South'n Spine Raid XI Ride Report

[Bill Hagan]

This 11th iteration of what is just a small informal gathering of (originally spine-framed) Guzzis, has morphed into a (still small) pilgrimage to eastern Tennessee of all sorts of motorcycles, tho still mostly Guzzis.

This year, as for the past several, it has used the Lodge at Tellico [http://www.lodgeattellico.com] in Tellico Plains as its base.  Hard to beat Walt & Anna's hospitality.

Anyway, the original nucleus, and most riders still, are from central Tennessee, led by "Docc" (Phil Haynes), but this SSR drew, as have past, riders from all over: Florida, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Kathi and me from Virginia.

Kathi and I started out on the Norge on a (very wet) Thursday, spent the night at the almost exact halfway point in Princeton, W.V., then got into Tellico Plains Friday evening. 

We did the SSR thing on Saturday, then took three (yes, three) days to get home, including running up the length of the BRP in some of the best weather imaginable.

Why, yes, I took photos.   

And, yes, lots of 'em.  Get something to sip first.

You can just scroll down or watch as a slideshow in full screen mode.  Ensure you can see captions.

https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/SSR-2015/n-TwrSR8/

Here, too, is a very short video of the departure.  What great sounds.

https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/Misc-Videos/n-TXR6gS/i-xqnSZxJ/A

Oh, and if you can stand it after all of that, here are two irreverent videos of the SSR, depicting the ride as seen through the eyes of an ST1300 driver.

2014 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8r0tbjmSls&feature=youtu.be

2015 -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfmNhR8voPY

What a fine time it all was.  It's why we ride.

Bill

[Edited to add photo tag to subject line]

[Chuck in Indiana]

Shameless bump. It's too late for me to start on one of your epic threads.  This way it'll still be on page one in the morning.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Got through it this morning.. .. nice pix! Thanks. Looks like a good time was had by all.
Tellin it like it is.. 

[johnr]

Looks like a fine trip and well reported.
(not sure what to make of the eagle carrying the emergency spanner)

[Chuck in Indiana]

Looks like a fine trip and well reported.
(not sure what to make of the eagle carrying the emergency spanner)

Well, Bill is one of the most highly regarded wrenches on the east coast.. 

[Bill Hagan]

Looks like a fine trip and well reported.
(not sure what to make of the eagle carrying the emergency spanner)

Well, Bill is one of the most highly regarded wrenches on the east coast.. 

Quite true, Chuck, tho I do try to be modest about it.   

I am headed off to Winchester Motosports in few minutes to have Mike mount my new MPR4GT's.

Here are three pix that depict me and my work.  Note, especially the chic déshabillé working attire, de rigueur for the Moto Grappa.  And, yes, as a half-Kraut, I affect bad French when working on my Italian motorcycles.  Seems approriately EU. 

And, as much as I love 'em, it has not been my experience to find -- unless one uses small-caliber ammo!  -- Guzzis "bulletproof."  Nonetheless, that label will allow pyoungbl and some others here will recognize what I believe is my secret to successful Guzzi wrenching.











Off to WMS for those news shoes. 

Bill