Let’s get down to business. So there’s no confusion.
This is
Scooter in the Sticks. The main blog. The only blog.
Some might be confused because I have been posting all these daily images and changed the Blogger template yesterday. Say goodbye to the original blue version. I’ve moved on to my favorite color – gray. Other than the design change everything else is the same. I think.
Change is our friend.
First, I’ve decided not to post the #DailyRider and #MyDogJunior pictures everyday. I’ll consolidate them once a week in a post. The nearly 1500 people who subscribed to Scooter in the Sticks via Feedburner will continue to receive text and pictures as usual in an email. Everyone should be happy. I’ll be happy. That guy in Key West might even be happy. If you want to see them right away subscribe to my
Twitter feed or view them on
Flickr. I put them there as I go.
Since I have those pictures ready I will post them as sort of a change gift.
The Daily Rider: February 23, 2011.
Made this image with the iPhone this morning. I neglected to shovel the wet snow and slush a couple days ago in the morning and upon returning after work everything was frozen. So I will have to brave the snow covered driveway until the weather warms a bit.
My Dog Junior.
This morning at the vet. Junior had to get his first round of the Lyme Disease vaccine. He was bored. Made this image with the iPhone and the Lo-Mob app.
It’s been good to be on the road again despite the salt, cold, and occasional ice and snow. The motorcycle parking spaces at my office have been slowly disappearing with the recent snow. Thankfully there was a space I could hide the Vespa in. In a few weeks there will be flowers and warm air. I do remember one mid-March around 1995 that we had 28 inches of snow. I probably shouldn’t get too attached to the idea of spring just yet.
Kissell Motorsports and I have some plans for spring. The first being to do some riding on the Ducati Diavel and the new Triumph Tigers. Craig Kissell and I have talked about riding together and comparing notes on the bikes. Look for those after the roads are clear and the salt has been washed away. Until then I will look over the books Craig gave me. I can see myself on the Tigers. The Ducati is a bit harder to picture.
Last Friday night I attended Midnight Madness at Kissell Motorsports. A big sale from 10pm to midnight. Lots of people turned out and found some great prices on helmets, gear, gloves, motorcycles, and such. I almost bought a new pair of Rev It pants but decided all I really needed was a new Triumph sweatshirt.
It was getting close to midnight when I got back on the Vespa for the 12-mile ride home. It was cold (around 35F) with wind gusts hitting 45mph. Interesting night ride. I couldn’t figure out why no one else rode to the event.
Not everything is fun and games though. I still have to find time for the 3 Prints Project. Time is less of an issue. Motivation is my problem. Gordon and I show up faithfully at a local coffee shop on Sunday morning to share work. Being a regular now you begin to notice the other regulars.
And coffee shops seem to be one of the last bastions of unfettered photography (except for those corporate ones with rule books). I figure the day will come that someone will complain and we will be politely asked to put our cameras away lest we be branded as terrorists.
Photography is not a crime.
Not yet.
This past Sunday Gordon had some nice digital prints. Both of us have recently agreed to abandon film and the darkroom for a while. I already miss it. This image is of his wife.
Gordon has a dog named Laika. I think my Junior photography was inspired by his pictures of his dogs. I’m a follower. Except when it comes to riding. Then I’m a loner.
Riding buddy Paul Ruby made an appearance. I'm not sure if he wanted to see us or just needed a muffin. He recently purchased a Ducati 1198 to share space in the garage with his Kawasaki Concurs, Harley Davidson something or other, and a nice, 1964 Vespa. And his 1962 (?) Mercedes and 1976 Ferrari. He thinks they are all chick magnets.
He needs to talk with
Dr. Riepe. Besides, that sweater demagnetizes pretty much anything.
Made this picture on the way home from work this evening. Despite the cold and snow I’m glad to be out. Some days when I walk into the house Kim remarks on the smile. Riding has a way of doing that. Even on cold days like today, riding to work without my ski mask and the cold cut into my throat like a knife, I was smiling and happy when I arrived.
Go figure. Things like that don’t happen in warm climates like you might find in Key West.
I do have some good news to report. A while back
Jack Riepe of Twisted Roads posted some good information on how to handle Valentine’s Day. He made a recommendation for
Big Jim’s Cookies. I bought two-dozen immediately. And Jim called the house because of a snowstorm seeking permission to ship the cookies a couple days later so they would not get hung up somewhere in shipping. He bakes these things fresh and they are GOOD. Yum. I wish I had some right now.
Jack Riepe may not know much about motorcycles or women but he does know chocolate chip cookies.
Since I can’t have a constant supply of Big Jim’s Cookies I can always stop at the candy store down the street for my beloved Figaros.
So I think I am all caught up with the news from the sticks. It's good to have friends, interests, a loving wife, kids, family, a dog, camera and Vespa. Can't ask for much more. Well I can but I won't right now.
As the weather warms and I cast off the weight of winter I hope to provide a little more interesting fare.
March 12, 2011: Late afternoon ride and a stop to take in the view of Mt. Nittany, a Penn State icon.
March 12, 2011: Junior's first visit to the dog wash -- a canine version of the self service car wash. The spring thaw meant a muddy dog. Now we have a fluffy clean dog.
March 11, 2011: Friday evening drive home from work. The wet and gloom and transporting Junior to doggy daycare has kept me off the Vespa.
March 11, 2011: Early morning walk. Junior contemplates cookies.
March 10, 2011: I'm too lazy to gear up to ride in this stuff. iPhone and Lo-Mob.
March 10, 2011: Hey Junior, why the long face? Made this with the iPhone. Straight out of the camera.
March 9, 2011: Dreaming of warmer days and motorcycles.
March 9, 2011: Junior in the morning. Made this shot with the Hipstamatic app on the iPhone.
March 8, 2011: Evening at home with Rider magazine. Another iPhone shot and Lo-Mob app.
March 8, 2011: Junior portrait with iPhone and Lo-Mob app.
March 7, 2011: Fresh snow. No Vespa.
March 7, 2011: Junior at the Pennsylvania Military Museum. He looks at home with elements of an armored division.
March 7: 2011: Junior watching the sun go down. He's a thoughtful dog.
March 6, 2011: Heavy rain early meant another day with the truck. Shot this with the iPhone and Lo-Mob app.
March 6, 2011: Junior is impervious to rain. The iPhone is easy in bad weather.
March 6, 2011: At one point in the day I thought I might brave the rain and go for a ride when I got home. But it turned to snow and went downhill fast. Another iPhone and Lo-Mob image.
March 5, 2011: Testing the Piaggio MP3 and sidecar in Moshannon State Forest. iPhone and Lo-Mob app.
March 5, 2011: I got Junior in the sidecar but without more training I wouldn't trust him not to leap out for a squirrel, dog, or other target of choice. So he just posed like he lives in that thing.
March 4, 2011: The Vespa and a Zeppelin. The big Victory bike is, well, I guess an acquired taste.
March 4, 2011: Early morning ritual involving camera and tennis ball. iPhone and Instagram app.
