Scooter in the Sticks

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

Vespa in Fog

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Vespa scooter on foggy roadThe Lure of Riding in Fog

I really can’t help myself.  When I wake and see fog outside all I can think of is feed the dogs and get the hell on the road. The pull of that magic atmosphere is strong despite the obvious risks.  Like riding in the snow, I sometimes hesitate posting because I don’t want to suggest you ride in the fog.  Or any other adverse weather condition.  While it’s something I’m prepared to deal with and accept the additional risk, it is not something for every rider in every location.

Still, I make the choice to ride my Vespa in fog on three consecutive mornings.  This day the fog was particularly dense in places with both visor and glasses fogging up making it hard for me to see and for others to see me.  Normally I ride with earplugs to cut down on noise but went without them so I could more readily hear approaching vehicles.  This is particularly important when you’re wandering around the road taking pictures.  I would consider it a monumental failure to be hit by a car while using a camera.Continue Reading

On Riding: Gravel, Fog and Heat

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Vespa scooter on gravel road in fogEscape from Heat, Escape from Everything

It’s obvious now why I post so little during the summer. I’ve grown intolerant of the heat.

Riding into town the other day with the temperature just above 90F, grumbling at the hot air pouring through my mesh riding jacket, visor up to let the wind blast away the hot air from heat-stressed lungs with little success, I was just miserable.

And as much as I love riding, there’s something sinister about midday heat that leaves me cold.

So imagine my thrill in the morning when I see the sun hidden by fog and a chance to escape the relentless heat with a little ride.

Standing at the end of the driveway it was apparent that any respite would require a gain in altitude if I wanted to get lost in a mysterious world.  And that would mean riding up into Rothrock State Forest and gravel roads. Vespa riding on gravel brings it’s own special challenges.Continue Reading

Riding Freedom: Scooter in the Mountains

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Foggy forest road near Little FlatFog on the Mountain

Standing in the yard with the dogs this morning I could see fog on the mountain.  The scooter moves toward it like a compass needle points north.  I feel the draw.  And I feel the pressure of responsibility to work, or take care of the incessant business of life.  A friend suggests I abandon work and go for a ride.

While standing here making the photograph of the road disappearing into the fog I’me struck by how infrequent it is that I feel disconnected from responsibility, free from the thoughts that I need to be somewhere or do something.  Riding goes to great lengths to help detach for awhile.  I suspect many experience that riding freedom. But I wonder what true freedom feels like.  Or even if it exists at all.

I had to revisit a piece I wrote for Motorcycle.com called Riding and the Taste of Freedom.  See how my thinking changes.  Or doesn’t.Continue Reading

Slow Travel on a Vespa

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Slow travel on a Vespa on a foggy morningTesting Slow Travel on a Vespa Scooter

Another lovely foggy morning — one that challenges the senses as it shrouds the landscape in mystery.  Fog, perhaps my favorite riding environment as it allows the imagination to run along into fabrication and fantasy.  Perhaps merely a personal quirk laid bare while riding.

As I’ve continued stretching my return to riding I’ve rediscovered the joy of slow travel on a Vespa — that sense of heightened attention and awareness of detail as you move slowly along the road.  If you ride or drive, you’re probably aware that you see much more at 30mph that you do at 60mph.  If there is one huge drawback to motorcycles, in my opinion it’s they’re resistance to going slow.  Their soul wants to run and race and transform the road into a blur.  The Vespa on the other hand is content to ramble along at slow speeds and feel great doing it.

This trait above all others is why I love the Vespa.  It supports my desire to make photographs; it informs my understanding of the world.  And it will go plenty fast when required.

Vespa GTS scooter in State College, PA on a foggy morningFoggy Morning in State College, Pennsylvania

After looping across the valley to experiment with the limits of my recovering lower back I made my way into State College to have breakfast and share new photographs with my friend Paul.

During my month away from riding I restored my darkroom to operational status and have begun to shoot, process and print film negatives again.  The experience has been unexpectedly rewarding.  More about that in some future post.

Saint's Cafe in State College, PennsylvaniaSaint’s Cafe in State College, Pennsylvania

Along with the empty streets was a near empty cafe.  With only a half dozen patrons drinking coffee and reading newspapers I had no trouble finding a place for helmet, gloves and riding jacket — bulkier items than the layout comfortably accommodates.

Paul Ruby at Saint's CafeMorning Rituals

My approaching retirement will present time to develop a few more rituals like the one that brings me to Saint’s Cafe to discuss photography (and life).  Not sure what they’ll be but the prospect of exploring the options is exciting.

Paul has been sharing prints consistently for many months — digital interpretations of recent travels to Newfoundland and the American West.  I’ve been sluggish in production until the recent re-firing of the darkroom.

Vespa GTS scooter along foggy highwayFog and the Highway

For anyone following Scooter in the Sticks very long you’ll sense that the amount of traffic I deal with is often light.  Sometimes almost non-existent — a fact that tempers risk when riding in less than ideal elements for visibility and traction.  Still, I have to stress the importance of never being a complacent rider regardless of the amount of perceived traffic.  It only takes one vehicle to wreck your day.

Or your life.

Hyper vigilance, practiced skills, and an ego left at home has allowed me with a broad flexibility to manage situations, or surrender the roadway when required, so I can continue to meander around and across Pennsylvania.

So to all those reading — ride well, be safe, and best wishes for clear roads ahead…

Vespa in Fog

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Vespa GTS scooter in fog along roadA Vespa in Fog is Good Medicine

Great medicine actually.

A fine foggy morning for a first Vespa ride of 2017.  After nearly a month or non-riding living it did the soul well to be moving through the world on two wheels.  And the body did not whine or complain for the duration of this short, gentle ride.  At 37F the cold isn’t a concern.  And more importantly my back didn’t utter a word of concern.

Didn’t go far in terms of miles but it was a big journey in terms of future capacity to spend time on the Vespa.  The plan is to inch my way back to more extended time on the road and allow time to build some riding “muscle” again.  There’s still a couple more months of potentially frigid and snowy riding that could interfere but hopefully some openings.

Haven’t put the winter tires on the scooter yet nor the Tucano Urbano mitts to keep the icy wind off my hands.  Lot’s to do but not feeling much pressure to do anything in a hurry.