The only scooter I rode today was my friend Paul’s new 1964 Vespa GL. He recently acquired several boxes full of parts for around $600 which became the blue scooter you see here. Compared to my modern Vespa it is a strange contraption. Neat to ride around but would not want to take it on the long rides I like to undertake.

No battery in this Vespa, just a kick starter. The two stroke engine means mixing oil at every fill up and my driveway attests to the seal leaks in the transmission. No mirrors or turn signals, just an engine mounted to a frame. I suppose it could be an object lesson in simplicity. I know there are a lot of vintage aficionados out there but for my taste no thanks. Pretty, cool, but not utilitarian enough.

Paul also rides a Suzuki DM 450, a Harley Fatboy, 1964 Mercedes Sedan, and a 1976 Ferrari of sorts. He also had a Vespa ET4 until selling it to my father-in-law. Sometime soon I suspect the two of us will head out on the scooters to terrorize the local communities.

My two passions and a new path. Since I bought the scooter my photography has taken a decidedly Vespa direction. My camera points less frequently at the Pennsylvania landscape except as a backdrop for a portrait of the scooter. My wife Kim appears in fewer photographs that was the case for the past ten years. I sold my 8×10 Zone VI field camera and all related gear because I could not see hauling it around on the scooter (I still had a truck mind you). The darkroom is a seldom-visited place as I now seem to be shooting digital color almost exclusively. The Vespa seems to have turned my photographic pursuits upside down.

I’ve found the only way to get a handle on problems is just jump in and work. I often don’t follow that advice but in this instance I have made a decision to write, ride, and photograph and not question the results. Already I have seen the flame of desire flicker to pick up the camera more often when the scooter is not in sight. I’ll use this blog to report the results as I go. Immersion is the plan. Who knows where it will lead.

Left this morning even though the weatherman was calling (again) for rain. None materialized though several times I was sure I was about to be soaked. Temperature was hovering around 50 and the air was wet again — and gray.

I love this kind of weather. I rode over two mountains to the west of here towards Black Moshannon State Park and the surrounding area. The park was almost empty and the lake was quiet and misty.

By the time I got home I had traveled 86 miles but not before stopping at the new Unionville Cafe for bacon and eggs.

For me that is the quintessential riding meal.

It was 45 degrees when I left this morning to run some errands. The brisk air clears my eyes and mind making it easier to see and appreciate the world around me. I sense a heightened awareness while riding in lower temperatures as long as my body stays warm. It is no fun shivering on the scooter. This morning I took the long way into town by traveling south into a rural area with a lot of flat and rolling farmland. The soybeans are ripening and even in the overcast light the yellow orange foliage leaps out of the landscape. Leaves are beginning to change here and there. In a month the entire forest canopy of Penns Woods will be aflame.

I really rode pretty slowly, a scooter version of a leisurely walk. I pulled over many times just to look or take a picture. It reminds me of Sunday drives with my parents so many years ago. I enjoy being a tourist. Riding allows me to feel that way every time I get on the scooter.

I stopped at this old barn. I remember when it appeared more active as a part of an ongoing agricultural enterprise 25 years ago.

I didn’t notice it going to sleep even though I have driven by it many times in a cage. Maybe I was adjusting the radio each time…

I always stop for the lone tree in a field.

For those that don’t know and wonder why a single tree would be left in the middle of a field it was to provide shade for the plow horses at lunchtime. Can’t say I have seen any John Deere’s parked under a tree lately. I will keep my eyes open though.

Cold again this morning. It is taking me time to acclimate to the lower temperatures. I passed a guy on a new red BMW today with no helmet and short sleeves. I’m bundled in my winter riding gear and full-face helmet. I’m cold when the temperature dips below 70. This evening the temperature is hovering around 49.

Despite my discomfort with the cold I look forward to riding in it. Call it a personal challenge. I had to run into town tonight and the ride home after dark was great. One of those crystal clear still cold nights. Riding through the countryside in the dark on freshly paved and lined roads illuminated by the single headlight is wonderful. The high beam on the Vespa LX150 is amazing—I swear it lights the road better than my Ford Ranger.

The ride was quiet and uneventful. I stopped in the little town where we live to try my hand on shooting a hand-held shot lit by streetlight and an oncoming car. When I got home something pretty cool happened. I was telling Kim how much I enjoy riding (she hears this a lot) and how beautiful the night was. Her reply? “I think I need to get myself a scooter.”

Yep. She said it and I intend to hold her to it.

Today was the first morning since last winter that felt cold. Dark gray sky and rustling trees formed a strong reminder of what’s coming. I used to look forward to winter. Now I have to prepare for it — mentally and physically. I have begun preparation for winter by purchasing a cold weather riding jacket. Still want to buy the Tourmaster Winter Elite gloves to try and manage my hands better. And the scooter needs a new rear tire and a drive belt. Both will appear in the next couple of weeks. From that point on all that’s left is the mental preparation for the cold.

Last winter I would feel a rush of excitement when I departed in below freezing temperatures. It was a personal challenge and even though I might only be riding for a dozen miles it did seem like me against the elements. It felt good. One of the many gifts of riding.

One of the biggest challenges for me in winter is getting up while it’s still dark to go to work. My body and mind scream for me to stay in the warm bed. Willpower is required to push the scooter out of the garage in the dark and start it up. I have trouble with transitions even knowing how great it feels to be rolling down the road.

For those of you who ride only in warm weather and put your machines in storage for the winter you might want to give it a second thought. There is a rewarding feeling riding in the cold. You need the right gear and an open mind but worth a try.