Scooter in the Sticks

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

Days Getting Short

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sunlight illuminates birch bark with days getting shortDamn, I sense days getting short.  Right now there’s less that ten hours of daylight.  With most of that time spent inside at work being able to see the melancholy light on our birch tree is a rare treat.  And a reminder of the end of things.

Or something.  Feels gloomy at the moment.  There are bright spots though — the ride home on the Vespa, a few bites of chocolate, two dog faces greeting me at the door.  Simple things that don’t ever seem to wear thin.

Vespa scooter at cemeteryI used to walk Essa and Iggy Pup through this cemetery a dog generation ago.  But the rise of inconsiderate (non-poop-picker-uppers) led to “No Dogs Allowed”.  Now I just ride past on the Vespa no longer visiting Dave and Tom and others.

The temperature is inching downward.  On the ride to work it was 39F.  The weather forecast suggests 31F tomorrow morning.  I’ve been exercising my ice eyes. And thinking about installing the Tucano Urbano muffs to keep my hands warm.

The days are getting short.

box of candy and LL Bean catalogCandy and dreams help make it through the dark.  Vicarious travel through ink and paper and gentle distraction through spending money at LL Bean are just a few of my favorite things.

The days are getting short.  And I’m none too happy about it.  I’ll discuss my displeasure with a dark chocolate cashew turtle.  And fondle a chocolate covered graham cracker.

What’s a man to do with days getting short?

Evening Ride

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Vespa GTS under a fiery evening sky

Evening Ride

At 5:04 p.m. an alert vibrated the iPhone sitting on my desk warning of a severe lightning storm and calling for the evacuation of two athletic stadiums on Penn State’s University Park campus.  For once my decision not to ride because of the weather made sense.  Three hours later the weather cleared and the Vespa was fully engaged in an important mission. The line of fire across the sky signified the importance of the task at hand.

Vespa GTS scooter at sunset at the beginning of an evening ride

Traveling at Dusk

Swift movement at dusk through the central Pennsylvania landscape inspires a heighten sense of risk; Bambi is lurking just beyond the green fringe, waiting to intercept the feckless rider. As missions can push limits it’s important to remain attentive, focused, and bring all skills and powers to the task at hand.

Vespa GTS scooter on rural road during an evening ride

Fragrant Air

Fragrance and fluctuation of air temperature seek to move the mind from the eye to the nose like mythological sirens luring the unsuspecting towards the rocks.  A few words of silent meditation refocuses concentration on the mission at hand, interrupted by the sharp pierce of a mosquito’s proboscis through my cheek.

On the Vespa goes.

Vespa GTS scooter parked after an evening ride

Silent and Swift

Only minutes left, moving silently across the parking lot, like a special operator in a hostage rescue, hyper-focused, committed, single-minded.  Moment by moment the number of possible decisions shrink until I’m face-to-face with the target. Time slows as I move like a shadow with singular intent.

Ice cream and gelato

Mission Notes

Mission complete, target secure, two pints of fine frozen dessert — Ben and Jerry’s and Talenti — on route to a Friday evening summit with my significant other. It was a productive evening ride.

Even the little trips are fun and full of surprises. Life is always an adventure on two wheels. Life is better with a Vespa scooter.