Scooter in the Sticks

Riding and living with a Vespa scooter.

Learning to be whole and content.

No Vespa Riding

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No Vespa riding while scooter awaits rust repairsAwaiting Tender Loving Care

Stopped by the body shop today to see how things were coming along on my Vespa scooter.  I didn’t expect anything yet and was not disappointed.  The scooter sat among other parts, pieces and vehicles awaiting transformation, much like droids in the original Star Wars where we first met R2D2.

As I looked around the shop I could see that body work is nothing like mechanical repair.  It’s more of an art where the craftsman must find the path that best suits the situation.  It’s sort of inspiring to see all the custom metal work, fabrication, welding and other activities going on to restore old vehicles.  And brand new ones too.

I was told that they have a plan to do the work without pulling the steering column.  The scooter would be hoisted into the air on the lift and they think they can access everything without any disassembly.  That would save a few dollars.

Not being able to ride has led me to surf Craigslist and eBay for a used scooter.  Found one exactly like mine with less than 3000 miles on the clock for $3000.oo.  Same color too.  As much as I daydream about motorcycles I should probably just buy a backup machine.  With that in place maybe I can entertain some repair and maintenance myself when I retire.

Right now though, wish I could ride…

Christmas Blessings

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Christmas tree in the snowSparkling Trees and Lights

Christmas — a time of magic and wonder. As a child the crackling energy of lights and presents and visions of Santa Claus. More years added ideas of spirit and faith, magical and wondrous in different ways as I journeyed through my own notion of God and Christmas. At the very least, I find this a time of personal reflection,  a search to rediscover magic and recognition of the Christmas blessings that I can easily overlook.

With Christmas just a few hours away I wish each of you reading these words, regardless of your belief, good tidings and cheer in hopes that your life, your family and yourself are blessed, healthy and safe. Best wishes for the road ahead and all that it may reveal.

Vespa GTS scooter in a winter wonderlandWinter Riding with a Vespa Scooter

With my Vespa in the body shop, there are no opportunities to navigate the world on two wheels and ponder the Christmas spirit.  Instead I’ve been wandering through memories of past Christmas experiences and rides.

Vespa GTS scooter in snowy Rothrock State ForestChristmas Eve Vespa Ride

A couple years ago I was on the road on Christmas eve riding through Rothrock State Forest in a light snow.  All that was missing were the jingle bells that are etched in my brain as an element of the season.

Steve Williams and his VespaMerry Christmas to Scooter and Motorcycle Riders Everywhere

My wish for each of you — to find comfort on those difficult days we all experience, and recognition of the beauty in the world to help fuel hope when it’s hard to find, friendship to brighten the journey you’re on, courage to continue on when you want to stop, patience to accept the things you learn and experience that aren’t always what we want, faith that everything will be ok, and love to complete your life.

Christmas greeting from Scooter in the Sticks

Merry Christmas to all!

Rusty Vespa Scooter

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Vespa GTS along rural road in snowWinter riding means salt and rust

After many winters of snow, salt and slush the underside of the Vespa was beginning to show signs of distress — namely rust.  And the body seam behind the front wheel  was showing rust coming through the paint.  From a distance you can really see much wrong, but up close, there’s ample evidence of hard use.

Since my back has continued to limit my riding and my tolerance for cold has changed, I thought it might be a good time to drop the scooter off with a local body shop for some restoration work.

The ride from home to the shop wasn’t long — just six miles — but the 24F air just reinforced the decision to take a break from riding.  With the Christmas holiday bearing down there’s a lot of things to distract me from the painful reality that I’m not riding.

Vespa GTS scooter at Roan's Body ShopRoan’s Body Shop — State College, Pennsylvania

Not sure how long the Vespa will be out of commission.  The early estimate was a couple weeks but the first icy roads of the season brought a windfall of bodywork to the shop so I’m not sure when I’ll be riding again.

The repair request was pretty simple — get rid of the rust and repaint in some color that sort of matches.  I’m not worried about a perfect match or if they use paint from Piaggio.  Just slow down the rust so I have a few more years of riding.

An unexpected bonus — they’ll have to pull the entire front wheel and steering column assembly to do the job.  When they reassemble they’ll be able to straighten out the bars which got twisted out of alignment when I made an unfortunate (stupid) move during a ride that led to me dumping the scooter in some steep, loose shale.  Pulling the scooter up off the ground twisted the handlebars out of alignment and I’ve been riding it that way since last summer.

Not riding and posting new material will give me a chance to work on some of the ideas that have been rattling around my head.

The rattling noise is getting pretty loud…

Vespa Below Freezing

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Vespa GTS scooter parked along streetEmbracing Cold Weather

There’s been some cold, gray days lately.  Add wind and it get miserable.  The transition from warm weather to cold has grown more difficult the past few years.  In part because of physical changes, but mostly mental hurdles of my own creation.  Riding a Vespa below freezing has changed.

I converted this photograph to black and white because it more accurately reflects the way I have been feeling lately on the road with the scooter.  No wonder or joy.

Saint's Cafe in State College, PennsylvaniaFog and Steam

Made this photograph right after I arrived at Saint’s Cafe.  The frozen lens on my little Canon G15 camera immediately fogs up when it comes in contact with the steamy air of the coffee shop and gives the picture a little misty look.

If there’s one thing about winter riding that is still exhilarating it’s coming in from the cold.  The wonderful feeling that comes from heat remains something I look forward to.

Steve Williams, Vespa rider, reflected in windowReflecting on Cold Weather

I used to like cold weather.  Something’s happened though.  A litany of nagging physical issues has turned cold weather into a nuisance.  At times worse — a danger — to my body.  Some might wonder why I even consider riding when it’s cold.  I can only confess an attraction to the challenge.

Looking at myself reflected in a window in a local bank I wonder who I am.  Or am becoming.  If I park the Vespa for the winter — that’s not a good omen.

For me.

Vespa GTS scooter on rural roadRelearning How to Ride in Cold Weather

It’s easy to ride in the winter on clear roads with no traffic.  But that’s not alway the environment I ride through.

On the way into town I was reminded of how suddenly things can change on the road.  Not far from the house is a big intersection with a traffic light.  I’ll normally move through at 45mph.  Fortunately, the light turned red and I had to stop.  As I slowed I could see a sheet of ice stretching across both lanes and extending about 15 feet into the intersection.  Had I hit that at 45mph, well, I like to tell myself I would have just let the scooter roll straight through but I’m not sure that would have worked.  It was difficult to navigate across at a crawl when the light turned green.

Winter riding lesson — even when the roads appear clear and dry you need to be scanning and looking constantly.  I wasn’t.  Haven’t fully dusted off my winter riding skills yet.

And I probably won’t for awhile.  The Vespa is off the road for a bit — perhaps into next year.  But that’s a story for another post.