Scooter in the Sticks

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

Riding Under a Clear Winter Sky

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Shadow of a Vespa scooter rider on a snowy field
One of the treats of riding in the winter is the air is so sharp, crisp and clear that you can almost feel your spirit soar.  At least that’s how I experience it.  Today, from the right vantage point,  you can see for forty miles.  With the sun shining and the air still the cold felt far away. Riding a Vespa in winter is magic.

Vespa GTS scooter and Mt. Nittany
 A stop (again for the thousandth time) at Mount Nittany to make a photograph.  The image is burned in my brain but I still make pictures.  Not sure why…

Vespa GTS scooter in snow covered forest
The roads were mostly dry but you can’t ride in the sticks without paying close attention to possible ice.  It seems to grow unexpectedly — snow from a branch or a car roof, a splash of water or coffee from an unthinking motorist.  As the sun pushed towards the horizon I made my way towards home from a few afternoon errands.

Vespa GTS scooter along rural road with snow
There is a weird, strange thrill in riding in the cold that’s hard to describe.  Part visual, part physical, part spiritual.  The ride is important, an anthem to living, a meditation on feeling blood and breath course through the body.  The cold sharpens the experience.  Another gift of a Vespa in winter.

Or so it seems.

Vespa scooter in snowy field at sunset

Time passes quickly on the road.  The destination approaches rapidly regardless of how many times I stop or detours I take.  The ride, as is life, seems to short, too fast, too soon over.

Under a clear winter sky each breath feels special.  Each moment sparkling with life.

No wonder the Vespa finds its way out onto the road…

Commuting in Fog

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Another foggy morning with temperatures near the freezing mark.  Heavy frost on both cars but the driveway and road were damp or dry.  The weather report said 31F but my scooter reading was 35F.  So off I went to work.

The fog was heavier this morning though creating another risk management factor.

A quick stop at the Pennsylvania Military Museum to look around and make a few pictures in the fog.  The collection is growing.  Almost fell on some ice that was well hidden.  Would hate to report a winter injury acquired on foot.

Here’s where the accident almost happened.  Parked the scooter on a solid sheet of ice, jumped of for a picture and almost went down.  Sloppy technique.

The world is reduced to a few graphical elements in the fog — scooter, lines and white space.  That must have something to do with my continued fascination with this weather event.


Cutting through the State College, Pennsylvania neighborhoods on the way to work is a relaxing path.  Little traffic save for the occasional dog walker.  Easy to park in the middle of the road for pictures.

The morning work schedule didn’t leave much time for pictures or wandering and that’s ok.  I’m happy to have a Vespa commute to start the day.

Vespa Rides and Frozen Fog

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The clock radio alarm went off this morning with the weather report warning of possible ice on untreated surfaces due to fog.  As enchanting as fog can be it has to be carefully considered when the thermometer is pointing at 32F.

After walking the dog, paying attention to the road surface, and watching the thermometer rise I made the decision to ride to work.

The roads were mostly dry or damp with no obvious ice.  Keeping the helmet visor clear was an ongoing challenge until the helmet came off at work.

The meandering trip passed through familiar places though always strangely different when shrouded in fog.  I remember wandering through these places on foot with my big wooden view camera exposing sheets of black and white film and watching the world appear in a tray of developer in the darkroom.

I miss those days.

The only ice to be found this morning was off the road and halfway to town the temperature indicator on the Vespa displayed 34F.

Cutting across the east end of campus afforded a nice view of Mount Nittany emerging from a muted sunrise.

Only scooters in the parking lot now though with predictions of the temperature approaching 50 later in the week could see a few motorcycles around.

The biggest downside of commuting this time of year is darkness at the end of the day.  While it wasn’t cold, 35F, it can be discouraging to climb aboard the Vespa in the dark on days when it is cold.

This day, I was just glad the warnings of frozen fog did not materialize.  Just another fine Vespa commute to start the day right.

Dreaming

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greeting card titled "Dreaming."
 
The entire morning was focused on dreaming.  Or more precisely on ideas and paths not considered or taken, of flights of fancy and journeys of partnership that might be explored.  The morning ride had me thinking about what to write on Kim’s birthday card.
 
It’s what makes Vespa riding so great.
 
 
Vespa GTS scooter in snowy farm field
 
 
Another cold morning though sunshine took the edge off making the snow and cold seem little more than a picturesque landscape in which to explore.  A week off work provided ample opportunity to acquire a taste for the cold and grow relaxed with the winter riding ritual. 
 
Seven days ago the thought of Vespa riding through a frozen cornfield would seem a technical stretch. Today it seemed almost normal.  So normal that thoughts of birthdays and dreams came easy.
 
 
Vespa GTS scooter on snowy road
 
Before the Vespa, Kim and I explored these mountains on foot with cameras and notebooks.  And before that fall and winter backpacking.  Now, as the Vespa slowly prowls along small paths and roads puzzle over what’s next here for Kim and me; how will our lives unfold.
 
The morning had a postcard quality to it with blue sky draped with white clouds over a mix of snow and ice.  Vespa riding was a joy.
 
 
 
Vespa GTS scooter on snow covered road
 
Joy might give the wrong impression.  While the main roads were clear it didn’t take long to find snow and ice still lingering on secondary roads.  Caution was in order.  Vespa riding in winter can be tricky business.
 
 
Vespa scooter at a Christmas tree farm

Coming across a local Christmas tree farm moved thinking from birthday to another season. Christmas will be here in less than a month.  Time is flying.

The ride at times felt like a dream, a scene from Lord of the Rings with familiar places transformed into new ones.

 

Vespa GTS scooter on snowy rural road

Riding this time of year when the temperature drops below freezing it’s important to anticipate problems.  This snow-covered road exits from a clear dry road.  On warm days I would enter this road at 40mph.  Knowing it might now be dry I crawled on at 10.  Good thing too because at a higher speed I would have lost control.  In cold weather, you can never ride faster than you can see.

Never.

 

Vespa scooter parked on snow covered road

The message of this picture:  I have little traffic to contend with as I navigate the snow and ice.  And there was a lot of ice hidden beneath the light dusting of snow.

 

Vespa GTS scooter parked on a street

 

A view from Schlow Library towards the Vespa.  By the time I sat down at a table by the window my thoughts were complete and I wrote something to Kim — a fine morning, a fine ride, and a fine day.

It’s been like a dream…

 

Alone on the Road

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Thinking about the things that make winter riding so attractive — so few vehicles on the road.  Stir in Thanksgiving Day and I’m all alone.

Didn’t think I would find much traffic on Thanksgiving morning.  With most people already at their destinations and the rest staying warm inside I had the neighborhood to myself.  Mostly.

Cold can be deceptive.  With the sun out it “seemed” to not be so bad but just a few moments with the gloves off left my hands hurting.  A little wind combined with 23F did its work.

State College, Pennsylvania is dead on Thanksgiving morning.  Penn State is closed and everyone is somewhere else.  Would have parked the Vespa in the middle of the crosswalk for a picture except my luck would have the only police car on patrol roll up as I was lining up the shot.

Reminded me of Abbey Road.

Allen Street, the hub of downtown State College was empty.  Reminded me of holidays of my youth when everything, everywhere closed.  God help the person in need of food or fuel.

The road this morning led out of town to Cracker Barrel where I would meet a friend for Thanksgiving breakfast.  His idea.  Last night I suggested Denny’s.  Nothing with a more local flavor was open.

The parking lot at Cracker Barrel appeared to border on the tundra.  Perhaps because I parked beyond the cars to gain this view.  Everything isn’t always as it appears.

Breakfast was ok.  The company much better.  Always nice to get together with friends.  Cracker Barrel had a big fire burning in a huge fireplace.  I could easily have lay down in front of it and gone to sleep.  I’m that kind of guy.

At home, with no fireplace in sight, a hug with Junior would have to suffice.  Kim caught the action.

As much as I like to ride, it’s good, no, it’s great to be home.