Scooter in the Sticks

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

Vespa Mileage — What’s Important?

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Interstate 99 superhighwayDo Expressway Miles Qualify as Riding?

Scooting along on a four-lane highway can rack up miles in a hurry as the world flies by at 70 miles per hour.  I’ve found myself in this situation many times as I hurry from one point to another because I’ve become enslaved to a clock or calendar.  But what of that Vespa mileage?  Is it anything other than tedium because I’m robbed of experience save for keeping the scooter upright and in a straight line, especially when a tractor trailer rig blows by at breathtaking speed.

When rider discussions turn toward mileage, I often wonder about the quality of those miles and whether it’s just a big contest requiring a ruler…

Man lying on a road along the center lineThe Slower the Road the Richer the Experience.

A photographer I know who has documented this country from vantage points on roads and byways once told me you see nothing over 35 miles per hour.  And if by chance you do you’re going too fast to do anything about it.  He’s not a rider but takes in the world from an SUV.  While you could argue that the cage further insulates the driver from the world requiring even slower speeds to take things in but my own experience has been, scooter or cage, that you need to go slowly if you want to appreciate the details in the world and not just the outlandish sculpture of the American landscape.

Lying on a road isn’t something I suggest anyone do.  But on this ride with my friend Paul, it represents the relative slowness of the road.  No one pushing to go faster, no traffic pattern to conform to.  Only my own decision on how fast to ride.  I may pass fewer miles but I suspect I see and experience more.

Vespa GTS 250ie scooter on gravel roadTime Not Miles

Should someone be tallying annual miles ridden on their scooter or motorcycle I might suggest something more in line with an airliner — what’s the hour count on the machine.  How many hours have you ridden?  I’ve been on many 50 mile rides that have taken all day to complete.  During that time I’ve seen more plants and trees, turtles and birds, eaten food with the wind in my face, turned my camera toward passing clouds, and generally felt the electricity of being alive.  And I’ve flown as one can only do on two wheels.

Everyone’s interests, goals and needs are different.  Some race across the country on the superslab just to spend a few days puttering along the quiet roads of some more exotic place.  I’ll probably do that myself someday after I’ve experienced all there is to see here.  I’ve only been exploring on two wheels for ten years so it may be awhile before I feel the need to travel to the next state.

But generally, 200 miles on an interstate highway?  Or more?  I’d rather have a sharp stick stuck in my eye…

2017 Brave, Bold Blogger Challenge

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

Slow Travel on a Vespa

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Slow travel on a Vespa on a foggy morningTesting Slow Travel on a Vespa Scooter

Another lovely foggy morning — one that challenges the senses as it shrouds the landscape in mystery.  Fog, perhaps my favorite riding environment as it allows the imagination to run along into fabrication and fantasy.  Perhaps merely a personal quirk laid bare while riding.

As I’ve continued stretching my return to riding I’ve rediscovered the joy of slow travel on a Vespa — that sense of heightened attention and awareness of detail as you move slowly along the road.  If you ride or drive, you’re probably aware that you see much more at 30mph that you do at 60mph.  If there is one huge drawback to motorcycles, in my opinion it’s they’re resistance to going slow.  Their soul wants to run and race and transform the road into a blur.  The Vespa on the other hand is content to ramble along at slow speeds and feel great doing it.

This trait above all others is why I love the Vespa.  It supports my desire to make photographs; it informs my understanding of the world.  And it will go plenty fast when required.

Vespa GTS scooter in State College, PA on a foggy morningFoggy Morning in State College, Pennsylvania

After looping across the valley to experiment with the limits of my recovering lower back I made my way into State College to have breakfast and share new photographs with my friend Paul.

During my month away from riding I restored my darkroom to operational status and have begun to shoot, process and print film negatives again.  The experience has been unexpectedly rewarding.  More about that in some future post.

Saint's Cafe in State College, PennsylvaniaSaint’s Cafe in State College, Pennsylvania

Along with the empty streets was a near empty cafe.  With only a half dozen patrons drinking coffee and reading newspapers I had no trouble finding a place for helmet, gloves and riding jacket — bulkier items than the layout comfortably accommodates.

Paul Ruby at Saint's CafeMorning Rituals

My approaching retirement will present time to develop a few more rituals like the one that brings me to Saint’s Cafe to discuss photography (and life).  Not sure what they’ll be but the prospect of exploring the options is exciting.

Paul has been sharing prints consistently for many months — digital interpretations of recent travels to Newfoundland and the American West.  I’ve been sluggish in production until the recent re-firing of the darkroom.

Vespa GTS scooter along foggy highwayFog and the Highway

For anyone following Scooter in the Sticks very long you’ll sense that the amount of traffic I deal with is often light.  Sometimes almost non-existent — a fact that tempers risk when riding in less than ideal elements for visibility and traction.  Still, I have to stress the importance of never being a complacent rider regardless of the amount of perceived traffic.  It only takes one vehicle to wreck your day.

Or your life.

Hyper vigilance, practiced skills, and an ego left at home has allowed me with a broad flexibility to manage situations, or surrender the roadway when required, so I can continue to meander around and across Pennsylvania.

So to all those reading — ride well, be safe, and best wishes for clear roads ahead…

Christmas Blessings

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Christmas tree in the snowSparkling Trees and Lights

Christmas — a time of magic and wonder. As a child the crackling energy of lights and presents and visions of Santa Claus. More years added ideas of spirit and faith, magical and wondrous in different ways as I journeyed through my own notion of God and Christmas. At the very least, I find this a time of personal reflection,  a search to rediscover magic and recognition of the Christmas blessings that I can easily overlook.

With Christmas just a few hours away I wish each of you reading these words, regardless of your belief, good tidings and cheer in hopes that your life, your family and yourself are blessed, healthy and safe. Best wishes for the road ahead and all that it may reveal.

Vespa GTS scooter in a winter wonderlandWinter Riding with a Vespa Scooter

With my Vespa in the body shop, there are no opportunities to navigate the world on two wheels and ponder the Christmas spirit.  Instead I’ve been wandering through memories of past Christmas experiences and rides.

Vespa GTS scooter in snowy Rothrock State ForestChristmas Eve Vespa Ride

A couple years ago I was on the road on Christmas eve riding through Rothrock State Forest in a light snow.  All that was missing were the jingle bells that are etched in my brain as an element of the season.

Steve Williams and his VespaMerry Christmas to Scooter and Motorcycle Riders Everywhere

My wish for each of you — to find comfort on those difficult days we all experience, and recognition of the beauty in the world to help fuel hope when it’s hard to find, friendship to brighten the journey you’re on, courage to continue on when you want to stop, patience to accept the things you learn and experience that aren’t always what we want, faith that everything will be ok, and love to complete your life.

Christmas greeting from Scooter in the Sticks

Merry Christmas to all!

Rusty Vespa Scooter

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Vespa GTS along rural road in snowWinter riding means salt and rust

After many winters of snow, salt and slush the underside of the Vespa was beginning to show signs of distress — namely rust.  And the body seam behind the front wheel  was showing rust coming through the paint.  From a distance you can really see much wrong, but up close, there’s ample evidence of hard use.

Since my back has continued to limit my riding and my tolerance for cold has changed, I thought it might be a good time to drop the scooter off with a local body shop for some restoration work.

The ride from home to the shop wasn’t long — just six miles — but the 24F air just reinforced the decision to take a break from riding.  With the Christmas holiday bearing down there’s a lot of things to distract me from the painful reality that I’m not riding.

Vespa GTS scooter at Roan's Body ShopRoan’s Body Shop — State College, Pennsylvania

Not sure how long the Vespa will be out of commission.  The early estimate was a couple weeks but the first icy roads of the season brought a windfall of bodywork to the shop so I’m not sure when I’ll be riding again.

The repair request was pretty simple — get rid of the rust and repaint in some color that sort of matches.  I’m not worried about a perfect match or if they use paint from Piaggio.  Just slow down the rust so I have a few more years of riding.

An unexpected bonus — they’ll have to pull the entire front wheel and steering column assembly to do the job.  When they reassemble they’ll be able to straighten out the bars which got twisted out of alignment when I made an unfortunate (stupid) move during a ride that led to me dumping the scooter in some steep, loose shale.  Pulling the scooter up off the ground twisted the handlebars out of alignment and I’ve been riding it that way since last summer.

Not riding and posting new material will give me a chance to work on some of the ideas that have been rattling around my head.

The rattling noise is getting pretty loud…

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…