Scooter in the Sticks

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

Encountering Harley Davidson Motorcycles

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Vespa GTS encountering a line of Harleys in Boalsburg, PennsylvaniaBaby Boomers

I read a story recently about the problems facing Harley Davidson — an aging customer base with dim prospects for replacements.  Same for all the big manufacturers.  While we aging riders with money (or credit worthiness) continue to support our brands, there are fewer young people interested in riding or have the disposable income to spend on a motorcycle.

All this came back to me on Friday night when I ran down to Duffy’s Tavern in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania to pick up dinner and found a queue of Harleys lined up out front.

Looking at the assembled machinery I could only tell one thing for sure — there were a bunch of old folks around.

Managed to grab dinner and scoot away before detection.

Vespa in a Small Town

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Vespa GTS scooter in Boalsburg, PennsylvaniaAs my Vespa closes in on 30,000 miles I’m reminded that the scooter is good for long and short rides.  This evening after retrieving dinner (which hangs nicely from the purse hook) I stopped to make a picture in my quaint home town of Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. The town was established over 200 years ago along a route pioneers used to travel west.  The buildings here were likely built around 1825 and part of the Sara Sweet House which is now home to the Boalsburg Heritage Museum.

I like living and riding a Vespa in a small town.  It’s the perfect place to launch two-wheeled adventures.  Even the little ones involving food.

Into the Evening Twilight

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Vespa GTS scooter parked in town with motorcyclesI feel the days getting shorter and already sense the coming of winter.  The days are on the downhill slide toward darkness and cold, thoughts that seem premature in August.  The drone of summer insects are betrayed by the cooling air of twilight.  The hot, sweating nights are gone.  More and more I’m riding into the evening twilight. This evening I rode into State College to talk with friends and am always pleased when there are openings in the motorcycle parking areas.

Vespa GTS scooter at Canyon PizzaOn the way home I stopped at Canyon Pizza to pick up a few slices of pizza for Kim and I.  The town is still quiet, a calm before the storm of students return to Penn State’s University Park campus.  So I’ll enjoy a few more quiet rides.

Vespa GTS scooter and Mount NittanyClouds gathering over Mount Nittany conspire to ruin any chances of admiring the Perseid meteor showers this evening. Instead I’ll just melt into bed and dream of days to come.  The riding today was simple, uneventful and through familiar, oft traveling roads.  And still it was thrilling.  How can that be?

Doesn’t the thrill of riding eventually wear off?

Winter is in the Rear View Mirror

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Vespa GTS scooter with fading snow

Winter is in the rear view mirror despite the 29F thermometer reading this morning.  Winter is behind us, the snow is melting and the salt, shovels and scrapers can be put away.  Plows can be removed from trucks and winter tires can be removed.  Winter is definitely, absolutely, positively in the damn rear view mirror.

The winding ride into town this morning confirmed these sacred riding beliefs as the sun beat down on the earth and the little voice in my head whispered, “Winter is finally over.”

Vespa GTS scooter on narrow winding roadLong shadows from the rising sun under a clear sky make it easier to believe the cold is in retreat despite passing frozen ponds and snow still piled against snow fences.  A close eye on the ambient temperature display on the Vespa’s instrument cluster confirmed the obvious when it changed from 29F to 30F — it’s getting warmer!

Vespa GTS scooter parked in State College, PennsylvaniaNo sign of snow anywhere in town.  Or at least I did not allow myself to see any.  No students in shorts and t-shirts either but I told myself they were still asleep after a rough Saturday night.

Hot tea at Saint's CafeIf there was anything that indicated a crack in the armor of denial it was the steam rising from my Earl Grey tea at Saint’s Cafe.  If I really thought winter was in the rear view mirror I would be drinking ice tea right?

On the ride home and through the day I continued to believe that winter is gone, forced into a hasty retreat by planetary motion and force of will.  Before you know it we’ll all be looking for shade to roll our machines into so we can apply a nice coat of summer wax…

A Return to OZ

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Rider with 2006 Vespa LX150 in the snowNine years ago, the first winter on the Vespa LX150, seems like another life, another world. The protection scheme was different from top to bottom.  No winter riding jacket yet, just my summer vented one along with a Mountain Hardware windbreaker underneath. And the black gloves were good to about 4oF but hardly useful below freezing.

Saturday morning I’ll be retrieving the Vespa GTS 250 from Kissell Motorsports.  The sun should be out so the 0F temperature won’t seem so cold.  The scooter will have a new fuel pump and Heidenau snow tires so I should be in good shape.  And the frigid weather will give me an opportunity to really test the heated grip/Tucano Urbano mitt combination.

So tomorrow will be a return to Oz of sorts, a chance to pretend I’m younger, more organized, and ready for anything…