Scooter in the Sticks

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

The Quiet of the Road

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Vespa GTS scooter on an open rural landscapeRiding in the Quiet Landscape

The Vespa’s exhaust is louder than normal. The low hum through the earplugs has a sharper note with a noticeable rapping. The sound of a failing exhaust unit gasket. Hot gases escaping before they should and threatening damage to the scooter. It’s all getting in the way of the quiet of the road.

I make no thunder in the valley.

Riding, especially alone, is a perfect prescription for someone seeking solitude and space to think. Even if it is about mundane concerns like exhaust noise. A few days ago the morning offered the familiar fog that comes with melting snow — a fine backdrop for my simple rides of late. Standing in a field, looking at the scooter, peering at the horizon veiled in mist with my thoughts.

That’s why I ride. That’s how I meditate. In the quiet of the road.Continue Reading

Weekend Riding Ritual

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Vespa in wooded groveVespa Scooter at Launch

Just down the road from my home, I sometimes stop at the Boalsburg Military Museum to make a photograph of the scooter.  I’m not sure why but suspect it’s often a time where I contemplate where I might be going that day. A kind of riding ritual connected that lets me consider options that factor in time, weather and how I’m feeling.

On this morning last weekend I was thinking about the fog I could see in the distance and the appointment I had with my friend Paul Ruby at Saint’s Cafe in State College, Pennsylvania.  Conflicting assignments.  The desire to ride through fog is always strong, but so are the get together’s at Saint’s to look at and talk about photography.  Some quick calculations suggested I may be able to touch both.Continue Reading

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