Cold, Snow, Chicken

Another morning of snow and ice on the road and cold in the air.  Walking Junior up the street I tried to convince myself that I could easily handle the snow on the road.  There was, after all, a lot of grit and salt mixed in with the snow.  And big patches of hard ice here and there too.  The first walk verdict -- postpone the riding and take the dog to the park.

Going to the park I knew I would get out on to the main roads and find them clear.  They were but while throwing the ball for Junior I realized it was really cold.  Single digit cold.  Not Alaska cold.  Cold for me.  So I chickened out and left the scooter at home and went to town with Junior.

I could have ridden though...

There is a cafe in town that allows dogs and that's exactly where Junior and I went.  Breakfast for me and a bowl of water for him.  He was quite content and relaxed until Rosie, a female German Shepherd arrived.  It was too early in the morning to see him turn into Sir Humpalot so we wandered out the other door and on towards home.

Tomorrow the weather forecast promises freezing rain and sudden temperature drops.  Sounds like I should just surrender to clinomania...

Happy New Year!

A new year has arrived in cold and blustery fashion.  Junior and I ventured out to the mountains to breathe fresh air, let hearts pump blood into straining muscles, and enjoy another day walking on the earth.

Junior is my guide and I work to reflect the same happy, satisfied look on my face.  His needs are simple as are his pleasures.  There's a lesson to be learned.

With dog fed, watered and safely at home I ventured out on the Vespa to experience my own version of chasing a tennis ball.  The road surfaces this morning were a mix from dry to slippery depending on location and road treatment.  This stretch was surprisingly slick and required a speed drop to around 15mph -- bicycle speed.  Fortunately it lastly only a mile or so and the rest of the ride was upon more reliable traction.

Riding and blogging, I've been thinking (again) where I want to go with this project.  I'm sure a path will reveal itself at some point down the road.

On this ride one thing floated in and out of my head.  The first is electric socks and insoles -- something to research because my feet seem to get cold faster these days.  Another gift of aging or I've become less tolerant of the cold.

So until the next ride, Happy New Year from the Sticks!

Junior the Birthday Boy

Junior is five years old today.  Kim and I have had the pleasure of sharing life with him for almost four of those years and look forward to many more.  This picture, made on one of our morning walks in the hills near our house, shows Junior resting after miles of running up and down the hillside chasing his beloved tennis ball.  On some days as I make my way up the hill and the view of the valley sweeps away to the west and north,  I feel as if I'm walking through a scene from the Sound of Music.

Life with a good dog...


One many mornings during those walks Junior decides to go for a swim -- a newly acquired taste on his part.  Made this video a little over a month ago when he finally decided to go after the tennis ball in the water.  He was still tentative then.  He's an expert now.  Not sure how Belgian Sheepdogs generally react to water but Junior has become a swimmer.

Happy birthday Junior.  What will it be -- Outback Steakhouse or Texas Roadhouse for dinner?  Or just a big bowl of Fromm's?

Stalled But Still Moving

It's been months since I've ridden the Vespa.  Any adventure on the road occurs inside the comfortable confines of a Honda Odyssey van.  Driving to Altoona, Pennsylvania today in the fog plucked chords of longing for being on the scooter.  All I need do is repair the Vespa, brave the cold concrete floor of the garage and do a little work.

A little work; finding the time has been difficult.  But the repairs are slowly rising up on my todo list.

Some things remain the same.  Junior continues to insist on quality time in the world and I am inclined to try and deliver.  This morning was nice as the temperature was already in the 40s when as we made our way through the park. There has been a lot of good riding weather this winter and I've missed pretty much all of it save for a few trips on my daughter's Yamaha Vino.

For now both the Vespa and Vino continue to quietly sip electricity from the Battery Tenders wondering what the hell has happened to me.

Soon though, soon...

Junior and I made the end of the day walk in State College, Pennsylvania.  Calder Alley offers a nice, long stroll at night with a lot of things for me to look at with the camera and many fine aromas for Junior to consider behind the many bars and restaurants.

Just a quick note to let you know your RSS feeds aren't dead and neither am I.  Just consumed with other more pressing matters at the moment.

This picture would look better if there was a Vespa in it.

Winter Riding Miscalculation

Fourteen degrees and windy this morning when Junior and I made our way up the street to play ball.  It was one of those mornings when even a dog pauses to consider the weather. I carefully inspected the street surface trying to differentiate how much loose dry snow on top of bare pavement was blowing around versus more tricky ice and adhering snow.

While Junior periodically chased the ball and then hunkered down in the snow I collected pertinent data and made a few riding calculations.

1.  It's cold.

2.  It's really cold.

3.  It's damn cold.

4.  The road is bad.

After careful consideration of all the facts I decided to drive the minivan into town for my 3 Prints Project meeting.

Or, 1+2+3+4=Honda Minivan.

As soon as I got on the main road I realized I had made a miscalculation. The roads weren't bad.  Almost dry in fact.  Though it still was cold.  I was glad I miscalculated.

When I looked at this picture I thought Gordon appeared to be hesitant to face the music inside Saint's Cafe.  He showed up with digital prints.  I showed up with no prints.  I can't be sure if I even want to make anymore prints.  We've been discussing a show but it all just makes me tired.  And I still have to fix the mixing valve in the darkroom.

Another Sunday morning sans riding.  I'm hoping for warmer weather.  I've grown weary of the winter struggle.  At least for today.

Waiting for Junior

Junior knew this vet visit was different. I could see it in his eyes -- a nervous scanning of the office, maybe noticing the place was empty at the end of the day. Maybe he could feel the small injury that resulted from his exuberant reaction to my arrival at doggy daycare when he banged his head against something as he strained to communicate, “Daddy’s here!”. Sedation and stitches were in his future.

So I wait.

Waiting for Junior.

I picture him coming through the door, wobbly from drugs, drunken on shaky legs wondering if he’ll be able to jump into his crate in the back of the van or if I’ll have to heft his 81 pounds like a sack of potatoes. It’s been 30 minutes -- the vet said it wouldn’t take long to fix him, close the cut in his face just below his right eye.

On the counter is a picture of a man hugging a yellow lab. I know that look. I’m reminded of the intense, shimmering lives led by dogs that seem to sparkle past in an instant. I’ve had a lot of dogs.

Waiting for Junior.

A stuffed dog perched amidst pamphlets for pet insurance and memorial services provide no comfort. It’s dark outside. Just a little injury, a small mishap in a dog’s life. Still, I miss my boy.

The dark side of imagination works through unlikely scenarios. Still, sedation is never a minor activity. Or so I believe sitting alone in the waiting room.

Waiting for Junior.

A technician emerges, smiles, and tells me they’re almost done. The room brightens and I see Junior running through green fields leaping toward an orange rubber ball. I imagine giving him dinner later -- letting him lick the dregs of milk and cereal in the morning.

Waiting.

Waiting for Junior.

A large inflatable tick hangs from the ceiling over a display of healthy pet treats. The technician who took Junior steps into view, stops, and softly speaks, “Come on Junior. That’s a good boy.”
Junior walks slowly, struggling to keep his legs under him, moving uncertainly. His eyes find me and his gait increases as he heads home. His body touches my leg and he melts onto the floor, tired, disoriented, relaxed. I know everything will be ok. I am reminded again of the place dogs have lived in me.

Later I hear his breathing, soft and regular, at my feet. I read on his discharge papers, “Junior was a very good patient today”.

He slept well, worn low by the day.

In the morning I took a close look at his injury. Small, almost insignificant. And I almost wonder why I was so nervous.

My dog Junior.

Riding Interruption Due to Snow

A fresh snowfall overnight -- just four or five inches but enough for me to opt out of riding today.  I've ridden in this kind of situation before but only to prove I could or to test out my winter tires when I bought them.  With nothing to prove to myself the angels of my better nature reminded me of how greatly the speed differential is between four-wheeled vehicles and two-wheeled vehicles in snow.  Seems like every SUV owner feels they can drive even faster in snow because they have four-wheel drive.  And on a motorcycle or scooter, well, you know how slow you have to go in snow if you've tried it.

So I'll stay home and admire the landscape.

And walk Junior.  He and I did a trip to the park so he could tear around in the snow, seek out other dogs to play with, and try not to lose the ball in the snow.  Succeeded in every objective.

All that's left now is to lie on the couch and get fat...

Decision Making

A frosty beard on Junior should be a strong enough indication that the Vespa should stay in garage.  Still, I was running scenarios through my head from the time I woke up.  The Weather.com app indicated 13F and clear skies -- certainly not a show stopper.  Looking ahead the forecast showed ice and snow moving in around 6pm.  I've heard that story before only to find snow falling three hours early.

Thirty minutes of dog action chilled my body sufficiently that the luster of riding to work wore off.  All the ride variations and rationalizations were reduced to "I'm too cold to get on the Vespa."

Good thing too.  The little ice balls started falling around 4pm...

Heat the Lazy Rider (Blogger) Does Make

Riding the past two weeks has been brutal. Words like fry, broil, bake, roast and hell come to mind.  Summer is my riding off-season especially when the temperature exceeds 80F.  I can't remember the last time I felt comfortable riding. Or walking for that matter.  Junior heads for the creek when we go for a walk and I don't feel like doing much at all. It's reflected in the infrequency of posts.

Heading into town last week at 7pm and the world feels like a blast furnace. Everything is fading to brown at the Pennsylvania Military Museum where the People's Choice Arts Festival had concluded a few days earlier. 

 

Junior and I spent some time this morning at Starbucks before the world started to fry. When his tongue began to drag on the ground it was time to leave.

I had great plans to finish a post today about the BMW Rally in Bloomsburg but chose to work in the garden and some time on the couch instead.

It's just too damn hot to ride, write or fiddle with a computer.

Bring on the snow.

My Dog Junior and the Daily Rider -- March 12, 2001

The last ten days worth of images from the #DailyRider and #MyDogJunior collection that I send out daily via Twitter. Shooting and tweeting is pretty easy. Preparing these posts is work!

The past week has been hectic and I just haven't had time to finish the post on the Piaggio MP3 with the sidecar rig. Maybe tomorrow. And I have other posts in the works too.

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.

My Dog Junior and the Daily Rider -- March 3, 2001

Below you'll find the Daily Rider and My Dog Junior pictures from February 24, 2011 through March 3, 2011. If you don't want to wait for me to compile them here you can see them right away when I send them out via Twitter. Just subscribe to ScooterNSticks.

I don't have to tell you to click on the picture to see the big version right?

March 3, 2011: Made this picture this morning in the garage with my iPhone. Someone had made off with the Vespa engine cover and I got a new one. Nice and shiny.

March 3, 2011: Junior in the garden.

March 2, 2011: On the way home from work. iPhone picture with Lo-Mob app.

March 2, 2011: Early morning portrait of Junior in the neighborhood.

March 1, 2011: Piaggio MP3 with sidecar. I'll be taking this out for a test ride. Stay tuned.

March 1, 2011: Early morning walk. Junior sees his shadow. Oh no.

February 28, 2011: Late evening in the driveway.

February 28, 2011: Early morning, heavy rain.

February 27, 2011: Late evening, downtown State College, PA with the Hipstamatic app on the iPhone.

February 27, 2011: Junior pays homage to his ancestors who served in World War I for the French hauling machine guns, as sentries, and messengers. Shot at the Pennsylvania Military Museum during our morning walk.

February 26, 2011: Vespa stopped at Subway to pick up lunch.

February 26, 2011: Junior in the woods on a morning walk.

February 25, 2011: Triumph brochure on my desk. Things that dreams are made of.

February 25, 2011: Junior sopping wet in my truck. Ready to go to Sporty Dog Daycare.

February 24, 2011: Vespa engine case sans chrome cover. Someone stole it.

February 24, 2011: Junior as he looks when he is nosing me for attention when I get up in the morning. iPhone image.