Scooter in the Sticks

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

Just Another Snowy Vespa Ride

by 18 Comments

Dog running through snowDogs Love Snow

My dogs love snow.  They don’t seem to tire of it or complain about the weather.  They have lessons to teach.  Me, I’m complaining.  Just when I thought the snow was done for the season I woke to six inches of the white stuff.  If it wasn’t so beautiful I would have been despondent.

Lily raced through the garden, everything heavy with wet snow, with typical reckless abandon.  As I trudged along I knew I was going for a ride.  The temperature was right — a hair above freezing which would me the roads at worse would be slush or slightly snow covered.  Perhaps even just wet.  So one last winter riding adventure.

This must be the last real snow of the season.  So of course it was time for a snowy Vespa ride.Continue Reading

Last Winter Ride

by 18 Comments

Vespa GTS scooter parked in State College, PennsylvaniaMesmerized by Sunlight

Blue skies and sunshine mediate any resistance left to winter.  A ride in to town at 24F didn’t seem cold at all.  The heated grips, mitts, heated insoles and Tucano Urbano Termoscud apron weave their magic to make the cold seem incidental to riding.  So much so that I have to remind myself there’s still a chance of ice on the road.

So it is with winter Vespa riding.

Regardless, I’ve surrendered to the cold and choose to ride as I can.  Turkey vultures glided overhead as I rode into town, momentarily taking my focus away from the road as I watched those quiet scavengers do their work.  And suddenly I’m parking the scooter and on my way to Saint’s Cafe.Continue Reading

Warming to the Cold

by 22 Comments

Steve Williams and his Vespa GTS scooterCold Hands

After a winter ride in the sunshine at 29F the most memorable part of my ride were cold hands.  Induced by the gloveless needs of self-portraiture.  Still, for a moment, it was gratifying to face the sunlight, allowing it to kindle hopes that spring and warmer rides aren’t far off.  Just as I’m warming to the cold.  And working to drive through the mental doldrums of winter.Continue Reading

Tired of Winter

by 32 Comments

Belgian Sheepdog sitting on porch in the snowImpervious to Cold

Unlike our Belgian Sheepdog Lily, I’m not impervious to the cold and don’t while away the day collecting snow.  While this winter has not been bad in terms of temperature or snowfall, it’s been tedious in the relentless cold and gray.  I’m tired of winter.Continue Reading

Reflections from a Cold Morning Vespa Ride

by 21 Comments

Vespa GTS on cold morning Vespa rideCold Morning

I’ve finally gotten to the point where the cold doesn’t stand in the way of riding the scooter.  As long as the road is reasonably clear of snow and ice I’m good to go.  This morning the thermometer was pointing to 5F at sunrise.  With no wind and clear skies it almost felt warm.

So I’m good with the cold.  The Vespa — not so much.  It doesn’t want to idle well below 10F.  Have to keep some throttle on or it will stall.  Time to do some mechanical investigation I guess.  But that minor irritation aside, I was off for a morning of appointments and meetings.Continue Reading