Scooter in the Sticks

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

Riding and Exploring on a Small Scale

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How often do you discover things when you ride?

Vespa and Piaggio scooters on a forest roadVespa and Piaggio Scooters on the Road

In my dreams I’m riding somewhere far away. The destination unknown, the road moves through the woods and then rises into mountains, I’m curious what will be over the next rise. During every ride there are moments, some quiet, others thrilling, when a door opens a chance to investigate and explore. Driven by curiosity, riding and exploring is one of the most satisfying activities of my existence. I’ve mistaken it for freedom. But it’s something more tangible and direct. It’s an experience from childhood that was stolen away by adult life; found and retrieved thanks to riding a two-wheeled machine.Continue Reading

Scooter in the Rocks

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Vespa GTS scooter on quiet rural roadQuiet Riding on a Vespa Scooter

Among other reasons, I ride to relax.  On the quiet rural roads near my home, I can pilot the scooter along and breathe in the landscape — through my eyes, ears and nose.  The sensory tapestry created as the Vespa rolls along is rich and seductive.  On this morning I only planned a short ride; too much tennis ball play with the dogs had me on the road later than normal.  An early afternoon engagement meant a short ride.

There’s something about the Vespa scooter that brings childish behaviors to the surface.  On the empty roads I find myself weaving the scooter back and forth like a bird swooping over a field.  The Vespa moves effortlessly, to and fro, in a hedonistic ritual I practice more than I like to admit.Continue Reading

Learning to Waste Time

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Vespa GTS scooter along Interstate 99Highway Riding on a Scooter

Standing along an Interstate 99 is probably not the best place to discover that you don’t know how to waste time. Or more precisely, that with few requirements on my time in retirement, I can’t seem to relax.

I was on my way to Altoona to have breakfast with my father-in-law and because I spent too much time playing with the dogs I had to “hurry” to arrive at the agreed upon time. My normal route would wind through the countryside and take a little over an hour. On the freeway I can make it in 40 minutes.

For anyone keeping notes on whether a Vespa can handle riding on an Interstate highway — my GTS scooter ran between 65 and 70 mph the entire 48 mile trip.Continue Reading

Riding Toward Simplicity

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Vespa GTS scooter along a rural road lined with cornfieldsSimple Vespa Riding

The hot weather has vanished and I’ve been on the scooter more. Riding nowhere in particular. Just enjoying the passing landscapes. A stop along a rural road to admire the field corn, tall and lush from an abundance of sunshine and moisture.

I ride a Vespa scooter because it’s easy. And it can do practically anything. Anywhere. With few exceptions (water crossings and deep mud), most of the scooter’s limitations exist between my ears.

A recent email I received from a rider in Nova Scotia has been rattling in my head. Specifically, a short passage regarding a cross continent trip from Washington state to Nova Scotia:

“Most of that 14-day adventure (almost exclusively across America) is a blur to me. Like so much of my riding up to that point, my focus was 150 feet off of the front wheel and hitting every apex with surgical precision. In the process, I missed a great deal of beauty.”

I read about people making grand adventures; on two-wheels, on cruise ships, in cars. And I marvel at the distances traveled and the experiences consumed. But it all seems rushed.Continue Reading

Morning Vespa Ride

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Vespa GTS scooter on a foggy morning Vespa rideHow to Return a Library Book on a Vespa Scooter

In general, I go to great lengths to find reasons to ride the scooter.  Most mornings begin with the dogs, walking slow laps through our woodland landscape and reflecting on the day a step at a time — a quiet meditation on life.  Contemplation is made more difficult by two excited canines with squeaky balls in their mouths who are anxious for the contemplation to end and the ball throwing to begin.

When I saw fog on the mountain yesterday morning, the fragile detente between man and dog was threatened.  If I go out of my way to find reasons to ride, fog trumps almost all riding situations.  It wasn’t long before I remembered I had a library book to return — a short five miles to town.

The direct route to the library is a bore.  Besides, the fog was on the mountains so I quickly determined an alternate route was in order — the long way around so to speak. Just a slightly extended morning Vespa ride.Continue Reading