’t take long to remove evidence of winter riding with a high pressure cleaning wand.

From a distance the scooter still looks ok.Continue Reading

Time of Plans and Projects

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Vespa GTS and spring blossomsStarting Up

The world is a luxuriant tapestry of spring flowers, the fragrance of spice viburnum and honeysuckle fill the air and there is a sense of endless possibility after the long winter.  Riding becomes easy with many rewards to the spirit and body.  No wonder it gives rise to the time of plans and projects. Lots of things are starting up.

How did a lightness of feeling turn into one of organized action? I dream of being a kid when laying in the grass watching clouds was serious business — interrupted only by the arrival of the milk truck with it’s treasure of pint bottles of chocolate milk.

Parked in a field at the Pennsylvania Military Museum, it’s easy to see and smell the signs of spring. Great weather for riding but spring always seems to be my slowest riding season.

At least it feels that way.

Vespa GTS reflection in parking lot at workRide to Work

Most rides are to work — the six to eight mile jaunt, depending on route, that leaves the Vespa parked outside my office building.  In my head, my dreams, I’m not parked here but somewhere else — flying through the world.

My lizard brain is driving me to get things done — at work, at home — survival and responsibility. Rough calculations indicate I might need to wheel 20 cubic yards of river gravel into the garden soon as part of a modification driven by dogs.  Turf in shade is delicate and can’t withstand the pounding and skidding of dog paws.

I felt a twinge in my back when I thought about shoveling and hauling so much gravel in a wheelbarrow…

Vespa at a construction siteWhich Way to Go?

Construction lays bare the earth below.  Riding can do the same thing to mind and body.  Never know what you’ll find simmering below the surface.  So many choices — check that — so many demands calling right now.  Hard to know which way to go.  Especially in the time of plans and projects.

Don’t know which way I’ll go.  Perhaps it’s time to retreat to the darkroom again.  I have film to process.  The chemicals are ready.

Who knows what the day will bring.

That’s the best part of the adventure right?

 

Embracing the Spring on a Scooter or Motorcycle

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Nothing like parking the Vespa on an open field with the world before you.  Add to that a dash of springtime warmth and everything feels like a miracle.  That’s exactly how it all felt on the way home today.

An absolute joy to be able to ride under a blue sky and not be freezing.  But with the warm weather and the prospect of more riding comes a long list of things to do, fix or at least consider to be truly ready for the normal riding season.

A good washing of the Vespa is in order.  There is so much baked on salt and road grime that I suspect it will never come off.  I picture myself sitting on the driveway, toothbrush in hand, radio blaring, scrubbing away to transform this nasty scene into something more civilized.

And what can I say about the exhaust….   It has to come off, be attacked with the wirebrush at least and probably better a sandblaster.  And then many coats of high temperature paint to hide the fact that it’s ready to turn into dust.  This is what winter looks like for a year round rider.

And remove the Heidenau winter scooter tires.

 It’s not summer yet.  This morning there was frost on the car window as I rolled out of the driveway. With the sun out I was able to ignore the cold.  Bright sun sent the temperature up quickly.

The light in the morning is more dramatic now.  Or maybe I just imagine it so since the sun hasn’t been available much for the past four months.  Surprisingly, State College, Pennsylvania remains quiet in the morning.  Good for me — no competition for the coveted motorcycle parking spaces.

Clear skies and long beams of hot sunlight make even a simple breakfast of bagel and juice seem spectacular at Saint’s Cafe.  Not quite food porn mostly because my culinary inclinations are so simplistic.  Even so things look nice in this light.

The snow is pretty much gone though if you look in the shadows of places where snow was piled after cleared from streets you can still find some ice piles.  The thaw is creating some monster mud puddles in some places.  When you ride a Vespa you absolutely do not ride through water that you can’t seen to the bottom.  Sucking water into the engine intake can quickly downgrade you to a bus or cab.

The Far Corners Asian Market in State College has just reopened in this location.  Last time I was in this building it was home to Kissell Motorsports.  I also purchased my first Vespa inside this building.  Springtime — for rides down memory lane…

Ride, ride, ride.  It’s what I want to do right now.  Kim says the birds are twitterpated right now.  I must be scooterpated. Unfortunately the need to continue to pay the light bill and put food in the freezer is getting in the way of my grand plans.  Some have said I should retire.  Others advise getting rid of the scooter.

I just keep my head down and ride when I can.

On my way home from work today, big sky for central Pennsylvania, dry roads for me though the gates where chained shut just down the road so I had to double back onto the pavement to make my way home.

Lot’s to get ready for spring riding.  The machine for reasons already outlined, myself in terms of shedding a few pounds of winter weight so my riding clothes are comfortable, and my mind so I remain fully aware of the thundering danger never too far away.

More riding tomorrow…