Scooter in the Sticks

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

Bringing Home a Vespa ET4 Scooter

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2004 Vespa ET4 strapped onto the bed of a pickup truck.
From one home to the next, bringing another Vespa into the fold.

Paperwork and Patience

The amount of paperwork necessary to commence a transfer of a motor vehicle in Pennsylvania is daunting enough to make you think the State would really rather it wasn’t done. And that doesn’t even begin to include processing the paperwork through the byzantine system of the Department of Transportation. I have to remind myself that if this represents the sort of problems I have in life, then I’m one lucky man.

Paul and I traveled to Altoona, Pennsylvania to gather up a 2004 Vespa ET4. Simply put — it’s a beauty.

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My Secret to More Relaxed Riding

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Vespa GTS scooter on a quiet road
A quiet moment with the Vespa GTS scooter.

Quiet, Relaxed, Serene

Almost from the beginning I have enjoyed riding my scooters for two reasons. First, they’re fun. And second, it’s relaxing. Fun was no problem. It just came naturally. But it took some time to learn how to find relaxed riding.

And perhaps the biggest step toward that goal, toward relaxed riding, was learning to pull over on the road and let faster traffic move ahead leaving me free to then meander and take in the sights.

I made this video to highlight some of the things I’ve learned in my pursuit of more relaxed riding.

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE VIDEOS.

For the Love of Dogs

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Belgian Sheepdog laying with a Jolly Ball.
Aiden is the newest dog in our family.

Restoring Balance to the Canine Force

After the passing of our dog Junior at the end of March, my wife and I discussed whether or not to get another dog. As we get older, the thought is that a young dog may outlive us. And the work involved in training a puppy seemed more work than either of us wanted to take on. So reluctantly we decided that our remaining dog Lily would be our last.

But after a few weeks of watching Lily grieve over Junior’s absence and become increasingly anxious about being without a canine companion, we reached out to the breeder from which we got Junior and Lily.

And that conversation led to Aiden joining our family.

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Falling in Love All Over Again

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Vespa GTS scooter along a country road.
All things feel new again on a fragrant spring morning.

Reminded of the Good Things in Life

I fell in love with a Vespa scooter the first time I rode one. And now, after some neglect and a wandering eye, I’m falling in love all over again.

It continues to amaze me how my mind and body are transported into a different state of being by this silver scooter. Standing along the road, breathing the moist fragrant spring air, and feeling startingly present in the moment, I know what a gift it is to be able to ride.

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Learning Off-Road Riding at 67 — OUCH!

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Two motorcycles at an overlook in the mountains of central Pennsylvania.
The view from Winklebleck Vista in the mountains of central Pennsylvania.

Easy, Peaceful Riding

A recent ride in the mountains on my Royal Enfield Himalayan provided me with wonderful opportunities for personal growth. Specifically, a close look at the limitations of my off-road riding skills. And learning off-road riding skills.

My rider ego had its knuckles cracked with a ruler as I discovered the gap between off-road riding fantasy and the physical realities of that activity. During a recent relaxed ride in the central Pennsylvania mountains, a choice of a “drivable trail” led to riding lessons that are painful at 67 years old.

Before moving on, I need to thank Eric at “Kraken’s Garage and Adventures” on YouTube for the title of this post. He said it gets directly to the point! And indeed he’s right. Learning off-road riding at 67 was painful.

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Scooter in the Sticks

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

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