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...

Riding Between Good Snow and Bad

Snow began falling this morning and quickly began covering the road.  No snowflakes in the beginning, just small round pellets.  Dry snow on dry pavement.  This is the stuff that looks bad but does little to impede traction.  There's a small window of time before flakes fall and things get more slippery.  I don't understand the physics but I've had enough experience to know the effect.

With the road in this condition the traction is surprisingly good.  You won't slip and fall walking on this road and it's unlikely that the Vespa will go down either.  At least not without a lot of help from bad choices.

I had nowhere to be or go, just wanted to be out in the world for a bit and take in the first real snowstorm of the season.  Wandering down a gravel road offered a few lessons.  As gritty as the surface looked the fresh snow covered a lot of smooth, hard ice.  No way of knowing lest a rider gets off the scooter and pushes their boot around.  Not a problem when engaged in frequent stops for photos.

Roads into Boalsburg were completely snow covered and had become slippery.  Braking, motion and movement had to be carefully considered.  The Heidenau snow tires make a difference.

No one was at Ken's Moto Hang Lounge -- home of the Piston and Pints events.  In fact, I didn't see another scooter or motorcycle the entire time I was out.

I have a good idea of my limits -- skills and experience.  With the snow continuing to fall I decided to head towards home with a short stop at the Pump Station for breakfast.  The trip home from there is short though uphill.

The First Gear Kilimanjaro jacket has little protection from moisture and performs more like a dish cloth than raingear.  I need to apply a coat of Nik Wax or something soon.  Walk inside someplace warm forgetting to brush off the snow first and things get wet fast.

Riding up the hill went fine though a few times the rear wheel broke free.  Seems as if the car that made these tracks had a similar issue.

The winter tires definitely help.  Aggressive tread, soft rubber, embedded micro-crystalline silica all work together to increase traction.  Not magic but a little edge.

Snow isn't a rider's friend.  In almost every case a reason to not ride.  Same with me.  But some are happy with the snow.

Junior loves the snow and after the Vespa was put away he needed an adventure of his own.  An hour of running around at the park and we were both ready for a bowl of food and a warm house.

Still snowing outside and I doubt I'll be riding anymore today.  Junior, Kim and I will cozy up and let the world disappear under a blanket of white.

Vespa on a Cold Night

It's been cold and getting colder.  By morning the temperature will be in the single digits.  Not the best news for riding a Vespa but still within the range of riding if the snow holds off.  The past couple days the scooter has sat in the garage due to ice one day and the need to haul some things in the van the next.  Braving the elements was focused on walking the dog.  Photographing this tree reminded me to think about a Christmas tree for home.

This evening I had a few errands to run and decided to exercise the scooter.  The roads were dry though with the thermometer descending below 20 degrees it was cold and the chance of ice is ever present.  The desire to ride is strong.  Why else would anyone venture out into this?

Christmas isn't far off now though I've not really caught the spirit.  Riding didn't jumpstart it either.
My decision to not use the electric gloves was a poor one and the resultant misery clouded any jolly thoughts.

Still, it was good to get out into the world on the Vespa.

Riding Under a Clear Winter Sky

One of the treats of riding in the winter is the air is so sharp, crisp and clear that you can almost feel your spirit soar.  At least that's how I experience it.  Today, from the right vantage point,  you can see for forty miles.  With the sun shining and the air still the cold felt far away.

A stop (again for the thousandth time) at Mount Nittany to make a photograph.  The image is burned in my brain but I still make pictures.  Not sure why...

The roads were mostly dry but you can't ride in the sticks without paying close attention to possible ice.  It seems to grow unexpectedly -- snow from a branch or a car roof, a splash of water or coffee from an unthinking motorist.  As the sun pushed towards the horizon I made my way towards home from a few afternoon errands.

There is a weird, strange thrill in riding in the cold that's hard to describe.  Part visual, part physical, part spiritual.  The ride is important, an anthem to living, a meditation on feeling blood and breath course through the body.  The cold sharpens the experience.

Or so it seems.

Time passes quickly on the road.  The destination approaches rapidly regardless of how many times I stop or detours I take.  The ride, as is life, seems to short, too fast, too soon over.

Under a clear winter sky each breath feels special.  Each moment sparkling with life.

No wonder the Vespa finds its way out onto the road...