Vespista

Rolling Through Roslyn
(not my photo)

The past couple of days were spent surrounded by the waspish buzz of Vespas! It was the annual rally of the Vespa Club of DC (VCDC), the Monumental Raduno. The club, which had a slow start immediately pre-pandemic, sponsors group rides, fixes up and gifts to college students some donated scooters, and holds this annual rally. This year, there were a record number of Vespista* who signed up, just shy of 100 people. While all scooters are welcome to events, the club specifically celebrates Italian culture.

I went on a few group rides sponsored by a different DC-area scooter group pre-pandemic, but this was my first VCDC event. Since I knew absolutely no one, I signed up to volunteer to help. I am very shy in new situations, and usually end up hanging in a corner alone, or even backing out entirely due to anxiety at the last moment. Volunteering meant I was certain to have to talk to people.

The weather in Washington has been unrelentingly grey and wet for a week or more, and Friday dawned pouring. The plan for an outdoor Friday night kickoff party was changed to an incredible indoor venue, hosted by a club member who just happens to own a tech company with its headquarters in a modern building next to the Potomac in trendy Georgetown. We took over the reception and cafeteria area of the company offices, including some touches one might expect of a tech company: ping-pong table, putting green, an outdoor terrace overlooking the river and forests of Virginia. We also had access to free indoor parking, an incredible benefit in busy Georgetown on a Friday night. 

At the Italian Embassy.
My bike is the blue, 3rd from right

I had decided in advance I would drive my car to the Friday night event, skipping the planned night ride around downtown DC and also avoiding a long scoot home by myself in the dark and rain. The skies cleared during our casual sandwich dinner and announcements, allowing us to spend time out on the deck admiring the view. It turns out the folks in the club are very friendly, so I didn't need to worry so much about hanging out alone. A common conversation opener was, "How long have you been riding?". When I stopped to think, I was surprised to realize my answer is "20 years"! I got my first motorcycle license (required for above 50cc motorbikes) in 2004, which seems like yesterday. In my conversations, most men (grey-haired) downsized into scoots from motorcycles, often to ride with their wives. There were more young women than young men, as well as those my age.

Colors of the Italian flag, at the embassy

I woke Saturday at 6 am to the sound of pouring rain, but by my 8 am departure time for the rendezvous there were signs of the grey mist burning off. We ended up having the only sunny day for many days (and for several more days to come). What a treat!

We gathered outside the Dupont Circle area hotel where out of town guests were staying. (A small group came over from Italy, and about a dozen people rode down in the rain from New York together.) After a safety briefing (which included teaching hand signals used) we formed up into a column and headed out for a 45 minute ride through DC and over to Virginia. The group ride was so fun! Because there were so many of us (50+ at least) our ride included "blockers" - folks who rode alongside the column, and sometimes blocked cross-traffic to allow us to flow on through red lights. With the traffic circles and such, it would otherwise have been impossible to move with that many people. As we were going through areas with government offices and embassies, we rolled on through red lights right in front of many police cars, who seemed indifferent to our maneuvers. 

Modernist Embassy,
Many scoots!

That ride ended up at the Italian Embassy, which opened up the grounds just for us! We parked in a colorful line, and were treated to expresso and gelato. Some minor cultural official from the embassy greeted us - apparently real world events were occupying the ambassador.

Further events involved splitting up into small groups for more rides, lunch, and then a gymkhana. That last is a skills event held in a parking lot, focusing on tight maneuvers. It looked like nothing so much as dog agility, weaving around cones, driving over a teeter-totter(!), around into tight circles, kicking a ball into a soccer net without any feet touching the ground. I didn't give it a try, but I might practice for a future event. 

Lining up to go for a ride
(not my photo)

I was so occupied with enjoying myself, I took few photos. So this post includes some taken by others.

It was a lot of fun! There are some group rides coming up, and I might make the next one. It will compete for time with sailing, which has also been scarce due to the good weather.

*Vespista is the correct non-gendered plural for those who ride Vespas, which is the Italian word for wasp.