Family, Friends and a Ride to the IngleBean Coffee House

Not just another Saturday morning in central Pennsylvania.  This one was one of those magnificent days where the atmosphere is free of haze that postcard photographers love.  Add a constantly changing variety of blue sky and wispy clouds and it feels like you're in a Disney World commercial.

With the temperature at 48F, Aleta, Paul and I pointed our scooters towards Millheim, Pennsylvania and the IngleBean Coffee House for breakfast.  A fine, lazy ride through some of the most picturesque agricultural landscapes in Pennsylvania — a real ride through time as a result of the growing Amish communities here.  

Seeing horse-drawn buggies is a common scene with road apples everywhere and the telltale lines on the road sketched by hundreds of thin steel wheels.  During the ride we passed a number of them.  I noticed one Amish farm is a solar array on the roof.  Wonder what that powers...

We were lucky enough to get a parking space right in front of the coffee house.  Notice the parking pattern -- Paul and I represent the older generation parking head out.  Aleta does the head in parking.  Evidence of an intergenerational ride.

The IngleBean Coffee House is a relaxed, comfortable, feels like home kind of place with good food.  Definitely worth the half hour ride.  The place has a rustic, LL Bean feel to it and is the sort of establishment you would expect to find friends (which we did when we first arrived).  Paul and Aleta seemed to be at home.

Paul Ruby, BMW, Ducati, vintage Vespa, and on this day Piaggio Fly rider.  I think he's sucking in his stomach...

Aleta puts up with one more picture with the local mural on the side of the Elk Creek Cafe. Another fine place to eat.

We wandered across the street to the Green Drake Art Gallery where I bought a small clay tile for Kim.  On the way back I had the chance to catch another Amish rider...

As fast as the morning develops it draws to a close.  Departing Millheim we wandered a bit until Paul and Aleta decided to head to the Nittany Valley Antique Machinery Show and Flea Market while I chose to head home.  Riding with family and friends is great but there are moments that I like to keep to myself -- the little walks along the road looking for a vantage point, burning memories into my synaptic pathways, being grateful that I'm alive and on the earth.

Riding through the middle of the valley on the small roads, the ones the Amish use, and just thinking how fortunate I am to be here.

Another little ride stored away, percolating, mixing into the Vespa experience.