Scooter in the Sticks

Happiness is a Warm Puppy

August 15, 2015 by Scooter in the Sticks 25 Comments

My life would be poorer without dogs…

Today is my dog Junior’s seventh birthday. He lives with us along with his niece Lily, two Belgian Sheepdogs, that make our lives richer. Dogs have been part of my life since I was a child and have continuously brightened my days.

Junior waits patiently at the door while I get things ready for our morning ball tossing and walk. Lily has learned from him what to do and now waits as well. They live rapid, fiery lives. It goes too fast.

As I grow older I’m reminded of of a quote by novelist Milan Kundera that helps put it all in perspective:

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.”

Happy birthday Junior. You’re a good dog.

Happiness is a warm puppy…

Into the Evening Twilight

August 13, 2015 by Scooter in the Sticks 20 Comments

I 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.

On 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.

Clouds 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?

Riding Before Sunrise

August 11, 2015 by Scooter in the Sticks 24 Comments

Fuel stop at a local Exxon station to prepare the Vespa for a trip to breakfast some 50 miles away. Riding before sunrise is a quiet experience. The world is asleep and the roads clear — a perfect time to ride.

My friend Paul Ruby wants to visit Mamie’s in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, a small eating establishment with a hearty breakfast and baked goods selection. Probably not the best choice for my post-heart attack diet but I can indulge every now and again.

Paul and I have made this trip before. Each time it’s a different experience.

As 6am arrived the sun hadn’t breached the horizon leaving the world in that pre-dawn glow I love so well. For a moment I thought how easy it would be to just ride south, across the Mason-Dixon line into Maryland and on into Virginia toward Front Royal. Just a short ride from there onto the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Not sure why that came into my head but for a period of time I was doing the time calculations to get there and home before dinner.

Sunrise offers a strong lesson in the machinations of the earth as it turns on its axis. I’m always surprised at the speed of the change from dawn to sunrise and on into morning. Standing in a bean field I feel blessed to bear witness to the magic.

There are miles of fine roads and riding before breakfast. As I notice views in my rear view mirror I stop and command Paul to turn around and become a model. While making this photo I sense the first gurgling of desire in my gut — time for breakfast.

Arriving early meant we could park right in front of Mamie’s Cafe. Being quite hungry as I write this post I’m not going to dwell on breakfast save for it was good, it was a vegetable omelet, and it was big.

I also bought a fresh doughnut but only had a couple bites. It felt like trouble.

One the way home we found a narrow road wandering up and over a mountain. One of the things I love best on a ride if finding a new path to a familiar destination. The view was unexpected but appreciated.

You can see Raystown Lake in the distance.

Far from the drought consuming the western parts of the United States, central Pennsylvania is lush with corn, soybeans and alfalfa hay in fine shape. Our machines are simple trespassers in a pastoral scene.

While no big sky in terms or what you might see in Montana this is perhaps as good as it gets in the ridge and valley region of Pennsylvania. Looking down roads that lead away toward the horizon triggers desires to keep riding and exploring to see what’s over the next hill.

But all rides come to an end — but not without generating some pleasant memories to call up during some darker day…

Scrutinizing Vespa Riding

August 9, 2015 by Scooter in the Sticks 20 Comments

Emma has her eye on me.

Granddaughter Emma had a watchful eye on me today. Not sure if it was my striking good looks, the bumblebee colored riding jacket, or interest in scrutinizing Vespa riding that had her attention. The steady, thoughtful gaze had me wondering what was so special.

First idea to come to mind was the difference between riding for pleasure and riding as general transportation. Both are possible with a scooter or a motorcycle and the difference is really the choices made by the rider. There are lots of pleasure riders in the world. Perhaps the majority of riders fall into this category.

Riders who use their machines as transportation are common but in my opinion a decidedly smaller group. I see few motorcycles in the grocery store parking lot or at the dry cleaners. And I have to admit I don’t understand why. A ride across town to pick up a loaf of bread at the bakery is just as satisfying as a ride across the valley to breakfast. I’ve found extensive pleasure and solace riding to work or using the Vespa for errands and chores.

One stop allowed me to surprise Kim by picking up some PRE de PROVENCE Argan Body Butter — one of the preferred massage creams in our house. It’s just the sort of thoughtful gesture riders make for their significant others. The common misconception is that we are singularly and selfishly obsessed with riding at the exclusion of all other concerns and needs.

That’s a riding myth.

The surprise was on me when I got home — Kim already had a supply of Argan Body Butter. Riders are likely familiar with the welcome thrill of hearing they’ll have to mount up and head out into the world again to properly complete a task.

Back at Bella di Vita in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania I corrected the situation and acquired another spousal favorite.

The correct choice in this case was a jar of Cote Bastide Fleurs D’Oranger Body Cream — an alternative and slightly more lavish choice. But since it easily fits in the topcase of the scooter I figured what the heck. Just another pleasant experience of riding.

Thinking back to my granddaughter Emma this is probably exactly the kind of thing she was thinking about when she was carefully scrutinizing Vespa riding.

Heart Attack Dreams

August 8, 2015 by Scooter in the Sticks 17 Comments

“his old life lay behind in the mists, dark adventure lay in front.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Fog and mist this morning on the way to cardiac rehabilitation at the local hospital. My old life that led to a heart attack is behind, and I travel towards a new adventure — I don’t know the destination but I do know the details.

Diet is different. Fat and calories have changed drastically which probably accounts for the 22 pounds shed in past couple months. Physical activity has increased to levels last seen in high school when I pretended to be an athlete.

And riding is different — senses slightly sharper, awareness heightened, decision making clearer. All gifts of a heart attack. Each ride seems special, even if it’s a familiar track from home to hospital.

All is not perfect though. Blood pressure is runs low and fatigue lurks whenever I sit down. I’ve not noticed it while riding but I have chosen not to ride because of it. The last place I want to dwell as a rider is denial.

Riding remains a simple thrill and a quiet meditation. The road continues to call despite the cardiac detour in May. I don’t know what the future holds but in my heart attack dreams I hope it involves a Vespa…

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Scooter in the Sticks