Subzero Education

There are days when the universe conspires to make sure you understand how little you know. Today was one of those days.

Once upon a time there was a boy who had a Vespa.  The boy loved his Vespa and would go to great lengths to ride it.  He would carefully identify opportunities to undertake errands or commute to work on days best left to life behind the wheel of an automobile.  Like this morning, one of the coldest mornings in years.

I knew it would be cold today and wasn't surprised to see the Weather.com app on my phone display -8F.  The first arrogant thought -- I've ridden in colder weather.  And that's true though I was younger and healthier at the time, one of many little facts I would choose to overlook.

Walking up the street with the dog was pleasant.  Walking back with my face to the wind I was muttering about the cold but realized it wouldn't be so bad on the Vespa at 50mph.

The scooter started right up but my riding gear was frozen having spent the night in the unheated garage.  But I was only going 8 miles, I can stand a little cold.

Don't let anyone tell you that riding in the cold is simply a matter of the right clothes and the right state of mind.  That's only part of it which I somehow forgot though was reminded of not far from home and throughout the day.

My friend Pete Kauffman, the Art Editor where I work and also an intrepid Yamaha Vino rider, made this picture when I arrived at the office.  He arrived in a Chrysler product.

Pete will appear again later in this story.

So let's do a bit of deconstruction on this picture so I can share a few lessons I learned again on the way to work.

1.  Don't forget that a Vespa sitting inside an unheated garage all night connected to a Battery Tender is not the same as a Vespa sitting outdoors for 8 hours not connected to a Battery Tender.

2.  The multiple layers necessary to ride at -8F make you look fat.

3.  When the temperature drops below zero you really should choose your Olympia one-piece winter riding suit instead of the jacket and pants you wear when it's 60F.

4.  A lot of moisture drips out of car mufflers and freezes instantly on the road.  With all the cars going to work there is a lot of slippery stuff around.

5.  When you walk your dog through the snow at -8F the snow that's collected in the cleats of your riding boots freezes solid producing a sole of ice that you discover at the first stop sign.

6.  You can't hold your breath all the way to work, you can't ride far with the visor open, and you can't get the frost off the visor.

7.  You shouldn't let your fuel supply get so low that you have to stop for gas when it's -8F outside.

8.  You should really pay attention when putting your gear on so all the little openings are sealed.

When I finally got to my desk I was grateful the heat was on and that I didn't learn any of the lessons the hard way.  At least not until the end of the day.

Fast forward to the end of the day.  Vespa cranks but will not start.  Continued cranking drains the battery.  I'm not riding home.

I call Pete and ask if he has jumper cables.  A few minutes later the starter is cranking but no fire.  We both suspect a fuel supply problem.  Something has frozen up.  Pete takes me home and I leave the scooter.

I return later and move the Vespa into a small workspace and attach it to a Battery Tender and hope the warm temperature will perform some kind of magic.  One hour later the Vespa starts and I ride home in the dark.

I learned a few things today, got the subzero riding out of my system, and am now thinking about food.

Does it get any better than that?

Moving Towards Photography

Allen Street in State College, Pennsylvania on Sunday morning -- would have been fine to ride the Vespa in to town.  Roads were mostly clear.  I passed the opportunity in favor of warmth.  I can only attribute this weaseling decision to aging, some treacherous biological process of confiscation of all that's good in life.  There are always opportunities for recovering missed opportunities.  As I type the thermometer has descended to 9F in the dark amidst a 25mph wind and promises to settle near -5F by dawn.  No snow or ice so I could ride to work.  But I digress...

I've been thinking a lot about photography lately, or more precisely how little time I spend making photographs.  I don't count the ones you see here for some reason, or the ones I make professionally.  If its digital it doesn't count.  Instead I continue to puzzle over how to bring the 3 Prints Project back into my creative life.  A hole remains where those silver prints used to reside.  It's a crazy thing that I'm not ready to explain.

My friend Paul Ruby showed up at Saint's Cafe with a box full of prints.  Digital prints.  And the one that resonated strongly was crafted to look like a platinum print despite being shot with a digital camera, processed with Photoshop and printed on exhibition grade fiber paper with an Epson 3880 printer.

Looking at that print had visions of Tri-X dancing in my head.  With no Vespa available to distract me the chemical photography scheming continued to grow.

Gordon Harkins, the third leg of our photographic meetings, (or maybe he's the first leg?) did his best to distract us with his brand new Canon DSLR camera (a 6D?) that was able to operate wirelessly from an iPhone.  It was like magic.

Being an engineer, Paul was completely enthralled with the electrical wizardry.  Why couldn't I get caught up in the same wave of astonishment instead of dreaming about mixing chemicals, processing film and making prints?  This is 2014 and film has to be dead.

I'm stubborn I guess...

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...

Snow Equals No Riding

Junior said no and who am I to argue?  And it was only 5F.  There's always tomorrow...

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!

New Year's Eve Ride in the Snow

The last day of 2013 and it snows -- a little.  Enough to give pause to any decision to ride the Vespa. Walking Junior up the street I do the usual traction testing with my boot and try to imagine the roads beyond our neighborhood and consider alternatives to a morning ride like doing laundry or scrubbing the bathroom.

It's not long before I'm standing in an empty cornfield watching the sun try to burn through a passing snow squall, wondering if the scooter is going to fall over on the uneven surface.  When weather moves quickly through the valley I need to pay close attention because traction and visibility can change quickly making riding difficult or impossible.  Today I have a few errands to run but no time to really get lost.

Surprising variation on main road surfaces.  Some wet while others built up a sheen of snow and slush. Salt trucks were out but because little snow was predicted I suppose their hearts weren't really in it. This particular road was much more slippery than I expected, that detection made again by testing the road surface with my boot.

Slow riding here -- 20mph seemed about right provided no panic stops were needed.  It also means pulling over for any traffic approaching from the rear -- just to be polite.

Not sure what the new year will bring but I try to be open to possibilities.  There's much to be grateful for and a lot of work ahead.  Riding the Vespa is a part of my road ahead and it's nice to live somewhere that makes riding pretty easy.

Errands finished and the weather continuing to intrude so I head towards home where it's warm and cozy.

Glad I have winter tires.  Looking forward to a few hours of above freezing temperatures so I can wash all the salty grim from the scooter.  It's really red.  All the gray is from the dirt and salt...

Riding or Obsession?

Sitting at home late this afternoon reading a book when I suddenly noticed the fading light, warmly orange streaking across the hilltops and clouds.  Dropping everything, I grabbed my camera and raced to the garage.

I like to think that I love to ride but it clearly isn't that simple.  And I've been a working photographer my entire adult life though I let countless things derail a wide range of photographic opportunities and projects.  I want to make simple assessments of my life and actions but it just isn't so simple.

Riding the Vespa and making photographs are clearly linked in some unholy manner.  More than one person has referenced my obsessive placement of the scooter in pictures and I confess to a powerful draw to do so.  As I stood in front of Mount Nittany in the fading light I forced myself to make a photograph without the Vespa.

The race was on as I forged ahead in the cold as the indicator flashed 27F on the instrument cluster.  I usually am careful to be warm before departure but this time I neglected to do so and could feel my feet getting cold after five miles.  Not a good thing for someone who suffers from Chilblains, a condition where the capillaries in my feet are easily damaged by cold and can lead to some nasty blistering.

Just one of a few medical conditions foisted on my by bad genetics and age.  But the recognition wasn't enough to turn me towards the warmth of home and instead I kept riding, searching for some image or experience.  On rides like this I really do wonder about my obsessive traits.  They may account for some of my ability to focus doggedly on projects, at least those that capture my interest.  Things like painting walls or mowing lawns, they don't attract any of my obsessive powers.

Riding on two wheels has some advantages -- in this case being able to navigate around locked gates and other barriers to four wheeled vehicles.

By the time I rode through State College, Pennsylvania I was ready to head home.  The cold had won out over other obsessive/creative desires.  For a moment I considered stopping at Starbucks for tea and some sort of sugar delivery system but decided to ride home where I could wrap my feet tightly in warm blankets.  Good thing too since my feet were almost on fire in a decidedly cold way when I arrived.

Preparations for First Night are underway with an assortment of ice sculptors practicing their craft.  The weather will be more cooperative this year with a bit of cold to keep the ice in good shape for a few days.

So I'm left wondering if I'm driven by a passion to make photographs, and strong desire to ride, or if some other psychological mechanism is at work.  Many riders tell me they enjoy riding, it's fun and exciting.  This ride wasn't fun by any definition I use and I don't think I derived any enjoyment.  I can say the same thing about photography -- it's neither a hobby or an activity to have fun.  In riding and photography I'm driven by something else.  It's work, at times a burden, but I need to do it.

Something to think about as the year comes to a close...

Non-Riding Days

I have no fixed formula for deciding when to ride a scooter or motorcycle.  Weather, time, destination and other elements factor into the decision but the mix can be cloudy and inconsistencies develop.  This morning was a perfect example.  Light rain and mild temperatures and I decided to drive.  Safer and easier than riding in snow but I was tired and just not in the mood to put on the gear and deal with the weather.

Any second guessing about the decision were gone by the time I got to town as the rain fell harder.  State College was empty -- few people and fewer cars.  Nothing quite as lonely as a college town during the Christmas break.

Last meeting at Saint's with Gordon this year.  He surprised me by showing up with gelatin silver prints made in his darkroom.  I'm motivated now to finish the repairs to my darkroom sink and produce some prints of my own.  Who knows what kind of photographic work the new year will bring.

Writer-artist wife Kim in her studio.  On rainy days we talk about projects and things we can work on together.  Again, not sure what the new year will bring.

Junior continues to practice the art of guilt, flashing those sad eyes at whoever he can in hopes of inspiring a change in action.

He usually gets what he wants -- food, treats, a walk, or a trip up the mountain to run and play ball.  What a life.

As the new year approaches I think I'll try to be a lot more like a dog...

Riding Towards the End of the Year

The year draws to a close and I'm thinking about what I've passed on the road and what lies ahead -- family, friends, riding, work, writing and photography just to name a few of the things swirling through my head.  Riding alone on sunny winter day can help tame the mental noise and begin putting a face on the things that raise questions.  With the temperature near 40F I decided to head out through the valley for quiet and food.

Little snow left today though plenty of gravel and grit still around making for awkward handling in a curve for an unsuspecting rider.  Riding along Penn's Creek, a well known trout fishing spot, saw few cars and fewer fisherman.  A nice place to ride when you want to think.

Today was an example of the many days in winter where riding is simple and easy.  Clear roads and moderate temperatures provide a recurring opportunities to be on two wheels.  Snow on the side of the road doesn't mean the pavement isn't clear.

Ended up in Millheim, Pennsylvania at the Inglebean Coffee House for breakfast.  Always enjoy a stop for food and to scribble a few notes in a journal before moving on.

You can't see it but there was a big patch of ice on that first turn -- another reason why no matter how clear the roads seem you really do need to ride no faster than you can stop when you see something.  That's an important part of winter riding.

Mostly today the ride was about unwinding and relaxing.

It worked.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the sticks to you!  I hope peace, goodwill and plenty come into your life.

After several days of near summer-like weather an arctic front moved through bringing snow squalls and pushing the landscape towards those old, Currier and Ives holiday images.  Just before lunch on Christmas Eve and I saw the snow begin to fall and decided to take a quick ride up the mountain to find a suitable image to share.  The roads were bare until reaching the point where the pavement is no longer salted and snow gathers quickly.

Fresh falling snow always seems peaceful and calm.  An appropriate sense of things for the holidays.

All the presents are gathered and family will arrive soon.  It's a wonderful time of year.

And the kids wait for the arrival of Santa Claus, or in our case, Junior waits for a trove of treats.

Merry Christmas to all and ride safe!

A Morning Ride

Routine and repetition -- another Sunday morning ride on the Vespa to Saint's Cafe to meet Paul and Gordon.  The snow has vanished amidst a 60 degree December heat meaning more days to ride. Even though winter is decidedly not considered motorcycle riding weather the reality is that most days through the year are rideable.

But who cares...

Hints of Christmas are everywhere but still something is missing.  Not feeling the magic at the moment but there is still time.

Each encounter at Saint's Cafe has a unique flavor.  This week the discussion, in part, focused on The Death of Photography.  Sitting here now I realize I don't care if photography is alive or dead.

This picture of my food, or rather the detritus of my breakfast, indicates that photography truly is dead.

Oh well...

Chasing the Night

I've had a picture in my head for a few weeks -- a picture of the Christmas lights in State College in the snow.  Bad planning on my part let that opportunity slip away as the temperatures soared and the snow melted.  Even so, I rode into town thinking there was still some sort of possible picture to make.  More bad planning -- I arrived too early.  At 1:20am there is still a lot of activity on the streets and I just couldn't get myself or the Vespa in the position I needed.

The bars close at 2am and by 3am things should be in better shape for the picture I want to make.  I'll just have to get my head around staying up that late or getting up that early.

For this ride it was a pleasure to ride with the temperature near 60F despite a brisk wind.

Evening Errands on a Vespa

Had a few errands to run this evening.  Considered taking the car then opted for the Vespa.  With the thermometer hovering in the mid 30s I felt comfortable going for a ride in the dark.  The roads were a mix of dry and wet.  At night the wet pavement can look like shiny ice and I had to stop a few times and make sure it wasn't.  Peace of mind sort of thing.

Rode through town and saw a picture I would like to make but told Kim that the best time would be 2:30am.  Surprisingly she didn't bat an eye having been married to a photographer for a long time now.

Eventually I ended up at the grocery store for a few necessities and the ever important tea biscuit -- something sweet to accompany my evening cup of Earl Grey.

On the way home I had to stop and make a quick picture of this place -- every year this family goes to great lengths to have a pretty intense Christmas light setup.  Sorry about the electronic flash.  It was so dark that you wouldn't see the Vespa.

It's all about the Vespa...

A Typical Winter Commute

Snow on the driveway in the morning, a reminder of what can happen when you aren't looking, a dusting of icy slippiness that can make life exciting in a decidedly unwelcome manner.  It can happen at night when you're sleeping or during the day when you're at work and not necessarily paying attention.  It's the food that can be part of a winter rider's menu.

The weather report had little suns with some clouds and no mention of precipitation.  I calculated that the main roads would be dry or have a patch of snow here or there. Turn off those main routes onto anything not salted and it would be a different story.  Like here at the Pennsylvania Military Museum where the landscape resembled the Ardennes in 1944.

Side streets in State College were dusted and slippery in places but easily managed with the right winter riding attitude consisting mainly of slow travel, careful braking, quick surface assessment and informed decision making.  I was in town to meet someone for breakfast at the Corner Room and hoped conditions would improve by the time I rode on to work.

One thing I failed to consider was the motorcycle parking at my office -- the only place you are allowed to park a motorcycle on campus, was not cleared.  I suppose they don't expect any motorcycles this time of year.  Luckily the snow piles were still soft and I could kick an area open to park.

The situation was far worse in the parking lot than on the road.  By the time I rode home conditions were much improved with dry roads and warming temperatures.

On a scale of one to ten with ten being glare ice and sub-zero temperatures and one being sub-freezing and dry this particular ride was a four.

Maybe I should develop a Scooter in the Sticks winter riding score...