It’s not every day you see a nearly 50 year old motorcycle still in operation.

Amanda and Ivan rode a 1965 Honda S90 to the farmer’s market in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania adding a few more miles to the 12,000 currently on the odometer.  A short conversation revealed Ivan keeps the machine in operating condition along with two other vintage bikes — a 1982 Yamaha XJ750 and a 1974 Honda CB360.

After a quick photo with the iPhone I couldn’t help but think about the advertising campaign in the early 1960s that rocketed Honda sales upward in the United States — You meet the nicest people on a Honda.

Makes me wonder if I don’t need a project bike in the garage…

The season for Piston and Pints ended this year with lots of motorcycles (and three scooters) and food and friendship.  Ken Hull’s brainchild event was a rousing success.

A toast to all involved and plans for next spring and a return of Piston and Pints.  Having too many pictures to post here I decided to try and share them via my Scooter in the Sticks Facebook page.

Have a look and see who you can tag.

As the days shorten it’s more and more common to arrive at work under a gray autumn sky.  Leaves are falling and probably already past the peak for those engaged in regional leaf peeping.  I’ve been so busy of late that my riding is limited to getting back and forth to the office and any writing or photography is connected there as well.

For a lot of riders the change in season brings an end to their riding.  For me, I’m content knowing that my favorite riding times are just beginning.  Visually the landscape is stimulating and the brisk temperatures rattle me from the lethargy of summer.  I’m reminded of a dog I used to have and how he would come alive in winter from a brief dip into a cold mountain stream.

All I need is a few miles on the Vespa.

I have a ton of stuff to post and share.  Just need to find the time…

No ride begins, Vespa or otherwise, until Junior has his pound of flesh — some sort of walk, ball tossing/throwing/shoulder-destroying session.  He’s passionate about life and expects no less from me.

Was an odd morning as weather moved quickly through the valley providing an assorted palette of color and light in which to exist.  And ride.

Mt. Nittany, the familiar iconic ridge know to Penn Staters around the world, sits in the middle of Happy Valley and along one of my often used routes to town or campus.  I’ve been looking at a variation of this view for over 40 years now.  Where has the time gone?

State College, Pennsylvania is quiet on Sunday morning with the streets noticeably empty.  Riding, prowling the well worn byways in the area remain a satisfying action for me, mind wandering, eyes drinking in the color and texture of this little world.  I’ve always wandered like this with a camera.  The Vespa merely expanded my range.

During the week these motorcycle spaces are often full of the day riders, those individuals who venture out during the warm hours, the busy times.  On Sunday morning only the churchgoers, feral cats, and sober riders inhabit the world.  Or so it seems.

 Home again, home again, jiggity-jig.  Only I didn’t buy a fat pig.  Just a fine, uneventful, meditative series of moments on the Vespa.  Hard to explain to some why this ritual is important.  Popular myth presents riding as either a dangerous act or outlaw activity.  Or worse.  But on another Vespa morning I just don’t care..