Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650

The Short Ride

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“I’m going to return the movies.” I told Kim, a strong desire to rid the house of two particularly awful movies and a chance for a short ride on a sunny day. If you ride you probably are already familiar with the tendency to volunteer to do things if it means you might have the chance to ride.

The heavy snowfall of two days ago had disappeared from the road surface and with the temperature hovering at 34° F and the sky blue it was ideal for a quick ride. It was also the first chance I had to try out my new polarized clip on sunglasses in the dazzling light reflected from a snow-covered landscape.

Riding down the road from the house the sky expanded in a sweep of blue filled with soft white clouds. I veered south at the first opportunity so I could extend the movie errand into a short ride. Cruising over the first crest I was greeted by snow blowing across the road.

The wind buffeted the GTS badly in the open areas but I was more concerned with the blowing snow. I discovered when I got home that the wind was blowing at a steady 30 MPH with gusts reaching 45 MPH. The Vespa’s temperature display switched between 32° and 34° during the ride creating a slight chance that the snow would freeze to the road.

Road conditions aside it was a beautiful day. Anticipating blowing snow and drifts was pretty simple as I picked my way along. Only once crossing a snowy patch did I feel the front tire want to break loose. I had both feet down in outrigger fashion ready to provide any emergency support.

The ride home involved a direct route free of snow but with considerably more four-wheeled traffic. Not sure which route posed the greater risk.

Sitting here in the living room with Kim and Essa pushing the pen across the page (yes, I write my posts with a fountain pen in a little notebook a lot of times) I am amazed at how much I still feel compelled to ride, and how much I completely enjoy it. Even in the cold. Especially in the cold.

Riding is important as it continues to work as a powerful tonic for the noise and weight of things collected on a daily basis. Turn the key, thumb the starter, and twist the throttle…

2007 Riders Choice Awards Announced

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Motorcycle Bloggers International (MBI) has announced the winners of the 2007 Riders Choice Awards. MBI is an association of some 97 motorcycle bloggers spread around the world, from China to Chile and holds an annual award for the best of the best (and the worst of the worst) in the motorcycle industry. The awards, nominated and voted on by readers and riders in 88 countries, recognize significant achievements and serious lapses in judgment during 2006 by motorcycle and related product manufacturers, persons and organizations. The nominations and voting is done by readers (millions of them), and this year the results are in!

Scooter in the Sticks was named Best Motorcycle or Scooter Blog this year! I want to thank all of you who visit here for your support and encouragement. It means a lot to me to receive this honor. Thank you!

This year’s winners are:

MBI Riders Choice – Star Awards


MBI Riders Choice – Fallen Star Awards

To see all awards and descriptions, plus runner ups, click here.

The Riders Choice Awards are unique in that the nominees and winners are chosen by everyday riders around the world. The awards reflect the judgment of the motorcycle buying public, not motorcycle industry insiders. Anyone could vote, there was no restriction on age, gender or country. Even non-riders could vote. No registration, nor email addresses were required. However, a system of storing and analyzing IP addresses was put in place to minimize duplicate voting.

After the success the first Awards had last year, membership in MBI skyrocketed from 12 to 95. Millions of readers worldwide read about the 2006 Awards.

Again, thank you for voting for Scooter in the Sticks. there are so many fantastic motorcycle, scooter and riding blogs out there that its hard to describe how it feels to identified with this award. I will try to repay your support by continuing to ride and report here.

Steve Williams

Riding Alone

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My default choice is to ride alone. This picture was made last Saturday morning on a short photo trip. It reflects the sort of solitude I seek out while riding. The road was glazed with ice so I was on four wheels instead of two but I would still stop to make those images I would while riding. Imagine the GTS in this picture. When I am looking for photographs I drive slowly in order to see the things that are easy to see while riding. This means creeping along at sub 30 MPH speeds.

Yesterday I rode with my friend Paul on the first long ride of the year and the first on the new Vespa GTS 250ie. I won’t review the performance at length here other than to say the GTS performed wonderfully and I am nothing short of thrilled. The ride took us up and down through the mountains and it was really nice to ride with plenty of throttle left at all times. This scooter outperforms my riding style leaving plenty of performance in reserve. And it was nice to ride with a friend. It’s different than riding alone but rewarding in its own ways.

The sun was glowing just below the horizon when I left and the temperature was 39° F. I bundled up as I do for colder weather and rode off to meet Paul. With only a vague idea in my head of where I was going we started down roads that at this time of day call for a careful eye for Whitetail deer. The deer are active at dawn and dusk. When I choose a route I am usually moving towards less civilization and more open landscapes. At the first stop I told Paul I just can’t pass a dead tree in a field and while half-kidding I do have a lot of photographs of single trees in empty fields.

Despite any plans to be healthy the scooter is drawn towards diner breakfasts.

This was a great one. So good that I didn’t think to use the camera until it was gone. You can use your imagination here. Breakfast was at the Family Chill and Grill, the only restaurant available traveling this day’s route. I’ve been there before and will be again.

Paul was riding his Suzuki DRZ400 Super Moto today and testing his new electric gloves. By the time we left the temperature was 41° F.

Traveling east over the mountain and into Clearfield County we followed winding roads through land that not long ago had been stripped of coal. Nature is reclaiming much of that area but the remnants of that activity are still evident. I need to be there more before I can pick up the camera.
Coming down off the Allegheny Plateau into one of the community watersheds led us past the Tipton Reservoir. Snow and ice still covered the mountain and water but the road was clear save for scattered patches of gravel that always seem to heap up in curves. We stopped to take a few pictures and just take in the scenery.

Paul has been recuperating from a recent back strain and took stops as an opportunity to stretch his back. Lying down in the middle of the road gives you an idea of how much traffic there is.

I wanted to be home by noon so the ride turned towards home. Good planning meant we didn’t have to ride on any main roads and were able to wander along through the woods and fields.

By 11AM the temperature was 60° F and the sun was out. The long roads the cut through this area seem magical to me and I often stop just to appreciate how they look.

The last stop was made so I could adjust my new glasses. For some reason the helmet tends to push them around in a way that makes them uncomfortable. I made this picture as a possible replacement on the little color business cards I made up for Scooter in the Sticks.

The ride was pleasant and relaxed. The GTS worked perfectly and I couldn’t have asked for a nicer day. My body could tell I haven’t ridden on any longer trips for a couple months. Four hours in the saddle caused a few creaks and groans to surface. Amazing how fast I can get out of shape. Commuting to work and making little side trips just doesn’t prepare me for the longer rides.

Windows of Riding Opportunity

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As I get older I’m not willing to tolerate cold like I did only a few years ago. Dropping temperatures, rising winds and falling snow provided an opportunity for personal challenge and satisfaction. Hiking, backpacking and more recently riding. Now I wonder what life in a warmer climate would be like. Fire ants keep me in the north.

Last winter I rode more often. And farther. Partially it’s my reluctance to risk the new Vespa on icy roads. Partially it’s me. Mostly it’s the erratic weather that has kept moisture, ice, or the threat of either squarely in front of me. Because of these I have had to search for windows of opportunity.

The image at the top of the post was made this morning on the way to work. Twelve degrees Fahrenheit. Patches of ice scattered randomly along the way. I almost feel down in the driveway moving the scooter out of the garage. Clear skies and the promise of warming temperatures forced me to abandon the Ford Ranger. A $45 dollar trip to the gas station helped too. So I suited up and rode to work taking a few side trips to explore and had an enjoyable early morning scoot. I have to take those little rides when I can get them.

The following images were made during the past week on other little rides stolen during breaks in the weather. Each was just as enjoyable.

Last Saturday morning I rode north as skies cleared and the temperature moved towards a balmy 40° F. Even with 35 MPH gusts the ride was completely pleasant.

Not far down the road the valley opened up and the sky seemed larger than it should for a Pennsylvania landscape. The fields were thick with moisture and the heavier GTS sunk into the ground more than the LX150 ever did.

Riding on across the valley and on through Bellefonte eventually led me to a little road that winds along Spring Creek. This little building has always fascinated me and I figured I should make a few photos before someone tears it down.

This last picture was taken on Sunday, the last day I could ride until today. Dark skies and snow squalls marked the morning. I sat in Barnes and Noble talking to friends during one near whiteout. The wind blew hard and things were slippery. My plan to venture out along little farm lanes was stopped by crusty snow and ice formed from the previous day’s melting. Despite the weather I still managed to find a few enjoyable moments on two wheels.

LAST CHANCE!!!
2007 Riders Choice Awards Voting Still Open
Let the motorcycle industry know what you think.

The voting will be over on Monday so if you haven’t voted now’s the time!
Your vote will let the motorcycle industry know how you feel about things in the 2007 Riders Choice Awards sponsored by Motorcycle Bloggers International. Dream bikes, dream rides, the good and the bad, and of course if you are so inclined Scooter in the Sticks is in the running for best blog! Click HERE to see the ballot.

A Person Who is Looking for Something Doesn’t Travel Very Fast

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The trip to and from work today was slow and deliberate. Random patches of ice in the morning and patches of gravel this afternoon required careful attention. And adequate attention translates in speeds below normal.

E.B. White’s quote used in the title of this post reaches beyond the obvious. It means more that the resultant slow speeds at which I rode to safely manage hazards on the road surface. White suggests a necessity of deliberation for anyone engaged in a search. Moving, acting, and living slower is not the default mode of popular culture or the majority of the riding community. Traveling from point A to point B as fast or packed with as many mini-experiences as possible often is the travel mode of choice. Motorcycles and scooters capable of triple digit speeds are not conducive for 25 MPH meandering. Each of us makes our own choices and riding is no exception.

My ride today reminded me of how much I am looking for — inside and out. I stopped on the way home to look at the snow covered corn stubble reaching across the valley I call home. I’m looking for something I can’t describe or explain. While there a bicyclist stopped to ask if I saw a bear. Each of us was obviously looking for something different.

I’m fortunate to have open roads so near to home in spite of growing development pressure. The road above is typical of many of the secondary roads that loop through the countryside.

I wasn’t sure this morning if I would ride to work. Temperatures hovered near freezing insuring there would be some icy patches would remain. I’m glad I did ride because it provided a chance to look at the morning sky. I’m still not sure why but I never look carefully while driving or riding the bus. I just get plugged into the fast lane.

2007 Riders Choice Awards Voting Still Open
Let the motorcycle industry know what you think.

Your vote will let the motorcycle industry know how you feel about things in the 2007 Riders Choice Awards sponsored by Motorcycle Bloggers International. Dream bikes, dream rides, the good and the bad, and off course if you are so inclined Scooter in the Sticks is in the running for best blog! Click HERE to see the ballot.