Scooter in the Sticks

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

Vespa Riding in a Snow Squall

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Vespa GTS scooter in a snow squallHeed Weather Alerts

This story is short.  The weather service forecast a severe snow squall. I ignored it.

I stopped to make the photograph less than a minute after the snow began.  It was still an interesting novelty and the full implication of what was about to happen hadn’t struck me yet.  A few minutes later I couldn’t see.  And a few minutes more it was almost impossible to proceed.

Riding in the winter, in snow, can be an interesting challenge.  But not always. On this day, riding in a snow squall was a different beast entirely.

Vespa GTS scooter on a cold, clear morningClear Morning Ride

The day started simply enough, at least after I got past the cold and mounted the scooter.  Despite the temperature being 27F when I left for work the sky was blue and my heart was warm.  Sunshine has a marvelous effect of minimizing the cold.  Or at least how I perceive it.  In the winter I look at the weather forecast closely to assess what I’ll face during a ride.  And more importantly, to determine if I’ll ride.

All systems were go with the only cold weather concern being the possibility of ice on the road.  Adjusting focus for that possibility isn’t always easy, especially when it “feels” warm and looks warm.  But experience has enough power to overcome delusion and scan for ice.

The meaning — slower speeds,  especially in curves, and the assumption that ice could be anywhere. On this morning I didn’t see any ice on the road and was not required to give way to any traffic due to my lower velocity.

Vespa GTS scooter on a farm laneFamiliar Territory

The route to work was familiar.  My belief — I could ride it with my eyes closed.  A few hours later on the way back to work from lunch I would test that theory. And learn a thing or two about riding in a snow squall.

The ride to work was lovely despite the cold.  Earlier, while walking the dogs, I was not sure I even wanted to get on the scooter.  The thought of putting on all the layers of gear, the wires for the electric gloves, and basically the preparation for the dance.  I’ve not ridden enough sub-freezing rides this season to have a rhythm to putting on the gear.  I make mistakes that require removing things.  Like buttoning up the riding jacket only to realize I forgot to string the wires inside for my Gerbing Gloves.

The current preparation time for cold weather riding is close to ten minutes.  Even longer if I use my new heated insoles.  If I were riding frequently that time would drop to about five minutes.  Especially if I don’t have to search for important components like my polypropylene balaclava.

Vespa GTS scooter on a snowy roadThe Beauty of Riding in the Snow

If Currier and Ives were etching images of scooters in the snow they might start with something like this.

I had gone home for lunch.  I saw a weather alert declaring a severe snow squall would strike making travel hazardous.  Scanning the list of counties I saw “southern Centre”.  “We’re not southern,” I tell myself as I look at the sun shining outside.  And off I went.

By the time I stopped to make this photograph ten minutes later, I was worried whether or not I would make it back to work or if I would have to abandon the scooter somewhere and walk.  Or hole up for a while until the squall passed.

When the snow arrived I decided I had to get to my office fast.  The snow was beginning to stick to the road and I was having more and more trouble seeing the road ahead of me due to the snow in the air and on my visor.  I made the decision to turn onto the same farm lane I used earlier during my morning commute.  It would eliminate concerns for other traffic and the gravel offered more traction.

Things went downhill from there.

Vespa riding in a snow squallVespa Riding in a Snow Squall

This was the most intense snow I’ve ever ridden in.  The snow was freezing to the helmet visor requiring a clawing action to remove it.  Snow quickly plugged the air vents creating a foggy mist on the inside.  Raising the visor to see quickly coated my glasses not to mention the stinging crystals of ice driven into my face from a strong wind.

But I could ride this route with my eyes closed.  So on I went.  And despite my eyes being wide open I couldn’t keep the Vespa on the gravel road.  Twice I found myself in the pasture and I was moving extremely slowly to make sure I didn’t run into a fence.  Part of me felt exhilarated at the challenge while the angels of my better nature were berating me for being a jerk again.

I managed to reach the pavement of the parking lot near a baseball field.  I know exactly where I am.  And then I sense the road is taking me into the woods.  There are no woods here. The surroundings aren’t familiar.  I have no idea where I am.  For the first time in a long, long time I feel lost.

A FedEx truck passes me and I decide to turn around and follow hoping I’m led to the main road.  The turn is tricky because the road is snow covered and slippery.  I don’t have the winter tires on the Vespa.  I’m completely unprepared for the situation.

Reaching the main road near Beaver Stadium I see the FedEx truck waiting.  It’s almost impossible to see anything in a near whiteout.  Cars appear out of the white and disappear again.  The truck disappears and with great difficulty I edge near the road.  I have almost no traction.  I can’t move into the road with any speed at all.

So I’m forced to spin around and creep into a parking lot and park with my back to the wind and snow.  With the heat gloves on high, I try to regroup and make a plan of attack to go the final mile to my office.

Five minutes later the visor is relatively clear of snow and I sense a softening of the blowing snow.  Not sure if that’s true but I want to believe it.  The plan — ride straight across the road to the other side and not try to make a turn in the snowy grease on the road.  Once on the other side I can creep along a bicycle lane or even move on to the sidewalk if necessary.

Steve Williams after a snow squall with his Vespa scooterEmerging from the Snow

A quick self-portrait before seeking the warmth of my office.  The snow drove hard into every part of the helmet because of the need to continually open the visor to clear fog and snow.  The rest of me was dry and warm.  The First Gear Kilimanjaro IV riding jacket did it’s job.

By the time I left the office four hours later the snow was gone though the roads had patches of ice from the earlier snow.  More riding decisions to make weighing speed, traffic and likelihood of ice.

ice buildup on a Vespa GTS scooterIce Build-Up

The ride home was without incident.  Before I left an email went out from administration warning of bad roads, closings and accidents.  Was not sure what I would encounter but was relieved to find the traffic light, the roads clear with only an occasional patch of ice near the road edges, and a fine ride to end the work week.

In the driveway I noticed the ice build-up on the front fender and reflectors.  There was more on the wheel and brakes and ice on the floorboards.  Reminders of a brief encounter with a sudden snow squall.

I’ve had enough of winter.

 

Thankful for the Small Things With a Vespa Scooter

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Vespa GTS scooter in snow squallSnow Squall

A sunny departure yesterday morning toward a black sky delivered a sudden snow squall.  I’m thankful that I was there on the Vespa, able to ride through the snow, and find my way safely to work.

Vespa GTS scooter on snow covered farm laneVespa and the Slippery Stuff

In minutes the air became white with snow and sleet and just as fast the event swept by leaving a dusting of snow to ride through.  Lovely in appearance and thankfully leaving enough traction to not be much of a safety issue.

Winter rides to work are usually exactly what I think they’ll be.  This one was different because I misjudged the forecast which noted “a chance of a passing snow shower.”  I’m thankful it did not exceed my riding skill or ability.

Vespa GTS scooter under a heavy skyRiding Under a Heavy Sky

It was colder and darker during the ride home from work.  I was thankful though that it was free of snow. If I made a list of the things for which I was thankful yesterday, it would be long.

To say I’ve had enough of the cold weather would be an understatement.  The preparation to ride in this weather has seemed overly daunting this year and the rides themselves flush with physical challenge to a level not experienced in previous winters.  Age, health, attitude — perhaps all have a role in the changing nature of my winter riding life.

But even with the added burdens, I’m thankful to be able to ride through the world on the Vespa — even if it means dealing with a little snow on a cold day.

2017 Brave, Bold Blogger Challenge

This post is part of a month long writing prompt challenge conceived by Kathy at Toadmama.com.

Should I Ride in the Snow?

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131214_vespa_snow003Vespa in the Snow

This photograph was made three years ago on a morning jaunt through the snow.  It’s an activity I find challenging though I caution most to not follow.  A lot of things can quickly go wrong.  What strikes me when I look at this picture is how much I’ve changed.  Where I was once jumping out of bed to get on the road early when it would snow, now I’m repeatedly hitting the snooze button on the iPhone alarm.  And while the Heidenau K66 LT Snow-Tex tires were already mounted three years ago, today those tires are still in the attic.

I’ve not lost interest in riding.  Rather, I find it more difficult to meet the physical and mental requirements essential to safely navigate a snowy world. My prognosis — a temporary state remedied by time and healing.

Until then, I’ll practice my assessments of the winter riding world.

Snow covered streetReading the Road

I still walk out into the street before going on a ride in the snow.  Testing the traction with a boot provides some insight into what I might find in the wider world.  While not scientific or accurate, it helps ground my thoughts of the road ahead.  On this morning, I left the Vespa scooter in the garage.  Not so much because of the snow, but because my back was still bothering me enough that I didn’t want to chance needing to suddenly manage the weight of the scooter amidst a slip or slide.

Definitely not bad back activity.

State College, Pennsylvania in the snowState College, Pennsylvania in the Snow

No one was parked in the motorcycle spaces that I routinely use.  The drive in proved the roads to be more treacherous that my boot test indicated.  At one point approaching a traffic light at the bottom of a hill I began to slow and stop long before the intersection.  The road had other ideas as the ABS and traction control on the Honda Fit came to life delivering a controlled slide to the edge of the intersection.  The Vespa would have not fared as well.

State College, Pennsylvania in winterLet It Snow

A slow, careful walk along a slippery sidewalk was required to stay upright.  I wished I had my walking stick along for more sure-footed travel.  I  find myself using the same scanning techniques and speed assessments while walking that I use while riding.

Weird.

Saint's CafeSaint’s Cafe

Like all good trips in the snow, this one ends somewhere to warm the body and spirit.  I paused a moment to photograph the Christmas wreath before finding a place to sit and sip hot tea.

It was good I didn’t ride.  The roads were far more slippery than I imagined.  I’m careful to not overestimate my skill.

A quick update moving forward — I rode the scooter into town this morning.  Temperature hovered at 24F.  Some big patches of ice involved.  Remained upright with the rubber side down.  But that was likely the last ride of 2016.  More on that in upcoming posts…

Vespa Riding Cancelled Because of Snow

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Christmas tree at night in snowChristmas Tree Looks Good in Snow — Where’s the Vespa Scooter?

You can’t tell from the quick picture I made a few minutes ago — it was snowing pretty hard.  Our two black dogs came in looking like powered sugar treats.  I almost pushed the Vespa out along the road to give the picture some scale but I had enough foolery for one day.  Planned to ride into town yesterday morning.  Glad I didn’t.  Without the winter rider’s helper — salt and grit — the roads were far too slippery for two-wheeled travel.  Even for me.  Approaching a traffic light with the Honda Fit put the anti-lock brakes and traction control to the test as I wondering how far into the intersection I would travel before stopping.

The night promises a little snow and ice with some freezing rain mixed in.

If there was just a little salt…

Let It Snow

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black dogs in the snowPlay With Us Daddy

Except for the dogs nothing was going to stand between me and a ride on the Vespa.  Each day begins with a moment of revelation as I push the blind aside to see what the world is offering.  Some mornings find a faint, hot glow from the sun yet to breech the horizon.  This morning it was a blanket of white, dragging me into a cold place where body and spirit contested with a strong, serious desire to ride.

Like helpless children, the dogs need me for food, water and a serious amount of action.  I can pace across the garden in myriad pathways collecting steps on my iPhone that easily consume a mile or more as I throw tennis balls for the dogs, wearing them out, draining the energy gathered through the night.

I swear they know my plans to leave them behind, looking at me with imploring eyes, “Play with us daddy”.  Watching the the sky and thinking about a ride on the Vespa I could hear the rider in me chanting, “Let it snow…”.

Vespa GTS scooter along snowy roadSnow on the Road

In minutes, my riding world moved from wet with incidental snow to snow and the road is getting slippery.  For a moment as I stood along the road trying to keep the camera dry and considering the road surface I started to grumble about winter.

I have had enough.

The evaluation of weather and road was inconclusive but without any striking warning signs.  So on I went.

Snow covered farm field with treesSnow Covered Rural Landscape

Riding has its own rewards with a chance to witness the world just being one.  The snow covered landscape presents a world of quiet solitude that I find energizing.  When I see scenes like this I wish I could paint because a photograph just doesn’t adequately reflect the magic of a place — the energy and thrill of being alive — wind and cold and snow striking skin, firing neurons and bringing the brain into communion with the world.

I knew I would enjoy the ride.  Let it snow.

Vespa GTS scooter in a winter wonderlandVespa in a Winter Wonderland

There are times when I look at the scooter along the road and I feel as if I’m in a fantasy — a sudden beautiful moment that I can only describe as a gift.  It’s an experience born of moving slowly, stillness, and generally an incompatible experience from what I read in motorcycle magazines where speed and breathtaking performance are the focus.

But how many horsepower do I really need to ride?

 

Vespa GTS scooter and Mount NittanyA View of Mount Nittany

The weather moved quickly through the valley and after an hour or so the roads and paths were wet with the temperature hovering in the mid-30s.  The biggest challenge was keeping the visor clear of fog.  At some point during a ride the “adult” in me steps up to spoil the fun and guides the Vespa toward errands and chores.  I’ve not yet found a reliable way to ditch that guy.

He does have his advantages including always having enough cash for a stop at a cafe on a cold morning for tea and a biscuit.  And with one last, long look toward Mount Nittany I started toward home, satisfied with a small ride on a snowy morning. Thirty miles of road time can be some fine medicine.

Is this the last snowy ride of the season?