Modern Vespa

Yesterday, while doing my weekly shopping, I spotted a $16.00 cooler bag that just happened to be the perfect shape and size for my front rack. Temps (of late) have been in the 85 to 100 range (but mostly 90 something) ... and it's been difficult to keep cold items cold for the past couple of months. By the time I get home, (half hour from town) everything is generally pretty warm and buying treats like ice cream has been out of the question.

So I took a good look at the bag and figured with a few minor modifications, it would be ideal! I went to our local hardware store, bought $10.00 worth of velcro and nipped over to a sail maker friend of mine. He did his magic with his heavy duty sewing machine and in a about 20 minutes and $15.00 for my friend, I had a very workable cooler pack which I can sling over my shoulder, take into the grocery with me, pack my cold goods and re-attach to my front rack in about 20 seconds! Isn't it amazing how a $41.00 cooler bag (all costs in) can make one so happy!

I brought ice cream home for the first time in about 7 months and I am amazed just how much "stuff" I can cram in there! Up until now, I haven't used my front rack very much ... but I sure will now!

I like it, That is a great add on.

Very ingenious!

I like your idea of having a cooler to bring frozen food home in. I guess I've never considered it since the store is only three minutes ride from home for me.

Brilliant idea! For some reason I got the impression Tortola was really tiny. Why does it take you so long to get to a store?

Cool idea. I only live a short distance from a store but it get so hot sometimes that things melt in the 5 minutes it takes getting home

Tortola is really tiny ... only 21 square miles. However, I live in the West End and Road Town (where all the grocery stores are) is 20 to 25 minutes away ... depending on traffic. Our top speed (legally) is 40MPH and we have lots of big hills too.

In town, we just got new traffic lights which are totally screwed up and that has added another 10 minutes to get through town.

I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. It just hit me when I saw the bag!

Nicely done.

Isn't it weird at first to curve with the scooter, with something on your rack (that continues to point straight)? Hehe.

Very ingenious (and frugal!) I was in Tortola in 1990 and I always remember it when I read your posts. I'm sure it has grown quite a bit in the last 20 years.

Thanks windbreaker! Yes ... the first time I put a case of Pepsi on there, I had a really hard time getting used to seeing the handlebar go one way and the pepsi another. Kind of freaked me out but I have since gotten used to it.

Stanny, Tortola has changed a great deal in the last 20 years! You should come back down and see for yourself! We actually have three sets of traffic lights now!

If anyone wants to get one of these, I just found them on the internet. The bag comes in red, black, navy blue and royal blue. Of course, we only have black and that is fine with me! Here is the URL http://www.swinstar.com/coolerbag/coolerbag.htm and it is number 0505. The dimensions are 13 1/2" x 10" x 10" and it fits perfectly under the light.

<added> I just realized that this makes the perfect camera bag too! I just tried it on for size and put my Nikon D70S and my lenses in there. With some padding between lenses, I was able to get the camera and three lenses, including my big 80-200 telephoto, a 17-35 ED and a small 20mm. Now I don't have to worry so much about my camera being bounced around in the top box! This was really a great find!

Great idea.