Sighted TWO White Guzzis Together Today! [Plus More of Bill's BS]

[Bill Hagan]

About 1:30 p.m. today, Saturday, 2 May.

Just north of Berkeley Springs, W.V., on U.S. 522, almost to the Potomac and the Maryland (and Pennsylvania) line.

A Norge, with a Griso in trail. Or, possibly, vice versa. 

I almost fell off my Norge when I saw them.  Would have given chase, but typically thick traffic in that stretch of artsy-fartsy Berkeley Springs made it problematic.

Anyone here?

As long as I am here, I’ll toss in a few pix of my little “check-out” ride on my Norge.   

One — at least “this one” — is never sure after taking a Guzzi somewhat apart, if it’s quite right.  This time, aside from the usual leftover fastener or two, WO had to talk me through the horn going on strike.  That was a success, but I was worried about what might fall off.

And, to my amazement, I managed to "fix" my ABS.   Let's leave it there, please.  ::)

So, as Kathi is in Atlanta, seemed a good time to take a little romp …a check out some fried fast food.  Mmmmmm.

Today turned out to be a mere 156-miler, but what a pleasant ride.  Virtually no traffic, except that couple of miles vic. Berkeley Springs.  Beautiful weather. A bazillion redbuds ablossom. 

A nice loop of Virginia, W.V., Maryland, and a wee bit of (gorgeous) Pennsylvania, vic. Dasher Mountain, northeast of Hancock.

First visited Winchester Motosports and chatted with (the inimitable) Carl.

Then stopped at Fort Frederick — http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/western/fortfrederick.aspx — another place I need to tour more seriously and with a cage.

And, for those who know it, Back Creek Valley Road, from vic. Hedgesville south to the W.V. 45 and the Virginia line (and our home) is a paved delight.

About halfway down that, however, I came up on a loud HD, two-up.  Had to do my duty, of course.  He did not like that and poured on the coals.  Have to give him credit; the guy was not just a gay-pirate costumed clown.  He could ride. 

We were on some of the tighter sections, and it would be hard to criticize his skill, as he was riding that clearly up-gunned HD very well.  I was considering backing off out of respect for his pillion, but she chose that moment to look back — did I mention her pink “tail” coming from her beanie helmet? — to look back and give me a “his is bigger” look.  >:(

Really?

Visor down; check.  Red mist on; check.  Drop tanks; check.  Gun switch on; check.

Ciao, Charlie. 

But, as likely P-47 pilots viewed a worthy foe in a Focke-Wolfe breaking up under eight .50-cal reality, I tooted my (now working again) Stebel and saluted.  Mr. Macho and Miss Pink surprised me and waved, too.   :D

Anyway, here are a few pix.  I no longer take pix “on the fly,” so it’s a limited go, stop, and back set.

I also toss in a few  my brother sent.  He’s been up riding the BRP, etc.  Said Deals Gap had way more Minis than motos today.  Was a bit chilly up there this a.m., too!

Best,

Bill

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Great story. A few Sundays ago I had a similar experience with a Road King over near Romney, heading south on Trough Rd. Mr. RK passed me in 30 mph zone at a county park, double yellow line, uphill into a turn and then tried his best to get away from "Barney" but it just wasn't the right bike for a bumpy, twisty, paved pig path and he was all over the road, dragging parts and crossing into the oncoming traffic lane.  :o He finally gave up trying to outrun me and pulled off.  ;D

I was on part of Back Creek Valley last Sunday and through Berkeley Springs on my way north into PA. This Sunday I'm heading to far western Maryland and WV on the MZ. You or anyone else is welcome to ride along.

[lucian]

Great play by play story Bill, I can't get over how much further along your foliage is compared to up here, lucky you, probably a bit warmer too. Hope some of that weather works its way up here soon. Enjoy

[Tom Hansen]

Did I miss something?  The Norge seemed to change colors.

[canuguzzi]

Did I miss something?  The Norge seemed to change colors.

Bet the son of a gun has two.  :bow

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Two white Guzzis together, in W. Virginia?  Sounds like inbreeding in progress to me.

[lorazepam]

I stopped by my Guzzi dealership today to get an oil filter and some other things for my upcoming first maintenance, and there was a group of 4 or 5 bikes that came into the lot together. One of the riders was on an older KLR that he had just bought this morning. He was going on and on about how awesome that 650 could pull, and claimed that he had it up to 120mph when testing it out. Said it had a pretty good wobble that started when he hit 120, and decided to back down.
I wanted to bet him that the only way a KLR could hit 120 is to be pushed out of an airplane at 10k feet, and then it would be a challenge. Rather than harshing his buzz, I decided to just pull up my pants, and hope my boots were still bullshit proof.
I love tales from the bike shop, he made my day.

[Waterbottle]

I love that Norge Bill. Ice on the seat ?

[Sasquatch Jim]

 I used to have an R-26 BMW that I occasionally rode at 120 on a certain long shallow downhill.


 Oh, and it had a kilometer speedometer.

[Bill Hagan]

Inasmuch as it seems I was not sufficiently clear about various things in my post, maybe I should not, after a fine ride, have a celebratory (and possibly over-stiff) G&T on the porch while writing posts about the day.

So … in the interests of clarity, here are some additional factoids/comments on the responses.

I have one Norge.  Red, of course.

The “espresso & grappa” Norge is my brother’s. He puts more miles on his Guzzis in a month than I do in a year.   :'(  Yes, that’s ice on his saddle.  He spent the night in Waynesville, N.C.  Warmed up nicely during the day, but a brrrrr start.

And, yes, temps and trees are further along here at the top of Virginia than at the top of the BRP.  That said, I find it so odd how in Winchester, only about 12 miles from here, the trees are full-leafed, yet ours in Cross Junction are only in the budding “is it really spring yet” mode, and seemingly a week behind Winchester’s.  Saw similar variances all along my four-state ride yesterday.  Obviously, altitude and “which side of the mountain” are factors. Temps are fine; mighty fine, just now.

As for the “120 mph stories,” etc., not sure what started that.  My Norge will do that (and a wee bit more), but not on the roads I was on yesterday … at least not with me in the saddle.  There are very few places to go fast, but that’s not the point of those roads anyway.  Suspect that even when I passed that HD, I was, at most, in the 70’s, and that for a short burst, as the next curve, double-yellow lines, and a common-sense attack were looming.

Sasquatch, you are a funny dude.  You also stay up mighty late!

Bill

P.S.  Can’t ride today, Charlie.  Well, I will be riding, but a Cub Cadet, not a Guzzi.  Kathi gets back from a quick trip to Atlanta today, so I am in my usual panic mode of looking for beer bottles under the bed, etc.  :o  Stop in if near.


Edited to add what I also failed to include in the original or alibi: The two Guzzis were northbound on U.S. 522 about a mile north of Berkeley Springs; I was southbound.  Sure wonder who those guys were.  Pretty sure they saw me as I was in my newish firefighter-lemon jacket and on my Norge.   :D