Scooter in the Sticks

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

Ride or Work

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Vespa GTS scooter parked outside Ag Engineering Shop at Penn StateEdward Hopper Scene

I want to be a painter, working in oil, shuttered away in a solitary studio, alone, sparked by dreams of a Vespa and the road. When work and life intensify my head goes to secret places.  Some days it’s a question of ride or work.

Resorting to my secondary scooter parking space earlier in the week when the usual space was teeming with othersand began the walk to my office.  Looking at the Vespa stand amidst the Penn State campus scene I couldn’t help think it was a view Edward Hopper may have appreciated.  And from there my mind was off n the races.

So it’s been these past couple weeks.  Distracted or consumed.  Both stifling any desire to blog.  This entry is a test of self will.  Took days to create this drivel…

Vespa parked outside an engineering shop at Penn StateBusy, Noisy, Cluttered

The title refers to the thought patterns in my head and not the engineering shop that I chose to park next to.  I’m hoping for a clearing soon.  Perhaps another ride in the morning to see if I can break free and feel a little more fluid.  The sweltering heat and humidity of late isn’t helping though.

Tomorrow is another day.

Ride on to victory!

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.