Scooter in the Sticks

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

Empty Morning Ride

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Vespa GTS scooter alone on the road on a misty morning

For me, the first moments of the day shape the path my mind heads down.  A walk with the dog, a hot shower, and a ride on the Vespa makes puts everything in perspective.  Especially if I’m alone on the road.

This past Sunday morning I found myself drawn towards the mountains outside of town, up towards the fog and mystery.  Time and responsibility kept the Vespa at a distance; we could only look and imagine what secrets were hidden in the mist.

Vespa GTS scooter alone on the road in rural Pennsylvania

One of my favorite haunts for dog and foot is undergoing a transformation forced by giant machines.  I can only watch and hope some space remains for more solitary pursuits.  Could be progress pushed me farther afield to find the emptiness I crave.Continue Reading

A Racer at Moto Hang

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No, not this guy.  That’s Mike with his 2-stroke Yamaha cafe racer.  He’s a regular at the Piston and Pints gathering and tells me he’s working on another bike though the details escape me at the moment.

Before I go on, if you want high resolution files of these pictures you can download them from my Flickr site.

Every Moto Hang gathering seems to have some new aspect of motorcycling or riding in play from a member riding around the world to custom sidecar builds to this evening when a truck and a racing motorcycle appeared.

Here’s where I realized I should have taken notes to at least get some specifics on the motorcycle and rider.  I’m going to take a clumsy stab at both fully expecting to be corrected later by some of the more observant riders.

John Dershimer rolled his Suzuki motorcycle down the diamond plate ramp and gave a short course on some of the ins and outs of riding a motorcycle at high speeds on a race track.

The Vespa among the motorcycle rabble.  John Oppy’s Honda project bike (right) was cool.  Love those knobby tires.

Liked those knobbies enough to make a portrait — just one step away from including myself in a selfie…

Another view of the Vespa twinkling in the sunlight.  It’s my blog so I’ll post pictures of the scooter until I’m sated.

Someone asked (and I think I failed to answer) if they had to drink beer to be part of the Moto Hang — here’s photographic evidence that you don’t.  One out of three has a beer.  I drink bottled water heavily at the get togethers but not beer.  All are welcome.  Even trikes I think.

Meet Ken Hull.  He’s the founder of the Moto Hang and related riding and social activities.  He’s inviting anyone within riding distance of Boalsburg to join us on the first and third Wednesdays of every month from 5 p.m. until the last rider departs for home.

So mark your calendar and join the group — motorcycles of all kinds, scooters, hacks.  No one shown up with an electric motorcycle yet.  You can be the first!

Evening Ride

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Vespa GTS under a fiery evening sky

Evening Ride

At 5:04 p.m. an alert vibrated the iPhone sitting on my desk warning of a severe lightning storm and calling for the evacuation of two athletic stadiums on Penn State’s University Park campus.  For once my decision not to ride because of the weather made sense.  Three hours later the weather cleared and the Vespa was fully engaged in an important mission. The line of fire across the sky signified the importance of the task at hand.

Vespa GTS scooter at sunset at the beginning of an evening ride

Traveling at Dusk

Swift movement at dusk through the central Pennsylvania landscape inspires a heighten sense of risk; Bambi is lurking just beyond the green fringe, waiting to intercept the feckless rider. As missions can push limits it’s important to remain attentive, focused, and bring all skills and powers to the task at hand.

Vespa GTS scooter on rural road during an evening ride

Fragrant Air

Fragrance and fluctuation of air temperature seek to move the mind from the eye to the nose like mythological sirens luring the unsuspecting towards the rocks.  A few words of silent meditation refocuses concentration on the mission at hand, interrupted by the sharp pierce of a mosquito’s proboscis through my cheek.

On the Vespa goes.

Vespa GTS scooter parked after an evening ride

Silent and Swift

Only minutes left, moving silently across the parking lot, like a special operator in a hostage rescue, hyper-focused, committed, single-minded.  Moment by moment the number of possible decisions shrink until I’m face-to-face with the target. Time slows as I move like a shadow with singular intent.

Ice cream and gelato

Mission Notes

Mission complete, target secure, two pints of fine frozen dessert — Ben and Jerry’s and Talenti — on route to a Friday evening summit with my significant other. It was a productive evening ride.

Even the little trips are fun and full of surprises. Life is always an adventure on two wheels. Life is better with a Vespa scooter.

No Beams of Sunshine Light the Stage, But the Red Light’s On

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VESPA GTS scooter along a rural road.
 

After work, chores and all things responsible, I needed to go for a ride.  Just a short one.  The sky was thick and Kim and I traded theories on whether we were seeing fog, low clouds or rain.  The National Weather Service issued a warning of lightning, high winds and hail with the admonition that people should seek shelter, and still I found myself on the road with the red light on and Crosby, Stills & Nash’s “Lady of the Island” playing in my head.  Obsessively — like my attention to the red light (actually orangish yellow) indicating the end of the fuel supply was at hand.  And like a bad tooth or mouth sore that your tongue just can’t stay away from my attention kept returning to the damn red light — not a good thing to be distracted late in the day when I really should be paying close attention to deer and the weather.

vine covered tree and barn

As the weather closed in everything takes on an odd feeling, like something out of a Stephen King novel.  What passes unnoticed in the sunshine takes on a more ominous appearance under a heavy sky.  On some level it makes a ride more exciting.

Vespa GTS scooter in a field

At the risk of being caught off the road in the rain I explored a few small dirt tracks as the sky lowered and began to sweat moisture onto the visor of my helmet.  One moment the air would be still and the next blowing hard with a promise of something more to come.

Vespa GTS scooter with an American flag

Riding through a construction dump I realized how far the Vespa is from the Kawasaki dirt bike I road as a kid.  Small tires and little suspension travel make dirt riding a physical and mental challenge.  Still, it is fun to run around in the dirt.  Standing on the hilltop with the little flag I saw the first flash in the sky.  Light but no sound so there was no way to determine distance and danger. And the fuel light was still annoyingly occupying space in my head that forced me to the local fuel dump.

Now, hours later, the rain has begun to fall steadily and thunder rumbles in the distance.  I’m glad I didn’t waste the clearer hours with the Vespa in the garage…

Unsatisfying Vespa Ride

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man standing next to Vespa scooter

Steve Williams, author of Scooter in the Sticks, with his Vespa GTS scooter.

Not every ride on a scooter or motorcycle is a good ride.  Some rides are just too damn short.  As the day drew to a close and the weather was beginning to look ominous I had a sudden desire to go for a ride.  I can never be sure if it’s really a ride I’m after or just a chance to see the sky.  Nothing eases pent up mental claustrophobia like standing in a field and watching the race through the sky.  Or standing along the ocean and taking in the vastness of water and air.

So off I rode to the nearest promontory where I could take in a view and do it before the promised rain and thunder showers arrived.  As I write I realize that the forecast was wrong, the radar was wrong, everything was wrong including my reading of the sky that whispered “Get the hell home”.  The picture almost look tranquil but the wind was blowing hard on my balding head.  Blew my gloves off the scooter though luckily not the helmet.

I should know better than to leave my helmet on the seat.

Vespa GTS 250 scooter

Vespa GTS scooter parked in a pasture under a heavy sky.

The ride this evening was too short, too rushed to offer any sort of release.  Instead just a small sense of regret that I couldn’t stay longer and watch the world grow dark. At least the Vespa got me out.

Next ride will be different.

Scooter in the Sticks

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

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