Scooter in the Sticks

Night at the Opera (I mean Moto Hang)

June 4, 2015 by Scooter in the Sticks 22 Comments

Each of us have our own priorities at event. Doesn’t matter if it’s a wedding, family picnic, or a motorcycle gathering, something will catch our attention. This evening at the Boalsburg Moto Hang I was obsessed by what I cannot have — a magical, delightful, soul soaring all grass fed beef. Figures Ken Hull would raise the hot dog bar just when a heart attack rules out any such sweet obsession. This one was destined for home and my wife Kim.

Seems like yesterday when I was a kid with few cares and space to enjoy a soda and a dog. This young man arrived at the Moto Hang on the back of a Vespa ET4 and quickly found the refreshments which included homemade chocolate chip cookies. He passed on the beer.

For the rest of those in attendance I think other things drew their attention. Like motorcycles.

Paul Ruby seems to always show up with something unique. This time with a 1940s style Triumph built from a 2009 machine. Solid rear end now along with a lot of other “vintage” modifications. It’s going up for sale on eBay.

Lots of other machines on display like this vintage Honda.

I have no idea what this is. A guess would be Yamaha. Looks tall. Looks complicated.

Lots of shiny chrome around too. Good for photos but not sure what else.

I’m not sure when a motorcycle falls into the “vintage” category. I tend to use whenever something is older than my kids. Not sure where this Honda Goldwing falls. If it’s a pre-1980 version then it’s vintage in my book.

This Triumph Bonneville appears from time to time. I told the owner if I was going to steal a motorcycle at the Moto Hang, this would be the one.

When I arrived there were only 15 or 16 motorcycles and two scooters. The night was young though.

Ken Hull was showing Mark (left) a picture I posted of him on his Vespa smoking a cigar. A lot of motorcycle gatherings offer the fragrance of petrochemical fuels and lubricants. The Moto Hang has the sweet incense of a cigar.

Nice to talk about a wide range of subjects and motorcycles without anyone ringing the “we don’t talk to you” bell. The Moto Hang has something for everyone.

This is the front fender of Robert’s dual sport Suzuki that he recently rode around the world — 20,902 miles. Impressive ride.

By 6:15pm there was no room for motorcycles in the alley and they started lining up along the street.

By 6:30pm they were lined up almost to Main Street. I even saw a trike this evening.

Three Vespa scooters made the trip this evening — evidence that all are welcome. So if there are any shy scooterists in the area there’s no need to shrink before the motorcycles.

It was a good night even without a hot dog…

The Boalsburg Moto Hang

June 1, 2015 by Scooter in the Sticks 24 Comments

Only the roughest, toughest riders come to the Boalsburg Moto Hang. Jeff, chief mechanic at the Boalsburg Car Company, epitomizes the eclectic persona evident at the event. This Wednesday the Moto Hang gathering at Ken’s Moto Shack & Lounge begins at 5:30 and will go till 7:30. All riders are welcome regardless of what machine the wheels find themselves attached to.

If you’re in or around State College, Pennsylvania maybe you’ll want to take a ride. This Google Map will show directions or plug the address below into your GPS:

203 East Main Street
Boalsburg, PA 16827

Ken’s Moto Shack and Lounge is behind that address — the corner of Academy Street and Rockeys Alley.

The Moto Hang has a decidedly un-biker gang feel. Lots of motorcycles but the rider’s interests and focus are broad with something for everyone from racers to adventurers to scooter riders. The informal nature of the gathering along with the unexpected machines and people who show up make for some interesting conversations.

During a recent Moto Hang, Paul Ruby showed up with his “new” Cushman scooter — a retired Traffic Unit vehicle used by Penn State’s Parking Enforcement Team. Ruby picked it up at a salvage auction has has big plans for his latest scooter. Weird thing — it’s titled as a truck. Go figure.

I wouldn’t mind owning a BMW airhead like this vintage example. One of the cool things about the event is you have a chance to see a wide range of machines and get some first hand information about them. For anyone thinking about riding, buying a new or used machine, or just has questions about motorcycles or scooters, this is a good place to be.

Cigar smoking scooter riders aren’t common but are part of the rider ecosystem of the Boalsburg Moto Hang.

Riders come and go all evening. Don’t feel bad if you can only stay a few minutes. Just stop by and introduce yourself. Ken Hull (center) is the founder of the event. Make sure you say hello.

John suiting up in his spiffy Klim riding gear before departing. With the long days upon us there is still time for a nice ride before dark AFTER the Moto Hang.

Dave Dix rides off on his BMW adventure bike as the evening winds to a close. On other evenings he arrived on a Honda scooter or Moto Guzzi (I think). So whatever you’re riding (or not riding), stop by and say hello!

The Vespa Experience

May 31, 2015 by Scooter in the Sticks 12 Comments

Dom Chang of Redleg’s Rides sent me a link to this tribute to the Vespa scooter in cinema. As I watched I realized how far I am personally from the common perception of the Vespa experience — one that’s decidedly urban, young, romantic, eclectic and a bit frenetic. It’s easy to see why motorcycle riders may dismiss the scooter culture as something foreign to what seems at times something about speed, power, machinery and technology. Apples and oranges.

I watched the video three times hoping to see myself in there somewhere and save for one scene where a young man is swerving back and forth on the road enjoying the feeling of moving through the world, I felt like I was watching a cultural phenomenon that passed me by.

Maybe if I had a Vespa when I was seventeen I might feel differently. Maybe it’s just the same as learning about my ancestors — there’s a connection biologically but the lives and experiences are from another time…

Thunder Management

May 27, 2015 by Scooter in the Sticks 16 Comments

Seeing a small lightning bolt in the hourly weather forecast is discouraging. Weighing the chances of things coming true against first hand observations of the sky is one of the skills many riders seek to perfect. In my case there’s less science and more rationalization involved as I try to justify rolling out of the garage and going for a ride. Unless the count between seeing a flash and hearing the thunder drips below 10 I usually will ride. It’s a poor method to engage in thunderstorm management.

My friend Paul and I had planned for a leisurely afternoon ride yesterday until the forecast threatened thunderstorms and rain. At the last minute the sky appeared stable and our path moved us away from the growing darkness in the southwest.

Agriculture is in full swing in central Pennsylvania as farmers paint the landscape with furrows and tire tracks and their methodical patchwork of brown and green. I’ve been photographing places like this since the 1970s and they have not lost their magic.

Paul opted for his new Piaggio Fly 150 over his Ducati on this ride. For backroad travel it has more than enough power. Each time we would round a gravel covered bend I would think about the riders who what to aggressively attack those curves. No pretty pictures in those scenes.

Looking east toward Union County, Pennsylvania which is just beyond the horizon. This area of Penns Valley used to be decidedly rural but is giving way to more housing developments and mini-estates. One of the things keeping the landscape agricultural is the large Amish community but even they seem to be changing — paved driveways, manicured lawns, and solar panels spread across roof tops.

Riding on these little country roads is like dreaming during the day — awake and aware but able to entertain a wide range of “what ifs”. Paul and I moved along with a general direction in mind but with no other agenda other than seeing what would unfold before us. Green dominated the earth while heavy skies watched over us. Thankfully, the weather forecast threatening rain delivered it elsewhere.

Millheim is closed on Tuesdays. The cafe, restaurant, art gallery and butcher shop, all closed on Tuesday. The left the pizza place as the only choice for a snack before riding off toward Penns Creek and wandering home. No thunder, no rain, no pressure.

Just a simple ride in the country.

Breathing in the Road

May 25, 2015 by Scooter in the Sticks 22 Comments

Aimless with a wandering mind, a difficult state to visit, a worthy goal to have — at least in my world. As the Vespa moves slowly along path and pavement under a bright sun and blue sky most noisy ideas and concerns grow limp and dissipate leaving only the scooter and the road. The mind floats along somewhere. This morning the fragrance of honey locust trees filled the air only to be replaced by the scent of freshly cut hay. A little further, as the hedge rows crowd the road, honeysuckle perfume, all like a spring dream stroking sparkling senses. Not once does the Vespa roar or growl, not a hint of gasoline or oil. We’re just silent partners breathing in the road.

The agricultural valleys are flush with spring and looking towards summer. Unlike the mega-droughts in the West we still have water. Irrigation is rare as are water intensive crops. Wandering through the countryside is an exercise in observation — finding something interesting in the ordinary. I don’t make mythic trips across multiple states or continents. Circumstance requires I find adventure and satisfaction on the well traveled roads of my life.

I’ve explored this idea for nearly two decades as a photographer and found inspiration in the work of Josef Sudek and his personal explorations when trapped in his little cottage for years during the Nazi occupation of Prague. Finding compelling subject matter to explore within arm’s reach is difficult. I’ve tried to apply this approach on the road.

I’ve followed these small roads halfway across Pennsylvania. The state is a patchwork of former farm lanes now paved by townships to form a dizzying challenge to anyone looking to find someplace specific. For a wanderer they provide a welcome escape from the tightly managed roads of daily life.

I’ve passed this tree a hundred times or more over the years, one of many that stand out. Some have fallen, victims of lightning, development or old age. I see them as metaphors for life and childishly believe they’ll go on forever. Such is not the case though.

Egg Hill rises above Penns Valley in the distance, a small hill that divides the valley into two distinct areas. My riding preferences usually take me to the left and on into more sparsely populated areas and eventually into Bald Eagle State Forest.

Standing here I can feel the draw of the horizon, to explore tracks and paths, and let my spirit roam with the scooter. For now, I stay close to home and allow my body to slowly adjust my recent heart attack. Later this week my cardiologist will evaluate progress and send me on to a cardiac rehabilitation facility to find out how much physical stress I can endure.

More adventures in life. I hope they’re as sweet as a ride in the country on the Vespa…

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