Interview with Alessandro Melillo

A few weeks ago Alessandro Melillo made a post here suggesting that we exchange interviews about the Vespa, riding, and photography. Since Alessandro is from Italy I thought it would be fun to find out how those experiences compare between Central Pennsylvania and the birthplace of Vespa. He documents in words and pictures his travels and observations much like I do in Scooter in the Sticks. Check out his blog l'Insetto Scoppiettante.

After exchanging some questions by email we developed the interviews below that will appear on both out blogs. If you have any questions let us know.

Now on to the interviews!


What's your name/nickname? Where do you live?

Alessandro Melillo is my real name. I was formerly known as "Sgmund" and I'm nickmaned "RonJe" for awhile because of a joke between me and some local grommits, about... erh... skateboarding gear and a famous porn actor. I have to admit that I'm even a little ashamed! And yes, "grommit" is how kids are called in skateboarding jargon; well, they actually aren't kids no more, they do vote and drive a car. Time passes for everyone!

I live in Tuscany, on the coast of western central Italy, in a town called Piombino, just in front of Elba island.

What kind of Vespa are you currently riding?

A marvelous LXV 125 with rear and front chrome luggage holder.

Why did you start bloggin'about it?

Because I felt the urge of communicating to everyone what I was
experiencing as a rider. In Italy you may start driving a bike at 16 but
I never got interested in it; instead I preferred many other passions as traveling, for instance, and backpacking, and shooting photographs. Then I discovered that a scooter could easily link all those occupations, and enhance them. I bought my Vespa less than four months ago, now it counts more than 7500 km!

What do you use your Vespa for?

Commute to work, mainly, as I work as an architect in an office twenty km from my hometown. In the weekends I ride for the pleasure of riding, and once every two weeks I ride to reach my girlfriend's hometown, 120 km away from me.

This summer I enjoyed my vacation in Sardinia, obviously on my Vespa, and I'm reporting about it on my weblog.

How are scooters viewed by other drivers and riders?

I fear scooters aren't seen at all by car drivers; this is clearly demonstrated when you suddenly smell flowers and you're hit by a gentle fresh shower a moment before realizing that the car driver before you is cleaning his windshield and he neither looked at the mirror. Car drivers
too often calibrate their actions on cars and rarely think of riders.

Just go read my post titled Vespa vs. BMW 1-0. On the contrary, riders are obvoiusly more aware of their "colleagues" and are much more friendly. During my last trip to Sardinia I crossed a lot of riders (bikers and scooterists) who greeted me with the usual gesture. I like that. There is, though, a small group of, well, let's say "funny guys", who dislike scooters, expecially if they're modern automatic ones, and think you're not a real man if you don't ride a Rat Bike. Go on, brave men, teach us everythin'! As for me, I just don't like big bulky scooters but it's just a matter of taste and I won't discriminate their owners just because I don't like their vehicle; I just try to pay attention to everyone and be polite, that's all and it makes you feel ok.

What about photography, then?

I'm the son of an amateur photographer but I discovered it late. My girlfriend is the true photographer between us, as she's been shooting since she was a young girl.

I shoot digital with a Nikon Coolpix 5700, a prosumer compact camera I bought after having read an interview to Alex Majoli (he actually shoots with Olympus gear) and I'm way too happy with it. Then I shoot film with a 1959 Zorki 4 rangefinder, a Yashica FX-3 SLR and a YashicaMat medium format TLR.

I shoot only b/w on my film cameras, and I generally prefer shooting b/w but sometimes I feel the need for color and I take the digital camera. I like Ilford film.

You can find my portfolio on flickr.

How do Vespa and Photography mix?

The first one is a means to experience the world around; when I started riding I immediately perceived strong differences between a scooter and the car: riding a scooter you get smells and perfumes, you hear every sound or noise and you feel air, moisture and rain. It's an enhanced
experience, a natural psychedelic. Photography is quite the same, as through it you may cause feelings and reactions, helping people to perceive what you perceived when you shot the picture. It's easy to join the two things, as the Vespa lets you reach interesting locations and your camera records images and feelings.

Even in a short commute as I go back home, in the evening, I often find it natural to stop for a couple of minutes to enjoy the light among pine trees, a sunset, a squirrel, the perfume of wet asphalt and maybe shoot a photograph.

I rarely ride with the explicit intent of shooting, it all comes pretty natural.

What photographic gear do you bring with you when you go out for a ride?

Not much, actually. Usually just one camera, a pocket sized tripod (it's 20 cm tall, aluminium made and becomes a small tube when folded) and a spare roll of film if I took a film camera with me. Oh, and *the polarizer*, damnit, I forget it too often and I discover I need it when I cannot find it in my pocket. To be honest, I'm leaving for the weekend and I forgot it at home again!

Did your Vespa change the way you perceive the landscape around you?

Yes, a lot. Driving inside a car lets you only have what I call a "TV view" of the landscape; the windshield is a frame and if you turn your head you encounter the edges, so you're unconsciously forced to look again straight ahead.

The Vespa lets you look around, and if you smell a good perfume you can explore to spot the source (well, trying not to crash!), or you can enjoy a line in a landscape following it for its entire length as it's not broken by a frame. It's way easier this way to spot a nice image and
a good subject for a picture. And it's easier to stop anywhere, get off the saddle and shoot.

Do you have any suggestion for the Vespa riders and/or the
photographers?

To the Vespa riders I'd suggest not to be scared by the rain and wet weather, just wear the right gear. I'm gonna buy a good parka, and an over-trousers protection; for backpacks and generic luggage I use a McKinley backpack cover, and maybe when weather gets worse I'll look for
a medium-sized windshield. Wear sunglasses in bright days, expecially at morning and at sunset, when the sun can blind you unexpectedly; oh, and take care of your chrome and exposed metallic parts, they can rust and become a mess more quickly than you could think.

To the photographers I'd suggest not to be fascinated by brands, by trends and icons; just be yourself and shoot for the joy of doin' it. Your thousands-of-bucks newest Nikon/Canon/Leica/Whatever camera won't heal your dirty eye, enhancing your pictures. Instead, washing your face in the morning, a cup o'coffee after a short ride and your trusted
aluminium-and-glass brick and some cheap good film will do.

To both I'd simply suggest to scoot on, enjoy the ride, and obviously share with us your joy through some nice pictures!

That's all for now, let me know your impressions, and if you run a Vespa and photography weblog lemme know about it!

Alessandro Melillo
http://alexmelillo.altervista.org
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Steve Williams Interview

What's your name and where do you live?

My name is Steve Williams and I live in the ridge and valley region of Central Pennsylvania. This part of the state is covered with small roads and trails wandering through field and forest and ideal for riding. I feel fortunate to find myself here.

What kind of Vespa are you currently riding?

For the past seven months I have been riding a 2006 Vespa GTS 250ie. That scooter replaced my previous 2006 LX150 that I unfortunately destroyed after incorrectly reassembling the driven pulley during a belt change. Between those two scooters I have traveled nearly 14000 miles.

Why did you start blogging about it?

I started blogging initially because I needed to determine what was involved in creating and maintaining content on a regular basis for a project at work. Since I had recently acquired the Vespa LX150 I thought it would be a good test topic. My wife Kim came up with the name Scooter in the Sticks and after only a few weeks of shooting pictures and writing I realized that my blog was a good fit for my creative interests and riding. Since then Scooter in the Sticks has sort of taken on a life of its own including being awarded the Best Motorcycle or Scooter Blog by Motorcycle Bloggers International. I continue to use the blog as a way to focus my riding, writing, and photography interests.

What do you use your Vespa for?

Initially I purchased the Vespa just to have something fun to do every now and then. It was so much fun that I began commuting to work everyday as well as take recreational rides on weekends. When cold weather hit I bought some better gear and continued to ride through the winter. I'm now a year round rider and find constant adventure through sun, rain, and snow. I ride the Vespa so much now that last year I put less than 1000 miles on my Ford Ranger truck. The Vespa is more than capable in meeting my transportation needs and can haul more things than I would have expected---like bags of sand, eight bags of groceries, or a seven foot tall Christmas tree!

How are scooters viewed by other drivers and riders?

On the road I have to say that here in Central Pennsylvania the other drivers and riders are generally courteous and careful. I think that is a fringe benefit of not having a lot of traffic to frustrate everyone. There are still instances were people do stupid things but that is the exception rather than the rule. I still pay careful attention and never assume the right of way. I try to remain calm and accept any craziness on the road as a part of the way things are.

The reaction to the Vespa by other riders is interesting, especially those who don’t know much about scooters. Riders are generally surprised at how fast the GTS can go. They think of it as a toy or at best something to run around town on errands. The idea that I would ride it 200 miles or more during a ride almost seems to unsettle them. I get some friendly jabs at times about riding that little scooter but those seem to die out when I continue riding into winter long after other riders have surrendered their’s to mother nature.

I think the biggest misconception I run into with the Vespa is that it is only capable of short trips at low speeds. The idea of it being a touring machine is almost inconceivable in a culture where bigger is believed to be better and personal discomfort and fear seem to demand power and size far beyond what is actually necessary to travel.

What about photography then?

I think, in part, much of the success of Scooter in the Sticks is related to the photographs I make. I try and push myself to create pictures that visually mirror the stories I write. I generally travel light in terms of camera equipment from a small Canon S50 Powershot tucked into my riding jacket to a tripod strapped to the seat and a Nikon D200 and Mamiya 7 stowed in my rear bag. Just depends on where I am going and how much time I think I might have. Any color work is done digitally and the Mamiya 7 is always loaded with black and white film that I still process and print in the darkroom I have at home. I've not fully developed a black and white project around riding and landscape but am slowly working in that direction. My previous and ongoing projects revolved around my wife Kim and the landscape I live in. They can be viewed here:

http://mysite.verizon.net/limonium7/index.html

How do the Vespa and photography mix?

A near perfect combination. For me my personal photography is a contemplative and meditative process. It requires me to be present and available to what is going on around me and requires practice and patience. The Vespa compliments that in a couple important ways. Riding requires attention if risk is to be managed effectively. That heightened awareness spills over into my ability to see not just the road but subject matter as well. The other thing I have found is that the Vespa's nimble handling makes it so easy to stop to take a picture. I can maneuver the scooter so easily into places, U-turns, and generally do things that are cumbersome on a bigger machine. The Vespa is a perfect moving photo transport. For years I passed many great scenes in my car or truck because it was too big a pain to stop.

What photographic gear do you take with you when you go out for a ride?

On a serious photography trip I will take a Nikon D200 with a 4 GB card, a 20mm and 105mm macro lens, and a Mamiya 7 rangefinder camera with an 80mm lens. This does vary at times but generally this is what I have in the rear bag along with a half-dozen rolls of film. At times I will also strap a Tilt-All tripod across the seat. I try and keep the gear to a minimum so as not to make the photography too intrusive on the ride.

Did the Vespa change the way you perceive the landscape around you?

The Vespa didn't so much change the way I perceive the landscape as it did make me available to see it. By this I mean I was out in the world more looking for pictures. When I was venturing out by car to make photos I just didn't do it as much. Acquiring the Vespa has brought some unexpected gifts---greater awareness and more photography.

Do you have any suggestions for Vespa riders and/or photographers?

The first thing I tell people is to learn to ride well. I was a self-taught rider as a kid and when I returned to riding a few years ago I took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Beginning Rider course even though I thought I knew how to ride. The truth was I didn't and had a lot of bad habits and gaps in skill. Those are the things that can kill you on the road. I began what I consider a life long path of learning riding skills and strategies to manage risk. These have nothing to do with photography and everything to do with being able to ride safely. From that place I can make sound decisions to ride in rain, fog, snow, cold, heat and other situations that make be rich in photographic content. I try and gently suggest to new riders that there is a lot more to riding than being able to ride in a straight line and occasionally turn or stop.

My only suggestion to photographers is to shoot consistently. I firmly believe that through practice my photographic skill and results improve. If I try and think my way to good work I will never leave the living room.

First Signs of Fall

The days are already noticeably shorter and the corn is tall and ready to turn. The first signs of Fall are subtle, a few leaves turn color early, field crops ready themselves for harvest, apples get ready to pick, and around here signs of Penn State Football become apparent.

Riding through some back roads the other day I found another sign of Fall that could have multiple meanings. Literally. The hickory nuts (I think) that have begun to fall off the trees here.

In addition to giving the squirrels an opportunity to hoard for the winter they give the less attentive rider an opportunity to fall. Rounding a bend I came across about twenty feet of these hard round nuts that masquerade as marbles and give the Vespa tires fits. They are hard and keep the tire up and off the ground doing wonders for traction. These seasonal drops (nuts not riders) are common when roads run under hickory, walnut, and oaks loaded with acorns. One more innocent little natural hazard to add to the mental library along with manure drops, wet leaves, whitetail deer, groundhogs, springs, birds and bears.

Life in the sticks has its own unique set of riding requirements.

Fog Sweet Fog

It was purely a coincidence when I read Gary Charpentier's post on Rush Hour Rambling referencing the differences between my fog and his fog just minutes before departing to ride in some of that charming atmospheric effect. And I can't agree more with the fog differential between us.

I took the day off and when I saw fog on Tussey Mountain I figured it would be a good day to explore the forest roads in Rothrock State Forest. All gravel and dirt but I'm much more adept with the scooter on these surfaces now and besides---there was fog!

Before going further I have to express how different it is to ride in the fog here versus what Gary has to deal with. While I have to pay close attention to the road the shear lack of volume of other vehicles where I ride creates a completely different environment. I saw one other vehicle the entire time I was in the fog. One. I suspect Gary came near to thousands on his commute to work. In my mind heavy fog with heavy traffic is right up there with snowstorms. He is “One rugged sumbitch!.

Riding towards the mountain I could see clouds shrouding the upper two-thirds promising some magical scenery. Starting up the road to Little Flat takes me through a tunnel of trees all the way to the top of the ridge.

The fog becomes heavier as I cross over the ridge and up the next one on Bear Gap Road. The trees are even closer to the edge of the road and the sides of the road are much steeper and rock covered.

While most of the rocks are limestone there are occasional outcroppings of white sandstone that glow in the fog. About this time I notice I am dripping wet in part because of the fog but mostly I think because it is hot outside even at 7 AM. And it just got worse as the day went on though being a smart man I spent it at home in air-conditioned comfort with a good book. But I digress...

I stopped a lot to look at things, probably even more times than I normally do because of the fog and what it does to a place. I suspect on a sunny morning I would never have noticed the spider web on these thistles.

Riding further I come to the edge of one of the many wilderness areas in Pennsylvania and a place that is especially rich for reptiles and amphibians---read that rattlesnakes and turtles.

While padding around a bit I noticed a red newt crossing the road. Again, something you won't see riding or driving. The drogue I call a camera affords many special views.

My stomach got the better of me and caused the Vespa to turn towards home even as the fog seemed to get heavier. I could not help but think of the battle Gary has to endure to travel on two-wheels through this stuff. There is no rambling in that kind of environment. Fog is what the place makes of it. It's dumb luck I find myself where I am.

Pre-Dawn Departure

After almost a week of having to take the Ford Ranger to work I was ready to ride. Friday evening I exchanged the dark Iridium Visor on my Fulmer helmet for the clear one paving the way for a pre-dawn departure. I rolled the Vespa GTS out of the garage at 5:30 AM to a clear, star filled sky with the temperature a mild 53° F. After so much hot weather I forgot what that means on two-wheels.

Riding along through the agricultural areas where cornfields and woodlots that grow right to the edge of the roads meant I would need to manage the risk of encountering Whitetail deer. Since it was still dark and the deer would be moving at this time of day the only real option would be to slow down. I hadn't gotten three miles until I had to stop to put on another shirt. I made a big mistake not wearing my insulated First Gear Kilimanjaro IV jacket. I looked at the weather report and saw that the temperature would hit the low 70's. That did happen but not until almost 1 PM. Three layers under the vented jacket kept me functional if not comfortable. The bigger problem was my hands that remained numb or near numb until almost noon. For the first 105 miles the temperature never got above 55° F.

I was on the road 20 minutes before I saw another vehicle. The solitude of riding is magnified on the road near dawn. I've not tired of watching the sky begin to brighten and change color during those minutes before the sun breaches the horizon.

I missed the actual sunrise while crossing Nittany Mountain near Rebersburg; the heavily forested area masking any direct light from the low sun. Riding along I could feel my spirits begin to soar and an electric thrill moves through me just because I am riding. I keep asking myself why I didn't start riding again a long time ago.

I enter Sugar Valley and turn east into the sun right over the road. Almost 15 miles of shielding my eyes from the direct sun with my left hand relaxing only when the road was shielded by trees. Without doing so the shadows were jet black and who knows what would be waiting for me. I was grateful when I finally turned north and on towards Pine Creek Gorge.

At Waterville I had to stop and warm up my hands. Even though I was wearing windproof and insulated gloves they were not heavy enough to do the jog. I know better than to head out unprepared but I allowed myself to be lulled by the idea that it was summer.

About 20 minutes in the sun with a cup of hot chocolate cheered my spirits and thawed my hands enough to continue on towards my next mistake.

When I can't ride I look at maps and imagine riding. My route this morning was to follow PA 44 to PA 414 along Pine Creek into Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon - the Pine Creek Gorge. A mental mix-up of the map in my head has me follow PA 44 up onto the mountain top rather than remain along the creek and take me far West of my objective. To make matters worse the state has kindly tarred and chipped the road on top of the mountain treating me to almost 25 miles of gravel and 25 MPH speeds.

Thank god the scenery was enjoyable and I stopped often to look out across the many vistas.

When the road finally cleared my mind moved from managing the changing surface to my stomach and breakfast. A big banner proclaiming "BREAKFAST" on the front porch of the Carter Camp Lodge was all I needed to stop for food, water, and warmth.

I could not have found a better and more relaxed place to eat and the gentleman cooking my breakfast took an interest in the Vespa. Not enough to dissuade him from his BMW R90 though.

And it did not keep him from making one great hearty breakfast either. The Carter Camp Lodge will be on my list of stops next time I pass this way.

The Vespa and I are moving down the road again around 11AM. I've been on the road for over 5 hours and have gone 105 miles. I've stopped over a dozen times to take pictures, had breakfast, adjusted clothing, and traveled slowly for deer and gravel. So I suppose I'm not doing too badly.

I hit the famous US Route 6 at Galeton and decide it's time to head home without back tracking to the canyon or seeing the sights. With another 120 miles ahead of me I crank the throttle and cruise along.

My plan was to head to Wellsboro and south on PA 287 and on home. Postcard weather and fine roads through some of the prettiest places in the state promised a fine ride until the scooter and my brain conspired against me. First I noticed the exhaust sounded louder than normal. A quick check of the infamous Vespa GTS exhaust system gasket confirmed that it was beginning to fail. Luckily I made it home before it blew out. The scooter is now with the dealer for a new gasket that is part of a manufacturer recall. During the trip home though I began to wonder if the kind of riding I have been doing is too much for the scooter, if I should really be riding something bigger, more powerful, more durable. All this while cruising along comfortably at 60 MPH on a machine that has proven to be nothing short of exceptional.

But my mind wanders to the fact that I didn't pass a scooter all day or a motorcycle under 1000cc's. Those thoughts pass quickly though as I absorb the scenery and amazing roads that I have to ride on.

Sunday Jaunt

Not every ride can be long and filled with adventure. This past Sunday's ride was a quiet, easy 80 miles under clear skies. Paul suggested we meet at Saints, one of the local coffee shops at the crack of dawn. For me that would normally mean 5:30 AM but for Paul that means 8 AM, the first opportunity to buy the Sunday edition of the New York Times. My own mental planning didn't go beyond finding somewhere new to have breakfast.

During one of our stops to look for pictures I share with Paul my interest in riding to Georgetown South Carolina to visit an aunt and uncle and invite him along. He's mildly interested though concerned about the durability of his back for a multiple day ride especially if it means long days with me lollygagging along on back roads taking pictures.

Riding a new route that parallels Interstate 80 through bucolic Amish farmland we head towards Mill Hall. It's pretty easy picking out the Amish farms --- no power lines to the buildings and teams of horses or mules in the pastures. On a Sunday the horses get the day off save for the one powering the buggy going to church.

By accident we come across the Train Station Restaurant. It's in an old train station and still has an old caboose out back. A sign on the door indicates they will be closing their doors in a few weeks to move to a new location. I heard chatter that the entire station would be moved down the road a half mile. That seemed a little over the top for a little mom and pop restaurant but I'll check back.

After breakfast I heard the siren song of the lawnmower so we made our way home without further photography or stops. Some days riding just has to take a backseat to other more pressing personal responsibilities. Seems like an indication of personal failure.

Then Came Bronson

Of everything I have ever watched on television the short opening to Then Came Bronson has resonated with me since first seeing it in 1969. It reflects the riding mythology that lies within me and affects my ideas and choices as I ride today.

The interchange between Bronson and the tired commuter sets up freedom that riding can offer and it just grows from there. Despite the physical gap between the Sportster than Bronson rides and the Vespa GTS that moves me through the world the there is an undeniable parallel for me.

This replica of the Sportster used in the show appears on a Then Came Bronson fan site. Its worth a look.

I suspect the themes in Then Came Bronson are not universal in riding. I've spoken to enough owners of motorcycles now to know that riding is not always first on their agenda. The thought of riding along through a saltwater surf and sand would be a horror only a few steps away from the gates of hell for some and a pointless exercise for others interested in speed and cornering.

And I am not sure whether the idea of riding away from the burden of the mundane is uniquely an American story or not. I certainly see parallels with Hermann Hesse's Knulp though without the Harley.

I posted this because I can't get the image out of my head. I can still see myself on that Sportster. Even when riding my Vespa. Last night on my way to the grocery store I was thinking about it. The machine and the road stretching out in front of me.

I've posted before about this and the youTube videos go away fast. I can only suspect that someone owning the rights to the show are exerting some influence. Someone told me about a place I could purchase the series on DVD but they are no longer available. Someday I will be surprised though and see them available on Netflix.

Scooterless in the City

No riding this weekend because I helped moved my youngest daughter Aleta and her boyfriend Enzo move to New York City. Following the U-Haul along in my Ford Ranger did offer an extended cage experience and the first time driving in an urban area since acquiring the Vespa.

Traveling east along Interstate 80 I became fully aware of how isolated I am behind the wheel. Those extra few feet between me and the road cuts off a lot of sensory experience. In its place comes a refocusing of attention on the radio, the temperature control of the air conditioner, the map, the seat position, and the cruise control. The world passes by and I hardly realize it.

Higher speeds are a given on the Interstate as we travel along at a consistent 70 to 75 MPH. And that just keeps us up with most of the traffic. I am surprised at how many motorcycles pass me at speeds I can barely attain on the Vespa with little or no protection. A great many riders on cruising bikes headed towards the Pocono Raceway seemed right at home at 80 MPH with nothing protecting their bodies other than hair, T-shirt, and sunglasses. We all make decisions about the level of risk we are willing to assume and describe to ourselves the outcome of an unfortunate incident on the road. I suppose these riders just tell themselves they are going to die.

All trips require nourishment and this was no exception. What better way to complement the elegant travel by Interstate highway than a stop at White Castle. I had not been to one since the 1980's and I think I'm good now for another 25 years.

The rate of progress began to diminish as we approached the George Washington Bridge. Flashing signs a few miles from the bridge indicated a 90-minute delay to the tollbooths. Fortunately they were wrong and we only had to wait about 35 minutes. And traffic wasn't even bad. I turn the radio off so I can fully experience the new driving patterns, habits and techniques that do nothing less than astound me. Even though traffic is moving at less than 10 MPH vehicles jockey for position and advancement across four lanes hoping to pick up a hundred yards of distance by the time we get across the bridge. What's more amazing is how polite everyone seems about the cut ins and cut offs. I rarely hear a car horn and never once saw a hand raised in singular gesture.

Across the bridge and through some sort of tunnel brings us to an exit heading towards the Triboro Bridge and Queens. More traffic and my first views of riders splitting lanes. I don't think it's legal in New York but there is no way a police car will ever catch someone in this traffic. And again the lane splitting is met with quiet acceptance and I even see cars swinging wide to let the riders advance more easily. New Yorkers really are polite.

We finally get to our destination around 6 PM and start to unpack. This view is from the third floor apartment to which all the contents of the U-Haul and my Ford Ranger must go. And there are no elevators or air conditioning. But with the help of roommate Tara we manage to get everything upstairs in record time and I don't drop over in the process. All moved in (but nothing unpacked or put together)

I bid my farewells to try and get out of the city before dark and make my way home to the safety of the sticks. As complicated as the path into Queens was to find the apartment I find my way back without incident or loss and onto Interstate 80 traveling West just as it starts to get dark.

The moving took more of a toll on me than I thought and my night vision doesn't seem as powerful as it once was so when it started to rain it was time to pull into Holiday Inn Express around midnight. That didn't last long though when I was told a room with tax and fees would be almost $160. I pay less than that for a place right on the beach in Maine.

Suddenly I'm not so tired and I can see all right. Another 25 miles and I know I have to stop and a rest area serves as my respite. It took a few minutes for my 53-year-old 6 foot 2 inch body to find a comfortable sleeping position in the cab of a Ford Ranger but when I did I went out for 5 hours.

Up before dawn and on home rested and satisfied with the trip. I thought about how I could visit Queens on the Vespa but I'm not sure I would want to make that trip. I have to admire those of you who deal with city riding on a regular basis. At least on the expressways in cities. For now I think I will remain scooterless in the city. Amtrak has a nice train that goes from here to New York.

Keeping Up with the Big Machine

Last Sunday morning I rode 153 miles with my friend Paul Ruby to see how the latest addition to his two-wheeled fleet performed. Paul just purchased a 2000 Kawasaki Concours which joins his Vespa and Ducati as riding options.

Arriving at his place at 8AM found the Concours still under wraps and the Ducati up on a jack. Paul came out the door, cast aside the cover and we were on our way - almost. Before the ride could commence fully he had to stop to pick up the Sunday New York Times.

Paul lets me lead so I can stop when I want to take pictures. I worry a bit that I am traveling too slow but the Kawasaki seems content in my rear view mirrors. Heading west into the Moshannon State Forest I stop to look at some cimicifugia racemosa.

Kim calls them fairy candles and they are also known as Black Cohosh or Black Snakeroot. Paul takes the stop as an opportunity for more coffee and a breakfast banana.

From there it's on through Black Moshannon State Park and northward over Red Moshannon Creek. The history of coal mining in the region displays itself in the bright orange streams fallen victim to acid mine drainage. This damage will last pretty much forever I'm told.

During a stop to look out over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River you can see some of the contamination seeping in but the greater water volume seems to dilute it.

A growling stomach and short discussion points us to a small eating establishment about 30 miles away. Riding up the Quehanna Highway the Vespa cruises comfortably at 55 MPH until we turn off onto Wycoff Road to head towards Sinnemahoning and a hearty breakfast at the Willows, the only place to eat for miles around that I know of.

I was hungry so I didn't get any pictures of breakfast. You all know what bacon and eggs look like. It was good. If you get up this way stop here to eat.

Getting ready to leave we see a pack of BMW bikes cross the bridge and head towards Renovo. They are packed and riding fast somewhere. Following their path I think about how fast I am comfortable riding and it's pretty slow. Traffic on these rural roads still wants to go fast and I tend to let the occasional car or truck go by at 70 MPH. Those 55 MPH signs are a waste of tax dollars.

As always I want to see things and tend to move along at a more relaxed pace and Paul seems content to do the same.

I pull over to look at the river and Paul makes a portrait of me.

While I'm looking around he amuses himself with a short piece of lumber he finds along the road.

I guess the ride just isn't enough.

We stop one more time so I can look out over the river and valley and take a few pictures. My low fuel light comes on before we get to Renovo but I'm not worried---gas is just a few miles away. The gas station is closed. The only gas station around is closed, probably because of the fire that must have just occurred in the past few days.

With the low fuel light on and two bars showing on the fuel indicator we cross the river and head south to the next gas station in Snow Shoe about 36 miles away. I'm comfortable that I have enough fuel and the fact that there is little traffic and no cell coverage doesn't bother me. When the fuel indicator drops to one bar before we even get to the top of the plateau I start to wonder how I might move fuel from the Kawasaki to the Vespa. Then it starts to rain.

A quick stop to pull on raingear and take a picture of one of the out of place rocks that sort of appear here and there we are on our way. I keep the scooter at around 40 MPH thinking I am going to stretch the fuel supply and maintain a light touch on the throttle as the last bar on the fuel indicator disappears. I'm actually surprised to make it to the gas station in Snow Shoe without running out of gas. Even more surprised that I had 3/10 of a gallon left when I got there. Sometime I am going to have to run the tank dry to see how far I can really go.

Getting closer to home Paul and I part ways. I didn't register any reasons why the relatively small Vespa and the large touring Kawasaki couldn't ride all day together if there was no need to chew up miles or ride at high speeds on the Interstate. For touring around like we did it was fine. I know I could ride a lot faster but that interferes with most of the goals I have while riding