Scooter in the Sticks

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

Scooter Country

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Vespa GTS in scooter countryThe World is My Oyster

There are times on the road, alone and on the way home, that everything feels completely familiar.  It’s my own world.  Scooter country.  As good as that feels, it can lead to a comfortable disregard of everything and end not seeing anything.

Pulling off the road, turning off the Vespa and walking around for a few minutes brings things back into focus.  Such is an end of the week ride home.

Vespa GTS scooterSunny Day Ride

The weather has been exceptional this week.  Even with the rain.  Combining that with the already perfect machine I’m lucky enough to own and I’m just whistling through life.  I’ve been riding the GTS since 2007 and have ridden almost 32 thousand miles.  Spend that much time with something and still love it, that’s special.

I wonder if every rider feels the same way about their machine?

motorcycle parkingVespa in Normal Life

Everything feels normal, plain, unexceptional.  That’s comfort.  A quick phone call for take out and a short ride into town and I’m picking up dinner.  The scooter makes it all easy.  And fun.  Chores and errands seem like little adventures on two wheels.  No moto-manufacturer will ever advertise the power their vehicles have over the mundane tasks of living but that’s one of the best parts for me.

Things I must do rendered enjoyable. Life is good on a Vespa.

Odyssey in the Sticks

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Honda Ruckus scooterScooter in a Scooterless Day

The Vespa sat at home while I drove the Honda Odyssey to the dealer for it’s annual Pennsylvania safety inspection.  One of the service people rode their Ruckus scooter to work which provided a maintenance dose of scooterness.

I’ve always admired the looks and capabilities of the 49cc Honda Ruckus.  I can imagine one in my garage.

Aside from that brief glimpse my day would play out without a ride on two wheels.  It’s something every rider must deal with from time to time.

dusk on a wet roadPerfect Vespa Landscape

Rain passed through the valley  washing away some of the heat leaving a fine glow on the wet roads.  I forced myself to appreciate the glowing landscape and pull the van off the road for a photograph.  Standing in the middle of the road I was imagining the Vespa parked in that glow, headlight creating a poor of warm light on the wet pavement.

Not going to happen though.

Odyssey in the sticksOdyssey in the Sticks

It’s hard to imagine a blog build around life with the Honda Odyssey van.  I’m certain I could find ways to photograph the vehicle in a compelling manner but is there enlightenment behind the wheel of a minivan?

It was good to stop and look around, appreciate the evening, and think about tomorrow.

Wait.  I have to take the dog to the vet in the morning.  There’s more Odyssey in the Sticks for me…

Ride Home From Work

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View of Vespa GTS dash consoleRemains of the Day

Walking from my office to the scooter, regardless of time or weather, it’s always pleasant to lay eyes on the Vespa.  There’s much focus on the ride to work, the idea of commuting and the attendant focus on being an informed, trained diligent rider. The rides to work do much to get my head on straight and prepared to tackle whatever comes along.

And all of that’s fine.  But the ride home from work, those moments collected in the remains of the day, they’re flush with their own magic as the scooter transports mind and body on toward home.

These long days of summer illuminate the world in a kind way when I leave.  The light is bright yet without the harshness of midday.  And different than morning when the world feels as if it’s coming alive.

The ride home from work feels easy and relaxed.  As if I don’t have a care in the world.

clouds in the skySkies of Childhood

I remember laying in the grass as a kid watching the clouds on a summer day and imagining creatures and stories.  On the way home I stopped to look up and wondered why I don’t lay in the grass anymore or make time to let my mind run free.  It doesn’t cost anything save for a small investment in time.

At least the ride home from work has me thinking about life without laying in the grass.

Success or failure?

Vespa GTS scooter with Penn State trailersHomage to Penn State

I’ve worked at Penn State for 42 years.  My adult life has unfolded here. I was mesmerized by the place when I arrived in June of 1972 and remain so now.  The University has under gone continual change in landscape and culture.  Where my Vespa is parked in front of these trailers used by the Athletic Department to sell Penn State gear during football games was sweeping farm fields part of the College of Agricultural Sciences portfolio of lands used for teaching and research.

The ride home from work, paths and routes I’ve taken thousands of times, still is full of surprises.  On this evening I had planned to cut through some of the remaining agricultural lands on my way home until I was met by temporary chain link fencing blocking my way along with signs warning of “Explosives Area” and suggesting I keep away.

Seldom one to disobey a sign I turned the Vespa around and went in another direction.  As I did it occurred to me what the huge fenced area was — the staging ground for the fireworks display that are part of the Central Pennsylvania Fourth Fest celebrations.  The 4thFest has been rated among the top five 4th of July fireworks show in the United States.  If you like fireworks displays, want to see something spectacular and don’t mind crowds you’ll want to try and see this event.

Arriving home on the Vespa scooter is as satisfying as it is leaving in the morning.  And a remarkably different experience mentally and physically.

I never really noticed the difference before.

Elegant Vespa Utility

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Vespa carrying a long baguetteBeauty and Bread

On the way home from work I stopped at the Boalsburg Farmer’s Market to grab some things for dinner.  All my choices fit under the seat or in the top case save for the long baguette.  Can’t believe in all the years I’ve been riding and getting groceries I’ve not faced the baguette dilemma — how do you handle the classic long bread?

Having no beret didn’t help.  I remembered the famous image of a man and young boy riding down a tree lined road with a baguette strapped across the back of their bicycle.  After searching the scooter for a few seconds I realized the front rack not only is capable of hauling watermelons, it can carry bread as well.

Can there be an expression of elegant Vespa utility than that?

Ride to Work 2016

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Vespa GTS scooter in open fieldOn the Ride to Work

It was pure coincidence that I rode to work on Ride to Work Day.  After two weeks off I left early enough for a leisurely commute and stopped to make one photograph during a small rustic detour.  At 7:30am the temperature was already above seventy degrees.  It was a near perfect ride to work.

Ride to Work poster 2016Ride to Work Day

Only later in the day did I realize it was Ride to Work Day.  Judging by the small number of motorcycles and scooters I saw on the road today it’s hard to imagine there being much traction to the idea of commuting on two wheels.  There are a zillion practical reasons why commuting in a car or truck is the common choice while the perception of two-wheeled commuting is inconvenient and downright dangerous.  And motorcycles and scooters are, well, toys.

As long as the machines we love are looked upon by much of the public, and our elected officials, as toys and recreational vehicles, we shouldn’t expect much in the way of support or respect.  Perhaps the Ride to Work effort will add to the voices of riders in America.

I know there are a few things I would like to see happen.  Selfish things.  Traffic lights that respond to a scooter.  Paint used for road lines that doesn’t become slippery when wet.  Parking spaces for motorcycles so I don’t feel bad taking up an entire space with my scoot.

Just to name a few.

I wonder, if we were making a list, what kind of concerns would we tally up as riders?

Scooter in the Sticks

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

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