Scooter in the Sticks is Moving

Just a quick word to readers -- shortly Scooter in the Sticks will be migrating from Blogger to Wordpress.  That change should be seamless.  I'll post more details just before that happens so we don't lose anyone along the way.

In the meantime, be safe on the road!

How to Squeeze More Out of a Ride

I've listened to more than a few riders share, "If I only had more time to ride...".  Perhaps every rider has had those thoughts.  Over the years I've realized that the amount of time on the road isn't the only measure of riding satisfaction.  Changing the tempo and cadence of a ride can lead to some strange places you might not normally experience.  One hot evening I found myself wandering on the baked limestone mud near a quarry and feeling as if I landed in some otherworldly place, if only for a few moments -- an experience lost if I had continued down the road as planned.

I've come to think that riding plans, for the most part, do more to suck the life from a ride than anything else.  Wandering and exploring unfettered by route, time or destination are the really difficult to engage being for most riders the exact opposite of what seems the correct way to engage a trip of anything length.  I wish I could get lost more, lose track of time, and see the world from a perspective other than the one beaten into me.

Riding at night is a nod towards the unknown and mystery.  Everything that's predictable and familiar evaporates into a rush of senses and feelings.  Perhaps with enough night miles under my belt it would be more challenging to not fall into a predictable pattern.  That's a ways off though.  It's dark now -- maybe a good time for a short ride.

A Ride on Father's Day

Last weekend I took a ride to deliver a Father's Day card, an excuse to ride 125 miles on a fine Sunday morning, leaving behind Happy Valley as my friend Paul and I took a wandering route to Altoona, Pennsylvania. It's not often the air is this clear or the view this good from Jo Hays Overlook.

On any ride there is always some strange, odd thing to see.  On a bench at the overlook were a series of sunflowers -- like rock cairns along the ocean.

Paul Ruby alternated his photographic efforts between an iPhone and a Nikon D800.  For anyone thinking that a 250cc scooter and a big motorcycle can't ride together, the BMW K1200 GT was a fine companion for the Vespa.

Forty miles south of home sits the Route 22 Diner, our breakfast destination.  A fine place to stop for food before continuing on to Altoona.

I didn't shoot many pictures on this ride.  Sunny days don't fire the photographic engine and it's harder to stop as I would like when riding with someone else.  After delivering the Father's Day card Paul made a stop to inspect a Buick station wagon.  He has an unhealthy attraction to these old yachts but decided he didn't need this one.

And that was it, a fine morning ride under a blue sky.  No photographic distractions, just piloting the scooter along the road, taking in the light and air, letting cares and worries fly away until nothing mattered but the ride.

What a great Father's Day.  Until I got home.  A big plumbing problem.  Thank heaven I had a good ride under my belt...

URAL Day at Kissell Motorsports

Last Saturday the URAL team rolled into State College, Pennsylvania to demonstrate the sidecar life to a group of interested riders gathered at Kissell Motorsports, the central Pennsylvania dealer.

After some basic instruction two rigs were made available to go on a short 15 to 20 minute ride with a leader and follow bike to help make sure nothing unexpected happened.

I like the looks of the URAL and at some point in my life it may have a role.  Just not right now.

Many went out in pairs to try out both possible riding positions.  Others rode alone.  No one brought their dog, the real reason to have a motorcycle with a sidecar in my opinion.

The Vespa seems rather insignificant compared to the much bigger URAL.  But then the URAL can't fly.  Things balance out in the universe.

I've spent some time on a URAL.  If you're interested in my views you can find them in my post titled Becoming a URAL Adventurer.

Empty Morning Ride

For me, the first moments of the day shape the path my mind heads down.  A walk with the dog, a hot shower, and a ride on the Vespa makes puts everything in perspective.  For me at least.

This past Sunday morning I found myself drawn towards the mountains outside of town, up towards the fog and mystery.  Time and responsibility kept the Vespa at a distance; we could only look and imagine what secrets were hidden in the mist.

One of my favorite haunts for dog and foot is undergoing a transformation forced by giant machines.  I can only watch and hope some space remains for more solitary pursuits.  Could be progress pushed me farther afield to find the emptiness I crave.

State College, Pennsylvania is a model of emptiness on Sunday morning.  I'm lucky to have those moments so close to home.  Someday they'll probably exist only under cover of night.  Even that is a fine time for a Vespa...

A Racer at Moto Hang

No, not this guy.  That's Mike with his 2-stroke Yamaha cafe racer.  He's a regular at the Piston and Pints gathering and tells me he's working on another bike though the details escape me at the moment.

Before I go on, if you want high resolution files of these pictures you can download them from my Flickr site.

Every Moto Hang gathering seems to have some new aspect of motorcycling or riding in play from a member riding around the world to custom sidecar builds to this evening when a truck and a racing motorcycle appeared.

Here's where I realized I should have taken notes to at least get some specifics on the motorcycle and rider.  I'm going to take a clumsy stab at both fully expecting to be corrected later by some of the more observant riders.

John Dershimer rolled his Suzuki motorcycle down the diamond plate ramp and gave a short course on some of the ins and outs of riding a motorcycle at high speeds on a race track.

The Vespa among the motorcycle rabble.  John Oppy's Honda project bike (right) was cool.  Love those knobby tires.

Liked those knobbies enough to make a portrait -- just one step away from including myself in a selfie...

Another view of the Vespa twinkling in the sunlight.  It's my blog so I'll post pictures of the scooter until I'm sated.

Someone asked (and I think I failed to answer) if they had to drink beer to be part of the Moto Hang -- here's photographic evidence that you don't.  One out of three has a beer.  I drink bottled water heavily at the get togethers but not beer.  All are welcome.  Even trikes I think.

Meet Ken Hull.  He's the founder of the Moto Hang and related riding and social activities.  He's inviting anyone within riding distance of Boalsburg to join us on the first and third Wednesdays of every month from 5 p.m. until the last rider departs for home.

So mark your calendar and join the group -- motorcycles of all kinds, scooters, hacks.  No one shown up with an electric motorcycle yet.  You can be the first!

Evening Mission

At 5:04 p.m. an alert vibrated the iPhone sitting on my desk warning of a severe lightning storm and calling for the evacuation of two athletic stadiums on Penn State's University Park campus.  For once my decision not to ride because of the weather made sense.  Three hours later the weather cleared and the Vespa was fully engaged in an important mission. The line of fire across the sky signified the importance of the task at hand.

Swift movement at dusk through the central Pennsylvania landscape inspires a heighten sense of risk; Bambi is lurking just beyond the green fringe, waiting to intercept the feckless rider. As missions can push limits it's important to remain attentive, focused, and bring all skills and powers to the task at hand.

Fragrance and fluctuation of air temperature seek to move the mind from the eye to the nose like mythological sirens luring the unsuspecting towards the rocks.  A few words of silent meditation refocuses concentration on the mission at hand, interrupted by the sharp pierce of a mosquitoe's proboscis through my cheek.  On the Vespa goes.

Only minutes left, moving silently across the parking lot, like a special operator in a hostage rescue, hyper-focused, committed, single-minded.  Moment by moment the number of possible decisions shrink until I'm face-to-face with the target.

Mission complete, target secure and enroute to a Friday evening summit.

Life is always an adventure on two wheels.