Scooter in the Sticks

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

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.

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Riding in Winter Breaks

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It was 14° F when I started the Vespa this morning. The weather forecast promised temperatures rising into the mid-20’s under sunny skies. These kinds of days always provide a break in the bad winter weather and allow a ride if you are so inclined. Roads were free of snow and ice with only an occasional patch of gravel or salt. Still cold enough for ice where springs wash across a back road or an energetic car washer allows water to run out onto a neighborhood street or road. As always, special attention to the road surface is required in sub-freezing weather.

The first destination today was to meet my daughter and her boyfriend for breakfast at the Waffle Shop. I had the best of intentions to share the hearty feast photographically with camera in tow but as the food arrived my attention went directly to the home fries and bacon and the camera remained untouched.

As much as I enjoy a hearty breakfast during a ride I’m not sure how an idea it is when it’s cold outside. Gearing up for the next leg of the ride I could feel the heat heading towards my stomach to begin work on breakfast. No matter how much I am wearing I have to accept a level of chill that nears discomfort. Gratefully the sun was bright and the reflection from the snow made it easier to imagine I was warm. Ten miles down the road the temperature had raised to 20° F and things felt absolutely balmy.

Other than few errands I had nowhere to go and nothing to do but enjoy the ride. My choice today was to swing south through some of the open farmlands and long undulating roads. The Vespa seems like it’s made to ride on these roads and I am never disappointed regardless of weather. If I had time today I would have made it a 200-mile day. I had to be satisfied with 40 miles for this ride. This picture was made along one of the roads that cut across the valley south of town.

Before returning home I stopped at a local store to pick up a few chocolate chip cookies to enjoy with an afternoon cup of tea. As many times as I see the cow on top of this restaurant I can’t help but smile. Every town needs something to make you grin.

Farms are Cool

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Pushing the pen across paper while my dog noisily gnaws on a large Milkbone makes it really difficult to attend to my writing. Farms are cool places to look at and the surrounding landscapes are my favorite photographic subjects. Mountains, old growth Pacific forests, Yosemite, the ocean—-they are all beautiful. But I am disconnected from them because I live here. Photographing those traditionally beautiful places leaves me with postcard images. I never have time to get close enough to see past that pretty veneer. And it would take months, maybe years.

On the ride home from work my instrument panel showed 23° F. With the sky clear and the sun bright as it headed for the horizon it was warm enough for a detour through the landscape I love to look at. Almost immediately after leaving the main road I came upon Meyers Dairy Farm. Those red barns just glow in strong sunlight. The remainder of the ride home was a slow puttering event that allowed me to be a tourist again in my own neighborhood. I didn’t have the big camera with me but plan to haul it out this morning.


Arriving home I decided to do something about the salt and grime that has been collecting on the Vespa for the past two weeks. With a sponge and bucket of really hot water I was able to remove a lot of it. Perhaps today I will do a bit more.

A few have inquired about my non-electric solution to staying warm—especially my hands. I wear expedition grade Black Diamond Mittens with a pair of thin polypropylene gloves underneath them.


I added the gloves because I needed to slow down the chilling of my hands when I stop to take pictures. The metal body of the small Canon S50 digital camera is like holding a small block of ice. The thin gloves slow down the numbing effect on my hands. If I fiddle too long with the camera I will warm my hands on the headlight before slipping them back inside the mittens. Once my hands are really cold it is difficult to bring them back without returning to a heated area.

After a bowl of cereal I’m going to head out on a photo ride. No idea where I’m going or for how long. Most likely my hands will dictate course and duration. It’s 14° F right now with a promise of higher temperatures this afternoon. After a check of oil levels, air pressures, lights and things I’ll be off.

A Search in the Cold

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Opening the online version of the local newspaper this morning revealed 10° F. Hardly the riding weather of choice. I decided to take the dog for a walk instead. Didn’t take long to confirm the paper’s temperature indication especially since they neglected to mention the wind. During the walk a young dog appeared and followed us along hoping to get Essa to play. Noticing his lack of identification or license reminded me that my own dog was illegal.

By the time we got home the sun was bright in a clear blue sky and my dog needed a license. The temperature has risen to 15° F. After a moment of mental wrestling and q quick examination of the road I decided the Vespa was ready for a trip to the hardware store for a license.

Rolling through the unshovelled driveway (the has to melt that snow soon) I thumbed the starter and the GTS came to life unaware of the near zero temperature it has slept through last night. The air temperature readout on the instrument cluster flashed 18° F. I moved out onto the road with feet down to test the surface. Some icy patches but generally clear. I would have to monitor the road surface carefully and adjust carefully. A few miles from home I realized my usual dog license supplier had gone out of business and I would have to ride farther to get one. The well-traveled roads were generally clear with only scattered snow or ice mostly where wind would continue to deposit new coatings. As long as I was upright and traveling in a straight line I was fine but curves, especially blind curves, had to be handled more slowly than normal and in several instances taking them so slowly that the scooter didn’t lean.

A long loop south of town took me through open farmland where the wind blew steadily. The scooter handled the wind and road surface challenges well and my comfort level is growing with each ride. I stopped at a local pet supply store for the dog license only to be told they were sold out. From there to another place that didn’t carry them but offered directions to a place ten miles away that surely would have a dog license. Rather than ride the back roads I thought it would be a good time to try the new Vespa on Interstate 99. I stopped at the ramp to view the road surface and it was clear and dry, at least what I could see. Still in the break-in period I had no trouble maintaining an indicated 70 MPH, well under the Piaggio admonishment to keep the scooter under 80 percent capacity for extended periods. I did twist the throttle once to bring the GTS to an indicated 80 MPH for a few moments with throttle left. The Vespa is surprisingly smooth and stable at that speed even with a crosswind. I was extremely pleased in the performance of my First Gear Kilimanjaro IV Jacket and Black Diamond Mittens. Running along at 70 MPH in 18° F air I was warm and toasty until I returned home after almost two hours on the road. And I was reminded once again how much I enjoy riding in cold weather.

I’m sure I made the right decision to move up to the bigger Vespa. The increased power and weight will expand the things I can do on the road. I never did find a dog license though. The last stop at Tractor Supply Company was a bust. So I suppose I will have to ride farther to make my dog an upstanding member of the community.