Scooter in the Sticks

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

Riding in a Little Rain

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A 2001 Kawasaki W650 motorcycle parked in the rain.
All alone in the rain.

Choices

In addition to the certainties of death and taxes something else can be added to the list — we always have choices. They may not be good choices. Or pleasant. But they’re always there when needed. Like riding in a little rain.

Since retiring and not facing the changing personality of daily fluctuations in weather I tend not to choose to ride in the rain, snow, or bitter cold. But sometimes opportunity and circumstance collude to tempt me out into the world on a scooter or motorcycle. And on this day, a heavy overcast with barely a sprinkle convinced me that the risk of riding in a little rain on my 2001 Kawasaki W650 was a good choice.

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When the Road Ahead Changes

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Vespa ET4 on a long rural road.
Along a road in Penns Valley Pennsylvania.

Sometimes the Road Ahead is Straight and Familiar

I’m not talking about the pavement. Or dirt and gravel. The change I refer to is when life disrupts my routine and expectations. When I ride I seem more aware now of those changes and the potential impact they have on the journey forward. Even little things stand out and leave me confused about what’s ahead. What will happen next.

During a recent ride to breakfast with my friend Paul I found myself thinking about the road ahead and the things that are changing.

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Riding in the Rain

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The heat was hot and the ground was dry.

Not sure why that lyric from America’s Horse with No Name floated through my brain as I sat down to write this post. Perhaps it was the heat of the past two days. Or the humid air flowing in the windows as the clock leans toward 2am. Regardless the reason, one thing’s for sure — riding when the thermometer eclipses 90F is unpleasant. For me.

And now I remember fondly a misty morning ride of a week ago. Nothing quite as pleasant as riding in rain during summer.

Mist over central Pennsylvania hills on a rainy morning.Morning Rain

An early appointment at Kissell Motorsports to have the rear brake pads replaced on the Vespa scooter had me on the road in a light rain with the temperature in the low 60s. Rain all night had cleared the roads of the oil and grease that seems to accumulate in summer which makes traction a bit more positive. Not that my laid-back riding style or the lightly traveled routes face challenges from the rain. Mostly there’s a flowing movie of misty landscapes that feed my imagination and create adventure in my head.Continue Reading

Embrace the Quiet Ride

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Empty Saint's Cafe on a weekend morning.Empty and Alone

Given the option, in most situations I choose to be alone. Finding Saint’s Cafe nearly empty at 9am on a weekend because Penn State is on break is a gift. It’s the same with my Vespa — I embrace the quiet ride.Continue Reading

Treasure of Experience

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Vespa and BMW motorcycle in a drivewayRainy Morning

I was glad I decided to wear my winter riding jacket on this cool, wet morning. It would be mid-afternoon before the temperature rose to the point where I found it necessary to open the jacket vents. And it would also be clear that the ride was a treasure of experience.

Arriving at my friend Paul’s house the plan was to ride south for breakfast. A light rain had me wondering if it wouldn’t be best to go somewhere local to avoid a drastic change in the weather.

Sometimes venturing out under a cloud of uncertainty, weather or destination, just doesn’t feel great.

Still, we rolled out onto the road with only a vague notion of where we were going.Continue Reading