Modern Vespa

Congrats!

It's my last Friday workday of the year. have two weeks off ahead of me. I have a bazillion things to accomplish, but will probably only finish half a bazillion of them.

Same here, plus we're leaving at 12:30, but getting paid for a full day!

Looks like I'll have some mo-cycle riding days ahead, not bad for December around here.

Our heaviest winter blizzard since 1888, dubbed Winter Storm Atlas, was in the first week of October in 2013, up to four feet of snow, high winds, and plummeting temperatures.Thousands of range cattle died from hypothermia on the prairie as a result of their exposure to this storm.

Not a cheery time...but THIS upcoming weather prediction definitely is....

This guy.

No crowds, no radios blasting, just about perfect!

Didn't think I said that out loud. It was my birthday and I was feeling sorry for myself. Who am I kidding? If I attempted suicide I would muck it up, lol. I have lots to be thankful for. Health, decent looks, good family, wonderful cats! Merry Christmas.

Apart from that weirdo snooping on him from up in the dunes.

Nice to finally have an adult conversation about household contributions & come to an agreement...

Peace on Earth at last! 🕊️🕊️🕊️

After a super slow start to the 2025/2026 snow season in the northern Sierra (the slowest start in over 50 years) we are finally off and running. We're expecting 4-6' of snow over the next 5 days around Lake Tahoe. Most resorts only have 1 or 2 ski runs open where typically the entire mountain would be open by now. The arrival of winter cheers me up!

There was a time when seeing snow fall on a ski resort brought huge joy. That was a long time ago. Now my 2 snowboards (NeverSummer and a Burton) sit in the basement in their padded bags waiting for me to get the itch again.
I guess I got spoiled riding Blackcomb/Whistler and various mountains in BC and Alberta. Here in Ontario the best hills are put to shame by the Kiddie slopes in Western Canada.
Enjoy!

I understand. There is a big difference between the western mountains and those points east. I used to ski Blue Mountain on the Georgian Bay when I lived in southeastern Michigan.

Yup.....Blue Mountain is the only hill worth while 1.5hrs from me and is overly crowded, expensive and the runs are 2mins down and 20 minute line-ups to get back to the top. Sad.......

A McClaren moved in a couple of doors from my place (and a Bently)

Looks like someone has some money to burn.

In & out of Exeter in under 3 hours. Back from Tesco before lunch time, very busy but everyone is being surprisingly polite, which makes a nice change... & no usual last minute scramble to find the last packet of bread sauce either lol 😆😆😆

Happy Christmas to me... First festive season with no hangovers... 6 months sober. 🥰🥰🥰

I love bread sauce, I can't eat roast chicken or Turkey without it

I like it spread cold on leftover sandwiches the next day as well.

Due to the tariff wars there hasn't been any American Bourbon to buy because the Province banned it and I'm down to 3 bottles. Elbows up Eh!
However, my Buddy brought me a 1.75L bottle of Woodford Reserve from his recent return from the US.

When all the recent new bits on the scoot are feeling good 😀

Cylinder, cam, ecu, shocks, sintered pads, bushings, ...

Looking forward to feeling like she's ready for thrashing

World politics.
Nothing I can express an opinion about here...

I'm just telling everyone that I didn't die.

Mac & cheese with crispy smoked bacon...

Wrong Thread.

Pissing me off...

In Tucson for a v/brief visit from the Bay Area. The weather here is good enough that I was toying with getting a bike out of the garage and tootling around a bit, forgetting that the bikes are in a different state.

I guess I'll have to continue comparing Slice & Ice and Eegees instead.

We're friendly here in the Old Pueblo. If you want to ride, ask on MV or the Sky Island Riders FB page. I'm sure someone would spot you a scoot to do some exploring.

Slice & Ice is pretty good. Eegee's has lost a bit of lustre since ownership is no longer local. Good news for East Coasters who gotta have a "grinder", but it took some traditional fare off the menu.

Cheers! I really appreciate the kind invitation. I'll keep that in mind the next time I'm in town. Now that filtering is legal (I'm not sure if "accepted" yet), it really boosts my interest in being able to poke around and head into the mountains.
(My ideal is to ride down and over from SF, but we shall see…) Yeah, that was a surprise to me when I heard. That said, I was pleasantly surprised at the Italian ices at S&I. I haven't had a chance to try the grinder yet. Next time

I'm at the airport now, trying to try as many local beers as I can before flying. The brewery scene has really taken off since my days here—very nice

I beat my partners boss 4 & 3 at golf this morning and after the match he still offered to give me his Garmin Smart Watch as his wife bought him the latest version for Xmas.

Just a week to go here (37.7N) before the latest sunrise (~07:25), then the Sun will start to rise earlier.

I was feeling pretty crappy today. I either ate something I shouldn't have, or caught a 24 hour bug. Anyway, I 'm feeling better now. Reading all the posts on here brightened up my day considerably.
Many thanks to Jess, Jimc, all the mods, and all the posters for brightening my day

Actually I was thinking I'm glad do not have to ride my Vespa now

The knowing the fact sun is more up now than week ago is not much a different, as here sun rises now: 9:33 and goes down: 15:26 (for americans: 9:33AM-3:26PM) but I still living in south of the country, so sun really rises!

-but yes: already missing Rome, being only 2 days home now..

Scenic views by the canal this afternoon... 😍😍😍

Today much prettier weather, thats cheering up! Only that -15C...and cheers that its warming as clock ticks...

My youngest son had a new pellet grill/ smoker delivered to me today. Wow what a nice thing for him to do

Some snow at last! Not much, but better than no snow!

Finding old beaters in Portuguese backstreets..

I think it's a Sachs V5 ?

Not necessarily pro or con, ( just FYI) , KTM has been bought by bajah in India.

as I was editing video from a ride several days ago (i'm a little behind) I saw the footage again of a byd nailing me at the lights. I just looked up it's specs: all wheel drive with 390kw/523hp & 690Nm with 0-100kph of 4.5sec. Yeah, that's fair enough that it nailed me - my 0-100 is about double that. Haven't ever had any other ev nail it at the lights around me, interesting.

Yeah, that was months ago. Now we will see what they do with it.

Is that a Rotax engine? Good find.

Looks like a Portuguese SIS. Engine is a 50cc Sachs.