Modern Vespa

Well dig that snap!
Yeah man, yeah.

My PV developed a starting issue. Probably a carb clean and refresh on the menu… and it needs a new fuel tap too. As I have so many other scooter shenanigans afoot, I decided to run it up to storage to wait in line for maintenance. To get my daily dose of wind therapy I dusted off the old, reliable P. And she did not disappoint! Started 3rd kick and took me around the Heights and the GOOF for an extended ride. Much needed, drama free, mileage.

Doff my cap to the old reliable P!

Sorry… for non-Houston peeps…
GOOF = the Garden Oaks/Oak Forest area.

They can call them what they want, but there are no heights in Houston. Just sayin'.

Another picture from yesterday. This is a mural that I've ridden past countless times, yet never actually noticed until yesterday. Maybe because it's painted on the side of Top Golf, and I can't stand that place just on general principle (world's most overpriced driving range, filled with the sort of douchebro's who go to the world's most overpriced driving ranges).

As I was taking the picture, an almost unbelievably stereotypical redneck dude walking past did tell me he loved my scooter and especially my Safety Third sticker, so maybe it's not all bad. Or reality is differently bad than I imagine.

Still, pretty cool mural.

And all the better with your cool scoot in front of it. Icing on the cake.....

+1

Love that orange scooter! It's like the mural was painted to be its backdrop!

Quick run for Thai food...

Nice.
And now I am hungry for a massaman curry.

Saturday, going to a local hydroelectric plant during the 26th National Winter Vespa Meeting that was organized in my town and by our Vespa Club. Took us months of hard work to prepare the three day event. I'll be soon posting more stuff…

WOW, that looks like a big group!

We had a total of 290 participants from all over Greece, Cyprus, Serbia, Kosovo and about 90 Vespas...

WOW, that is awesome!!!

Looking forward to the details....

Was it all vintage? That's pretty cool, and great turnout, regardless.

Took my primmy out for a scoot around the neighborhood and stopped for a cuppa. It is certainly "compact"

I heard thru the Scooter grapevine that you guys had a great time up there w/ scooters from all over. Wish I could have been there too.

Amazing amount of scooters. Very, very cool to see.

Finally got out for a quick spin! Needed that❤️

What a gorgeous shot. Good job!

So funny thing happened on the way home from this shot. All of a sudden I started bogging out. Started right back up and after a couple blocks it would big out and die. Then every block…but always it would start right back up. I made it home with some pushing thinking oh no it's bogging again for no reason..it's probably electrical damn it I hate electrical. Better get the tools out…heart fallen. Then just as I was walking away it dawned on me that I hadn't checked the gas level before I left. I opened the tank and sure enough…reserve. It was just needing to be switched to reserve…doh!! But yaaaay I feel dumb but elated that it was just that.

Union & Blossom Hill (San Jose), Cdevillasante? 🤔

Nope, petaluma

Whoa... what happened to your glovebox? Removed so you can fit extra sammy's in there?

Ha ha, its on the list of to do's! waiting on a new lock

A few photos from our National Winter Meeting I mentioned above...

And a few more...

I love that so many nice Cosas were there! It's really an underrated bike, mostly because so many ppl think it's too 'ugly'. Maybe so, but i DO kinda miss the ratty old one I had, especially for going fast and smooth. Plus I could lock my helmet under the seat!

OK, after an hour of staring at this and looking up Ercole Marelli to find some interesting history and only this: I GIVE UP! I doubt it's just an overcomplicated ice shaving machine... A hydroelectric installation maybe, cannot guess the sizes of all this stuff but the catwalk suggests pretty big. And the three fancy gadget sets above maybe suggest three phase control? What's going on here, please?

It's a hydroelectric plant and we were at the top of the 3 generators that are 73m tall each. The naked one was under maintenance that's why it's opened up. The three disconnected contacts I photographed are the outputs. Top of the generator is the output collector but also a motor to act as a brake (reverse rotation) since they have no brakes. It also makes the generator's impeller act as a pump when they need to pump water on the top of the dam. Each generator weighs 700 tons and they are Italian made. We were already under 8m of water…

I must've driven by this mural a thousand times - no exaggeration, but there always seems to be cars parked in front of it.

Not today

65 degree weather in Colorado demanded a jaunt through the countryside !

How appropriate for your neck of the woods.

Did some riding in Northern Alabama with clubmates down there today.

Based on multiple conversations with people at our various stops, to the locals, Vespas and Lambrettas are also very much Mystery Machines.

Which area?

I'm fond of Jackson County, north of Scottsboro.

Tuscumbia/Mussel Shoals area

I rode the Primmy to the summit of Mt Umunhum this afternoon - the concrete cube is what's left of Almaden Air Force Station, a Cold War radar station, shut down when satellites rendered it obsolete, and preserved as a local landmark.

Twisty roads - perfect for the little Primavera!

I'll show it to you when you come up!

Good shots y'all.


P's out for Gerardo's Barbacoa (founded 1977).
Yumm.

Then a hop downtown.
Perfect weather.

Here are some images from a recent ride in glorious sunshine here in Western Washington.