Scooter in the Sticks

The Holiday Season Begins

December 1, 2013 by Scooter in the Sticks 2 Comments

Signs of the coming holidays are everywhere. Commercially, retailers have been turning the wheels on the Christmas shopping season for weeks. Lighting and decorations have appeared on homes and in towns before Thanksgiving. I’m not immune to the buzz and feel the nostalgic pull of holiday memories from long ago. This year I want to channel that nostalgia into a project or story.

Just don’t know what…

Exploring the extravagant gingerbread towns and other miniature landscapes revealed a scooter making rounds through a snow-covered village. Perhaps there’s a clue there for some sort of project of my own. I couldn’t decide which would be colder — the pizzas or the rider’s face.

Let the season unfold and let’s see what happens.

Dreaming

November 30, 2013 by Scooter in the Sticks 7 Comments

The entire morning was focused on dreaming. Or more precisely on ideas and paths not considered or taken, of flights of fancy and journeys of partnership that might be explored. The morning ride had me thinking about what to write on Kim’s birthday card.

It’s what makes Vespa riding so great.

Another cold morning though sunshine took the edge off making the snow and cold seem little more than a picturesque landscape in which to explore. A week off work provided ample opportunity to acquire a taste for the cold and grow relaxed with the winter riding ritual.

Seven days ago the thought of Vespa riding through a frozen cornfield would seem a technical stretch. Today it seemed almost normal. So normal that thoughts of birthdays and dreams came easy.

Before the Vespa, Kim and I explored these mountains on foot with cameras and notebooks. And before that fall and winter backpacking. Now, as the Vespa slowly prowls along small paths and roads puzzle over what’s next here for Kim and me; how will our lives unfold.

The morning had a postcard quality to it with blue sky draped with white clouds over a mix of snow and ice. Vespa riding was a joy.

Joy might give the wrong impression. While the main roads were clear it didn’t take long to find snow and ice still lingering on secondary roads. Caution was in order. Vespa riding in winter can be tricky business.

Coming across a local Christmas tree farm moved thinking from birthday to another season. Christmas will be here in less than a month. Time is flying.

The ride at times felt like a dream, a scene from Lord of the Rings with familiar places transformed into new ones.

Riding this time of year when the temperature drops below freezing it’s important to anticipate problems. This snow-covered road exits from a clear dry road. On warm days I would enter this road at 40mph. Knowing it might now be dry I crawled on at 10. Good thing too because at a higher speed I would have lost control. In cold weather, you can never ride faster than you can see.

Never.

Vespa scooter parked on snow covered road

The message of this picture: I have little traffic to contend with as I navigate the snow and ice. And there was a lot of ice hidden beneath the light dusting of snow.

A view from Schlow Library towards the Vespa. By the time I sat down at a table by the window my thoughts were complete and I wrote something to Kim — a fine morning, a fine ride, and a fine day.

It’s been like a dream…

Vespa Ice Racing and the Power of Studded Tires

November 29, 2013 by Scooter in the Sticks 2 Comments

With a lot of discussion lately focused on snow and riding I took a look around YouTube and found a short film that explores some of the possibilities of riding on snow and ice. The first look at a winter equipped Vespa takes place at 2:09. Take a look at some of the scooters racing around the track in Germany — Those aggressive studs make it possible to really lean into a turn!

The video was produced by the S.I.P. Scooter Shop in Germany.

Alone on the Road

November 28, 2013 by Scooter in the Sticks 12 Comments

Thinking about the things that make winter riding so attractive — so few vehicles on the road. Stir in Thanksgiving Day and I’m all alone.

Didn’t think I would find much traffic on Thanksgiving morning. With most people already at their destinations and the rest staying warm inside I had the neighborhood to myself. Mostly.

Cold can be deceptive. With the sun out it “seemed” to not be so bad but just a few moments with the gloves off left my hands hurting. A little wind combined with 23F did its work.

State College, Pennsylvania is dead on Thanksgiving morning. Penn State is closed and everyone is somewhere else. Would have parked the Vespa in the middle of the crosswalk for a picture except my luck would have the only police car on patrol roll up as I was lining up the shot.

Reminded me of Abbey Road.

Allen Street, the hub of downtown State College was empty. Reminded me of holidays of my youth when everything, everywhere closed. God help the person in need of food or fuel.

The road this morning led out of town to Cracker Barrel where I would meet a friend for Thanksgiving breakfast. His idea. Last night I suggested Denny’s. Nothing with a more local flavor was open.

The parking lot at Cracker Barrel appeared to border on the tundra. Perhaps because I parked beyond the cars to gain this view. Everything isn’t always as it appears.

Breakfast was ok. The company much better. Always nice to get together with friends. Cracker Barrel had a big fire burning in a huge fireplace. I could easily have lay down in front of it and gone to sleep. I’m that kind of guy.

At home, with no fireplace in sight, a hug with Junior would have to suffice. Kim caught the action.

As much as I like to ride, it’s good, no, it’s great to be home.

Thanksgiving Wishes

November 28, 2013 by Scooter in the Sticks 7 Comments

Dog running in Boalsburg — A dog walk on a cold day.

A Walk of Thanksgiving

Walking with the dog through the neighborhood today, watching his simple pleasure being alive and running on the earth, made me think about gratitude and thanks for the simple things in life. Henry David Thoreau offered one perspective of thanksgiving that I’d like to share with readers of Scooter in the Sticks…

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual. It is surprising how contented one can be with nothing definite – only a sense of existence. Well, anything for variety. I am ready to try this for the next ten thousand years, and exhaust it. How sweet to think of! my extremities well charred, and my intellectual part too, so that there is no danger of worm or rot for a long while. My breath is sweet to me. O how I laugh when I think of my vague indefinite riches. No run on my bank can drain it, for my wealth is not possession but enjoyment.” ― Henry David Thoreau

All the best to you and yours for a fine Thanksgiving Day.

Steve Williams

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