Scooter in the Sticks

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

Just Thinking

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Steve Williams portrait by Paul Ruby

Photo by Paul Ruby

Lost in Thought

The past couple weeks I’ve had a lot on my mind — everything from retirement to installing a freeze-proof faucet on the back deck.  When my head gets full of ideas and wants to ruminate I’ve learned to sit back and let it happen.  Resistance is futile.

My friend Paul made this picture while we were waiting for breakfast at a little cafe in Millheim, Pennsylvania.  We were on a little photography adventure sans scooter or motorcycle.  The forecast called for rain and nastiness.  I remember thinking while sitting there that it was a pretty nice morning and I should be on the Vespa.

Vespa GTS scooterRiding the Vespa

I’ve ridden some over the past two weeks but just haven’t felt like posting anything.  Sometimes a ride sharpens awareness and focus that writing a blog post is simple.  They almost write themselves.  Other times, like now, there are no ideas.  My fingers are making a forced march upon the keyboard in a stream of consciousness effort to post something before going to work. Call it an exercise in willpower and hope.  Hope that I can leave the mental wrestling behind.

Made this portrait of my trusty Vespa GTS 250ie (vintage 2006) on a foggy morning along PA26.  Not enough fog to create any interesting imagery.  I remember feeling disappointed because I could see…

Vespa GTS scooter on a rough gravel roadRutted Roads and Little Wheels

The Vespa isn’t a great performer on rough and rutted roads.  The little tires jolt and jostle as they plunge into the depths.  Unless it’s my aging body demonstrating the decline in shock absorbing tissue in my joints I’ve been thinking that I may need need shocks on the scooter.

Staying on the pavement provides a fluid, flying and smooth ride.  Not sure why I keep heading down trails intended for something other than a Vespa.  My desire to explore is strong but at times brings my choice of machine into question.

Maybe I just need different tires.  And shocks.

Vespa GTS scooter in a pastureVespa in the Grass

Trees.  I’m always attracted to them.  Especially ones standing alone.  I suspect the same attraction applies to the Vespa situated by itself in so many photographs I make.  Perhaps a reflection of my own tendency to want to be alone.

This past weekend I wandered through a dizzying crowd of people and machines at a Harley event. It’s no place for thinking or reflecting.  Or even being yourself.  I imagined for a moment I was at a casting call for Sons of Anarchy.

One of the things I like best about the motorcycle and scooter riding communities is how diverse they are.  I like to think at some basic level though we’re all brothers and sisters on our respective rides…

Vespa GTS scooter on a farm laneWhere Am I Going?

A frequent question both on and off the Vespa.  And one that I don’t often find a satisfying answer.  For the past couple weeks I’ve been thinking about where I’m going.  It’s not a good place to linger.  Perhaps with this post I can move on to other things.

Maybe it’s time to ride to work…

Riding Sets You Free

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It’s as if no one can touch you when you ride…

Vespa GTS scooter on the open roadLure of the Open Road

No matter how many times I see the road reach out into the distance I still get a thrill.  In this place, I experience a sense of freedom.  It keeps me coming back.  On the road no one can touch me.  Cares and concerns melt before the wind and pavement.

I’m certain that riding sets you free.

My friend Paul Ruby and I were going on “a little ride” to breakfast.  Stopping in the eastern end of Penns Valley so Paul could look at an old pickup truck I had a chance to survey the road ahead leading through Woodward and Hairy Johns and on toward Laurelton.

Vespa scooter and Ducati Hypermotard motorcycle in the mountains of PennsylvaniaIn the Mountains

Pennsylvania has mountains.  High places covered by a hardwood forest with threads of roads twisting and turning through a fern, rock and moss paradise.  Riding introduces you to truth.  Sometimes uncomfortable.  When I started riding a Vespa 15 years ago I could still scramble up these rocky hillsides to make a photograph.  Now it’s a careful trek with the knowledge I could easily break a leg or ankle.

Or maybe I just need better boots.

This picture was made just a few miles from where I dropped the scooter.  I was still worried that something bigger might be wrong than the handle bars being out of alignment.

And we hadn’t even had breakfast yet.

Vespa scooter on a sharp curveNo Grids

There are no grids of roads in central Pennsylvania as you climb through the Appalachian Mountains.  If I think about them more than a moment I have trouble imagining how they ever came into existence.  Or how people made their way through this part of the country 200 years ago.

The Vespa was tracking fine through the most severe turns and curves and any concern I had for the alignment issues faded.  The scooter really is at it’s best in this environment.  Just watch out for the loose gravel that seems to be everywhere.

Paul RubyPaul Ruby

Departing the Carriage House Restaurant in Mifflinburg, Paul can’t pass up an empty pack of L&M cigarettes as an opportunity to pose.  I didn’t spend enough time directing him into the proper Euro grimace.  And we really needed a pack of Gauloises cigarettes for the right Ducati feel.

All the photographers I’ve known enjoy being photographed.  Paul is no exception.

Ducati motorcyle and Vespa scooter together on a rural roadCloud Drama

The skies played tricks on the mind the entire ride.  Heavy clouds and darkness followed by bright sun and dazzling colors.  Riding through that constantly changing illumination just makes the whole experience seem surreal.  And I’m an actor in a play bent of flying free.

Riding sets you free.

Ducati and Vespa along the Susquehanna RiverPause Along the Susquehanna River

Surveying the view of the river I notice Paul is tossing his helmet in the air.  I didn’t ask and he didn’t say but I suspect it was his idea to make the picture more interesting.  I just wondered how he would feel if he dropped it and the helmet rolled of the edge to the riverbank below.

He never dropped it after numerous tosses.  Don’t lend him your helmet.

Scooter and motorcycle on the roadRiding Sets You Free

The weather was perfect and the low humidity provided rare summertime views to the horizon.  The ride was great even if breakfast consumed 147 miles.

I’m addicted.  Or at least suffering a compulsion that drives me out the door and onto the road.  I hesitate to count the hours I spend riding.  Or thinking about riding.  If riding sets you free how come I can’t stop?

When I ride in the snow or sub-zero temperatures am I free or in denial?

Right now, I don’t care.  I just want back on the road.

On To Breakfast

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Vespa GTS scooter along rural roadClear Morning Ride

Off early with friend Paul Ruby for a ride on to breakfast.  The night before I curled up with my tattered DeLorme Pennsylvania Atlas & Gazetteer pondering routes to various eating establishments.  Usually I know where I want to go.  Other times I have to explore maps until something surfaces as a destination.

By the time I met Paul this morning I had decided on a little ride to The Dream in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.  The last time I was there was in the 1970s when it was then known as Dave’s Dream.

At 8am the weather was perfect and the Vespa running as well as ever.

Ducati Hypermotard and Vespa GTS scooterDucati and Vespa

There are many routes to Hollidaysburg.  I was hungry, the roads relatively empty so I chose one where we could cruise at 55mph or faster. Paul’s Ducati Hypermotard was up to it so I figured, “What the heck”.

An intentional effort to not stop for photographs quickened the trip to breakfast.  Moving across three counties in a cool morning is a pleasure.

Vespa scooter and Ducati motorcycle at The Dream in Hollidaysburg, PennsylvaniaThe Dream Restaurant

The Dream is fancier that my usual breakfast haunts.  The food was fine but it lacked the rustic character I enjoy in smaller, out of the way establishments.  I don’t suspect it’s a biker hangout or destination for long distance riders.

Paul Ruby and Bob DionisA Vespa Connection

Paul got my father-in-law Bob involved in scooter riding when he sold him his Vespa ET4.  It was a creampuff then and is now under Bob’s watchful eye.

Paul Ruby and Vespa scooterRide and Wait

It’s no secret I prefer riding alone.  Mostly because I want to stop and look around, make photos and live without calling or rule.  That’s easier alone.

Paul waits a lot for me and his Ducati could obviously travel much caster.  Still he waits as I scramble up direct roads for one more picture.

Elegant Vespa Utility

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Vespa carrying a long baguetteBeauty and Bread

On the way home from work I stopped at the Boalsburg Farmer’s Market to grab some things for dinner.  All my choices fit under the seat or in the top case save for the long baguette.  Can’t believe in all the years I’ve been riding and getting groceries I’ve not faced the baguette dilemma — how do you handle the classic long bread?

Having no beret didn’t help.  I remembered the famous image of a man and young boy riding down a tree lined road with a baguette strapped across the back of their bicycle.  After searching the scooter for a few seconds I realized the front rack not only is capable of hauling watermelons, it can carry bread as well.

Can there be an expression of elegant Vespa utility than that?

Encountering Harley Davidson Motorcycles

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Vespa GTS encountering a line of Harleys in Boalsburg, PennsylvaniaBaby Boomers

I read a story recently about the problems facing Harley Davidson — an aging customer base with dim prospects for replacements.  Same for all the big manufacturers.  While we aging riders with money (or credit worthiness) continue to support our brands, there are fewer young people interested in riding or have the disposable income to spend on a motorcycle.

All this came back to me on Friday night when I ran down to Duffy’s Tavern in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania to pick up dinner and found a queue of Harleys lined up out front.

Looking at the assembled machinery I could only tell one thing for sure — there were a bunch of old folks around.

Managed to grab dinner and scoot away before detection.