Scooter in the Sticks

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

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…

Vespa Below Freezing

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Vespa GTS scooter parked along streetEmbracing Cold Weather

There’s been some cold, gray days lately.  Add wind and it get miserable.  The transition from warm weather to cold has grown more difficult the past few years.  In part because of physical changes, but mostly mental hurdles of my own creation.  Riding a Vespa below freezing has changed.

I converted this photograph to black and white because it more accurately reflects the way I have been feeling lately on the road with the scooter.  No wonder or joy.

Saint's Cafe in State College, PennsylvaniaFog and Steam

Made this photograph right after I arrived at Saint’s Cafe.  The frozen lens on my little Canon G15 camera immediately fogs up when it comes in contact with the steamy air of the coffee shop and gives the picture a little misty look.

If there’s one thing about winter riding that is still exhilarating it’s coming in from the cold.  The wonderful feeling that comes from heat remains something I look forward to.

Steve Williams, Vespa rider, reflected in windowReflecting on Cold Weather

I used to like cold weather.  Something’s happened though.  A litany of nagging physical issues has turned cold weather into a nuisance.  At times worse — a danger — to my body.  Some might wonder why I even consider riding when it’s cold.  I can only confess an attraction to the challenge.

Looking at myself reflected in a window in a local bank I wonder who I am.  Or am becoming.  If I park the Vespa for the winter — that’s not a good omen.

For me.

Vespa GTS scooter on rural roadRelearning How to Ride in Cold Weather

It’s easy to ride in the winter on clear roads with no traffic.  But that’s not alway the environment I ride through.

On the way into town I was reminded of how suddenly things can change on the road.  Not far from the house is a big intersection with a traffic light.  I’ll normally move through at 45mph.  Fortunately, the light turned red and I had to stop.  As I slowed I could see a sheet of ice stretching across both lanes and extending about 15 feet into the intersection.  Had I hit that at 45mph, well, I like to tell myself I would have just let the scooter roll straight through but I’m not sure that would have worked.  It was difficult to navigate across at a crawl when the light turned green.

Winter riding lesson — even when the roads appear clear and dry you need to be scanning and looking constantly.  I wasn’t.  Haven’t fully dusted off my winter riding skills yet.

And I probably won’t for awhile.  The Vespa is off the road for a bit — perhaps into next year.  But that’s a story for another post.

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…