Looking back at 2007

"Here's to the bright New Year, and a fond farewell to the old; here's to the things that are yet to come, and to the memories that we hold."
-- Anonymous

I will remember 2007 as the year I really learned to appreciate my scooter. I will remember '07 as the year I made many new friendships and gained some great riding partners. I will forever hold very fond memories of many great trips with my new friends.

I learned to appreciate the states of Missouri and Illinois off the interstate. I discovered Rocheport, MO via a scooter, not once but five times. If there is a town in Missouri that holds more charm than Rocheport, I have yet to find it. But I am looking!

I learned getting off your scooter at 30 mph is not cool. Let's not do that again.

I learned to ride in the rain, well a torrential downpour @ 55 mph even :) I learned just because a sign says road closed it doesn't really mean it is...

Last Ride 2007

To close out 07, Pete and I road 125 miles to Bonne Terre via Ste. Genevieve County. Got to ride Hwy C again, this road is easily my favorite road I have found in Missouri. (My apologies to Route O in Calloway County) The elevation changes combined with the twisties and sweeping curves makes it perfect road to ride in my opinion.

When we stopped in Bonne Terre, I got slightly cold. Pete asked me how far are we from home? For some reason I started getting cold, so of course this was all HIS fault ;)

Actually the wind picked up when we came across HWY C. From 47/21 I think I burned more gas in my scooter than I ever have especially between Hillsboro and 141/21. Once we got to the new 21 we did 80mph from Hillsboro to 141. I was just dying to get home and be warm.

Still getting use to the action cam, it is not mounted yet, still have it on my left grip.




I am hoping once the sun is at a better angle and I have the action cam mounted in a more stable position the quality will come up a bit. But its not bad.

Scenic Overlook at Bloomsdale

I took so many pictures this year that is hard to pick a favorite. But if pressed it is this picture at Sandy Creek. The story behind this picture will always make me smile....

So onward to 2008!
Felice Anno Nuovo!!

Does that make me Crazy?

Christmas Ride 2007 Remixed

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Buon Natale! A Christmas miracle, temperatures go to 51!

Well maybe there was a little ice on the ground but a scooter trip was in order. We were so spoiled in November riding all month. December has been full of rain, snow and cold. So you take advantage of a good day where you can!

I got to test out my new action cam that Santa Ed brought me! I wonder how long it will be before all my fellow SLSCers are over me and my new cam?

Christmas Ride 2007

The action cam works pretty well, audio not that great but I will learn how to edit some of that wind out and mix in some music.

Under the bridge @ Hwy 21 and Meramec Bottom road.
Just ignore that ice over there.

I love the look of Pete's Burgman, the front is just so cool looking compared to the newer models.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas, I know I did!

Merry Christmas

Semel in anno licet insanire

Once during the year, being crazy is allowed!

I am relating this story as it was told to me by my dear friend Franco. Franco lives in Milan, Italy and like me is a scooter rider. Franco shared this story with me in private but I asked his permission to share as it is such a wonderful story about a love of friendship, riding and food. (being Sicilian and Italian I completely understand the passion for great food & friendship)

Some parts maybe confusing because Franco and I communicate both in English and Italian so at times we do confuse each other. (Me confusing Franco more than he confusing me as his English is quite good while my Italian leaves something to be desired!)

Here is the story from Franco, I will take liberty and edit where need calls for:


Do you know what is a Panettone? Pane=bread, Pane-ttone something like "big bread", but this "bread" is sweet and it is the traditional Christmas cake in Italy, I must say one of: Other are Pandoro (Bread of gold) - and the Colomba (=Dove) Some pics of them for your curiosity and Italian food knowledge... :-) (me to him umm yeah I know Panettone bread, I am Italian after all, what self respecting Italian doesn't know Panettone?)

(edit by Maggie)

Just in case you don't know what Panettone is, here ya go:

Traditional Panettone

Colomba

Not to leave out my Sicilian heritage, Sicilian Panettone Cake is stuffed with ricotta cream & candied orange peel, topped with powdered sugar reminiscent of snow.



(end of edit)


To be more precise our traditional cakes are much more, every Italian region (there are 20) has at least has one traditional cake for Christmas or especially in Central and South Italy for Ephiphany time.

For my my special ride only "Panettone" was concerned.

In the Italian forum in which I have many good friends, one of these friends is a pastry chef . He showed us in the forum a pic of his Panettone work just taken out from the oven.

The pic was so "appetizing" that every one in the forum wanted one. Only one problem, our friend is in Trentino and to ship one Panettone to each of us in a short time was too expensive.
We were ending our glutton desire when one friend from Perugia (Umbria, Central Italy) offered to ride to Trento, taking 20 Panettoni for us.

All this in the same day and not by car but by scoot...:-)))) Our friend is a really special person, a very experienced biker (much more than me) about of my age (yes: a baby.. :-)) ) who has ridden on two wheels (motorbike and scoot) all along Europe from south to the northest land (North Cape) and also in some part Africa. For a while now he likes to ride with his 2004 Burgie400 with a little trailer connected behind. You must know that trailers are not yet allowed on motorbike in Italy, even if an European Law permit this.

Ok, I'm writing too much and I don't want to annoy you (me to him AS IF)...

The travel from Perugia to Trento, Milan and Perugia again was of 600+250+600km, total 1450 km = 900 miles. A lot for one day ride. To much in this winter time but for this friend this is not something "exceptional", last New Years Day he started from Perugia to Vienna only to eat one piece of Sacher-Torte in the Sacher Hotel. Really! He has done this!

I like this friend a lot. He does what I wish to do. Well, this time I decided to go with him in this "trasportation ride"! :-)) (but for me this means only 600 km)

With him starting from Perugia and I from Milan we decided to meet in Verona at 8.00 am (you don't need I speak to you about Verona, Romeo and Juliet.. Pandoro.. good wines, good vibes... ok ok you know! :-)) ) and it was perfectly so!

At 8:01am, we met in Bauli Bar in Verona, then after a good breakfast we leave to to meet our friend in his shop near Trento and pick up the 20 Panettonis. After picking up the Panettonis, we drank one coffee and then started back to Milan. We arrived at 4:00 pm, ahead of time with our planned meeting with another friend at 7:00 pm. We spent some time in my home enjoying a warm house. During the travel temperatures were from -2 to 2 Celsius 28-36 Fahrenheit.

Are we two crazy old-babies? Maybe, but an old latin-roman dictum says:

"Semel in anno licet insanire"

I think for me this was only a half "insanire" nothing exceptional, to complete my portion of "insanity" for this next 2008 New Year day maybe I will go to Wien to taste one piece of Sacher-Torte... hahahaha!!!

Some pics:

Sunrise in Verona, 8:01am

The carriage and the goods

A happy glutton friend... hehe

Our friend Giancarlo (with the helmet) alias "The No Stop Man" the day after starting back to Perugia (we didn't permit him to start in the evening, he was too tired because the night before he didn't sleep enought leaving Perugia at 4 am in the morning)



Ciao bella Maggie, un abbraccio, con grande simpatia.

Franco



I loved this story so much and was so happy Franco shared it with me. It pushes me to ride somewhere insanire, very soon! Wonder how long a ride to get true Sicilian Panettone Cake would take :) Umm there is a place in Little Italy (what's left of it) in New York city that serves Sicilian Panettone... road trip anyone?

Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

Mother Nature showed us here in St. Louis that we can still get some white stuff thrown at us now and then. Riding the scooter was definitely not an option yesterday so we did something second best. A walk through a winter wonderland out in Castlewood State Park. The pictures speak for the beauty we saw.




Pete took the picture below, it is probably one of the best scenic pictures I have ever seen. Hard to believe that is the muddy Meramec River! Fantastic shot, Pete!







Has a sign ever stopped me? I was a bit perplexed about this sign (see below) and why it was here, so I called and spoke to a Park Ranger this morning. He said that part of the trail has been "closed" since a flood in 1999 but that people keep pulling the signs down. He further related the flood in 99 caused so much erosion that the trail to the Cedar Bluff loop is now on Union Pacific right of way. If you have ever been through that area you know it is quite treacherous, I understand UP's position to cut their liability. To access the Cedar Bluff loop you must now enter through Sherman Beach which is actually a very nice trail. In the summer months the forest canopy is quite lovely. He said plans have been underway to repair the trail and get it off UP right of way but as we all know government projects do tend to move slowly! That is unless you are naming a Federal Court building after a Senator.

Winter Setting In

With all the riding we got to do in November, December has been hard to take. It's been depressing walking by the scooter to my car to go to work. But I have been passing the time by organizing old photos and learning some new photoshop tricks.

Melrose Road Looking Back

Train in Castlewood

St. Louis Scooter Club

I just realized I have never blogged about the St. Louis Scooter Club. St. Louis Scooter Club was born this summer out of one man's (Ed Reggi) desire to have a formal scooter club here in St. Louis. I somehow got drug along for the ride :) St. Louis Scooter Club was created to be a very open club to all kinds of scooters and scooterists. It is not specific to one type of scooter or riding habit.

With winter setting in, Ed and I are more and more working on the site versus riding, I know that sounds so tragic. We would rather be out on one of our outstanding St. Louis Scooter Club rides but hey weather is weather. Check out the pictures of our St. Louis Scooter Club rides at www.stlscooterclub.com .

St. Louis Scooter Club can be found at www.stlscooterclub.com . Our St. Louis Scooter Club forums can be found at www.stlscooterclub.com/forum The forums are totally free for use and contain a wealth of knowledge and a love of scootering.

We would love to have you all check out the St. Louis Scooter Club website as well as the St. Louis Scooter Club forums!

We are in the beginning stages of planning a St. Louis Scooter Rally for September 2008.

Two Days Differing Views

Rode Sunday and Monday but the days were different as day and night. Sunday was 50ish and rainy. Monday was 73 and sunny!

Sunday, Pete and I rode up to Pere Marquette via the Alton bridge. Came back via the Brussels and Golden Eagle Ferry. Even with the cooler temperatures with rain we managed to have a good time as always.

Pere Marquette Ride

Monday, all by my lonesome, I rode out to Morrison, MO. Morrison is 20 miles West of Hermann on HWY 100. Just a beautiful day for a ride!

Morrison Ride

On the way back form Morrison, I stopped on the Gasconade Bridge. I was thinking I wished I had a way to attached my camcorder up to come along for the ride. I decided to hook my digital camera to my jacket like I do my ipod.. it actually worked a little..

A Day of New Discoveries

Did you know there are buffalo in St. Albans? Did you know there is a cemetery in Babler State Park? No? Well me either.



I keep thinking well today is the last nice day of the year for a ride but each day keeps bringing very nice riding days. So who am I to argue? Headed out early to Babler State Park. Was very nice with the leaves falling. After Babler I thought I would ride over to Rockwood and see if the creek rose with the rain we had. Felt like I was in a bad episode of Vacation. Ranger at the gate said sorry the park is closed... huh, park is closed? For managed hunting... sigh.

Flutter in Babler State Park

Looking at where one came from can be so nice - Melrose Road

After leaving Melrose I went over to Hwy T and started my journey to Labadie. As I started to climb the hill that divides St. Albans I looked over to the left and saw buffalo.. I saw what my mind said... yup buffalo!

Do you really see me?

I rarely think much when I ride, I just ride. Today, I kept thinking about what I would be doing on a day like today if I did not get my scooter. My scooter has opened my eyes to so many things. When I first got my scooter I enjoyed riding alone, I still do on the odd occasion but this year I have found many people that I throughly enjoy riding with.

I am learnig to ride in inclimate weather with some cautious confidence so who knows what this winter will bring.



Me on Melrose Road, shot with my camera not my camcorder. Turned out better than I expected.




Me at Babler, do I sound a tad nervous when I see the leaves?

An old bridge, Indian drawings and rain

Sandy Creek Covered Bridge

What a great day for a ride... Temperature was perfect. Got my first extended ride in rain, oh about 60 miles or so :)

Pete and I started out from under the bridge at 21 and Meramec Bottom Road. Rode out 21 to Old 21 to Lions Head Road then south on Old Lemay Ferry to the covered bridge. Old Lemay Ferry dead ends at the covered bridge. the scenery on Old Lemay Ferry was just beautiful today!

Was well worth the ride out to see the bridge. Really really nice.

After some picture taking we decided we would take our bikes over to the bridge for a photo op. Didn't get as close to the bridge as we thought we might because of some wicked pea size gravel leading up to the bridge. But we got close enough.

Scooters at Sandy Creek Covered Bridge

Scooters a little closer

Pushing our luck after the bridge we headed down to Washington State Park. Hit a little rain but not much. Saw the petroglyphs in the park then went out to the bluff area. After taking in the view we kept hearing thunder in the distance then closer.

Petroglyphs @ Washington State Park

Time to go home

Stopped for some gas and Pete insisted I wear his Frogg Togg jacket ...(thanks Pete!)... good thing! About 3 miles outside of Hillsboro there was this huge lightning strike that veined off in two, then a huge clap of thunder followed by a HUGE down pour of rain Decided it was time to stop. We ate lunch then weather cleared enough to head back in. I got in another huge downpour from about 21 to home.. but I didn't feel the bike move at all in the rain, actually quite the opposite even doing 55mph.

Very fun day...

Pete riding up

Maxi Scoot Calendar

Hot off the press!

Flutter and I are October. Fall is my favorite time of year. So I knew when I got assigned October as my month where I would take my photo. This is Odeleher's Roadside market in Hardin, IL.



You can check out the rest of the calendar here:

http://www.cafepress.com/mscoot.187392046

For the love of a good road...

Smoke on the Highway

I set out on so many differing routes constantly looking for that perfect road. Scenic views, sweeping curves and twisties are what I always look for. I found the trifecta yesterday. HWY K/C from Bonne Terre to Weingarten more specifically the HWY C part. I didn't take pictures, trust me I will go back and I will.. But my first experience was like falling in love for the first time.. *sigh*

Pete and I started at 270/30, met Jerry in Hillsboro. Followed 21 south to HWY 47 east. HWY 47 east of 21 is wicked but.... HWY K/C to 32 is freaking awesome. Hwy C has supplanted Route O in Callaway County as my favorite Missouri road now. I was dying to ask Pete and Jerry to turn around and ride it again once we got to HWY 32.

If you have never been on this road you are missing amazing scenery with sweeping curves and great twisties!

We stopped in Ste. Gen for lunch at the Old Brick House. After lunch went down to the river and then back home up 61. 61 is a great ride.

Was a great 7 hour ride through the back roads of beautiful Missouri. Lots of bikers out today. Was great at one point Jerry was leading a pack of Harleys doing about 80. I kept watching this one guy turning and looking at Pete and I. Was cracking me up..

Someone knows I hate having my picture taken so he got the look

Ride for an Orange Tree - Boles, MO

Yesterday I saw this cool orange tree out in Boles. So I decided to go back and photograph it today. I also wanted to check out the road that I accidentally turned down yesterday. I followed it over to Manchester Road and went over another road I had never been on named Bassett back to St. Albans. Both are very very cool roads!

I left earlier today than yesterday and it was damn cold! Went over to Heads store in St. Albans for coffee. They are putting a f-ing Starbucks in Mae Heads store!!! Yeah a f-ing Starbucks!!!!!!! Will still be the general store but with an f-ing Starbucks in it as well.. *SIGH* Cracks me up! I guess all this is inevitable with the McMansions dotting the landscape in St. Albans now.. but a F-ING Starbucks, LMAO!! So great I got to buy an overpriced lousy cup of coffee but hey it was warm... The store was founded in 1893 had the same old characteristics for years. Blah...

Bend Road Bridge - Washington

Bikes @ Missouri River

The weather keeps treating us to nice mild afternoons. Pete and I headed out to Washington via various back roads. Overall the fall colors are not what they usually are but there are flashes of fall beauty here and there.

I have heard they will tear down the Bend Road Bridge but to date it is still being used. We walked out on the bridge to get some pretty Meramec river pictures. The bridge sure does shake when a car goes across :) I ran across some statistics for the bridge that I found interesting.

Facts

Overview

Two-span through truss bridge on Bend Road over Meramec River

Status (as of 2001)

Open to one-lane traffic

History

Built 1916 by Miller & Borcherding Bridge Builders; rehabilitated 1991

Approximate latitude, longitude

+38.46129, -90.77253 (decimal degrees)
38°27'41" N, 90°46'21" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")

Land survey

T. 43 N., R. 2 E., Sec. 14

Design

Pair of pin-connected, 10-panel Pennsylvania through trusses

Dimensions

Main span length: 200.1 ft.
Total length: 421.8 ft.
Deck width: 14.1 ft.
Vertical clearance: 14.0 ft.

Inspection (as of 2001)

Appraisal: Functionally obsolete
Sufficiency rating: 46.80

Meramec River @ Bend Road Bridge

Bikes@ Missouri River at Washington

Bend Road Bridge