Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.

Mistakes and Lessons on Riding

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Two motorcycles on a gloomy morning parked at a scenic vista
The beginning of a day of mistakes and lessons on riding.

Jo Hays Vista

It’s rare that my first riding mistake comes before I leave the driveway. And humbling to realize after years on two-wheels I’m still capable of making decisions that come back to haunt me. I had just pushed the motorcycle out of the garage, pulled it onto the center stand, and rushed around to make sure the doors were locked and the dogs were content before my departure. With the BMW K75 idling in the driveway I felt hot in my First Gear Kilimanjaro riding jacket despite the thermometer indicating 63F.

The weather forecast indicated it would rise quickly to 70F. And there was no rain in the forecast so I didn’t need the heavier jacket or a rainsuit. Substituting my summer mesh jacket I made my first mistake — I was not prepared for any change or variation in the forecast.

The entire day would be one of mistakes and lessons on riding.

Just nine miles later atop Jo Hays Vista my error was apparent. A t-shirt under a mesh jacket and a bit of mist in the air felt cold. Unlike Paul’s BMW K1300 with full faring, heated grips and seat, and his leather jacket to ward off the moisture and cold, I just hoped for the promised increase in temperature and some of the fabled heat from the K75 fuel tank.

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Adventures on a BMW K75 Motorcycle

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Young couple and their BMW K75 motorcycle

Meet Natalie and Gary.  Two students on their way back to Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  — just 90 miles to the west.  They were on the last leg of a one week adventure that took them from Indiana to Niagra Falls, across New England to Acadia National Park in Maine and back home.  Over 1500 miles of two-up riding, camping and constructing memories.  I couldn’t help but think they were experiencing something that would gently haunt them for the rest of their lives.

Our paths crossed at the motorcycle parking spaces across from Schlow Library in State College, Pennsylvania as they secured their gear and made sure everything was ready for departure.  Normally I wouldn’t say anything to strangers, riders or otherwise, but in this case, as I watched them while I was locking up the Vespa, their adventure mystic moved me to say hello and ask a few questions.

“After such a long trip are you ready for your own motorcycle?” I asked Natalie.  Gary said he’s suggested that very thing but Natalie expressed her contentment as the pillion passenger.  As they checked straps and cords it was obvious they had developed a working routine forged through miles and miles on the road together.  And they were both still smiling.

The journey was made more impressive by their choice to sleep on the ground.  Camping sounds romantic but my body’s incessant reminders of how hard the earth can be and the lack of hot showers would soon wear me out.

Still, I couldn’t help admire their pluck at undertaking such a trip.

A final inquiry about the motorcycle and it’s performance — a 1987 BMW K75 performing flawlessly — and they were ready to roll after I made a quick portrait and offered them my email address should they want to share a picture or two of their trip.
Young couple riding on a BMW K75 motorcycleAnd off they went.

I can only assume they arrived home safe and their motorcycle adventure is shifting to memory.  How many travelers do this same thing, traverse the world on two wheels, one behind the other, living, experiencing, squeezing the marrow from their time on the earth?

Here are two.

Ride safe…