Scooter in the Sticks

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…

On the Road Before Sunrise

August 2, 2015 by Scooter in the Sticks 15 Comments

Did you see the sunrise today?

There’s no hum to the road before sunrise. Night slowly drains away before dawn as the sky begins to glow with the promise of another day. I believe I’ve been genetically coded to witness this drama. On foot, with the dogs, or alone on a path the sunrise is a visual symphony of tone and color that never fails to ignite a moment of wonder.

Astride the Vespa scooter it’s no different. My spirit soars as the road reaches into the day and I’m reminded of the mystical world in which I turn. All because I’m on the road before sunrise…

Thin Gray Fog

July 28, 2015 by Scooter in the Sticks 14 Comments

Does riding in fog make you nervous or feel unsafe?

Two days in a row of the thin gray fog of morning. At the same time it’s quieting yet exciting. For me at least. Out of the house an hour early just so I could explore a world shrouded in gray in hopes of seeing an elf or unicorn, the boundless thoughts of young unfurled by fog.

I love it so.

But fog does not engender those reactions in everyone. Some feel nervous riding amidst the diminished visibility while others will never venture out of the driveway.

Fog makes the world fat with possibility. Predictability are shrouded in secrecy behind the thin gray fog. Imagination fills in the blanks painting a canvas of serenity or terror depending on the artist’s state of mind and experience. One rider’s heaven is another’s hell.

I’m in heaven as I witness the quiet splendor of a local park. I’m no longer in central Pennsylvania, I’m at the edge of the moor, or at the edge of the Brandywine in Middle Earth. There is nothing mature or adult in my transformation. I’m free to let go. I’ve traveled far even though this scene is only a few hundred yards from my front door, a place I pass each day on my way to work.

Heading up a forest road left the fog behind as the Vespa moved toward the sunlight burning away the grayness. As inviting as the road ahead seemed I turned around to be lost in the murk.

Riding in fog requires some extra attention and consideration of what’s actually happening in terms of visibility and making choices accordingly. I was asked if riding in fog ever makes me nervous? The answer is yes but seldom. I can remember two times I was concerned about being on the road in the fog. And both times was because of the severity of the fog — thick pea soup where I could literally now see more than 50 feet in front of me. Once, on the road I had my visor up to listen for traffic I knew was hidden from view. More than once I pulled over to consider a course of action and was delighted to emerge into the light.

The second time I was concerned in fog was similar except in addition to the thick nature of the fog I was riding a Kawasaki KLR 650 on an interstate highway where drivers are notoriously overconfident as they hurtle down the highway at the same speeds they travel on a clear day. Finding the first exit was high on my list of priorities.

Sometimes you just need to know when to say uncle.

I never did find a unicorn but did manage to entertain a giant flying fish. In the thin gray fog anything is possible. And for a time I relish the experience which always has to end. In the scooter’s dream (and my own) the ride goes on forever.

Are you a fog rider?

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