Act II - N.J. Nick Does Drive-By at the Top of Virginia

[Bill Hagan]

Part I (N.J. Nick Does Drive-By at the Top of Virginia) was here: http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=76143.0

This post documents N.J. Nick’s brief return visit yesterday to Cross Junction after the Georgia Mountain Rally this past weekend, where, btw, he was stiffed by leafman and his Stelvites.  In the rally thread, they boasted of themselves but didn't mention the lonely Norge in the group pic that Nick came further than any of those GS wannabes.  See http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=75875.0   ;D

Anyway, Nick came back to get his pickup truck (which I had hoped he might forget  ;)), load the Norge, and head back home to New Jersey.

So, there I wuz …

Back from an early morning dentist visit where I was crowned ... and learned that the tooth gets the word within seconds after the novocaine wears off.  :'(

Then, being a manly man unaffected by pain, I went riding.

But, sigh, only the Cub Cadet.





At least I was in ATGATT.   ::)





While I mowed, our mail gal drove up and delivered a package.  From Montana.  What's this?  Ah, a thoughtful gift from Cam Lay.  How did I know I needed some meds?!  ;) 

But, really.  Montanan grappa.  How good could that be? 





Well, Nick, an experienced Italian and grappa taster, arrived in the Nick (sorry) of time to judge this bottle.  Let's just say he approved.   :D





Thus fortified, and against my advice, Nick decided he should load the Norge by taking a run down the hill directly onto the ramp and truck, thus avoiding those awkward moments of pushing 500 or so pounds up a ramp.   :o





Well, I'll be.  It worked.  The man's an artist on two wheels.   ;)






The next few pix show the rest of the process of strapping the sweet beast down.  I did add some interesting Italian curse words to my repertoire.   ;D

















Then, it was time for Nick to head home.








He called later to affirm he'd made it, and the closest call with trouble came 300 yards from our house where, after turning around at the cross-over, taking advantage of a downhill run to gather speed, tooting his horn for us as he passed by in departing triumph, Nick passed a Virginia State Trooper in defilade.  Those guys prey upon Joisey plates, too, with the red Dodge being a bonus. 

But, luckily, the cop must have been deciding on whether to work next on his cruller or chocolate glazed, because Nick made it by without more.   :+=copcar

Hoping to see him again down this way soon.

OBTW, check out the website for Cam's grappa: http://williesdistillery.com  Very fine stuff.

Bill

[blackcat]

Yes, riding the bike up 81 to 78 is not much fun compared to sitting in a truck with the radio on. Red on Red.

[Chuck in Indiana]

 ;D ;-T

[ken farr]

That looks really cool, with the cammo tie downs, you can't really see 'em. 


kjf


P.S.  ...nice neighborhood...

[Aaron D.]

Wouldn't it be easier to just ride the bike to Virginia?

[Nick]

Bill, I'm speechless.....espe cially after your many editorial liberties....

That Grappa was GOOD  ;-T

Yes, riding the bike up 81 to 78 is not much fun compared to sitting in a truck with the radio on. Red on Red.

I took the southern route and was stuck in the Baltimore rush hour traffic (I-70, I-695, and of course I-95). Thank God for the A/C.

[pyoungbl]

Bill, you artfully dodged the issue of truck trip vs. bike trip.  I'd venture to guess that Leafman60, pyoungbl, and brlawson each rode more miles to get to the GA rally.  Nevertheless, we enjoyed flying the Guzzi eagle high above that BMW rondel.  On my way home I did see Nick and his red Norge blow by me on I40 Eastbound.  He must have been anticipating that grappa because he was well over the speed of light.
Peter Y.

[Calimero]

heard a lot of good things about you from Nick over the weekend, however he didn't mention the large selection of Grappa's you have....pretty impressive. Now I know why he was in such a hurry once we hit I40.

[Lannis]

Normally, the riding of a bike up a ramp into a pickup bed is the start of many a YouTube "jackass" video.    Glad to see it worked out here!

Lannis

[Bill Hagan]

Normally, the riding of a bike up a ramp into a pickup bed is the start of many a YouTube "jackass" video.    Glad to see it worked out here!

Lannis

OK, my apologies for misleading some in this and other aspects; it seems I need to use more obvious emoticons. 

I had mistakenly thought that the  :o little guy made my tale of Nick riding down the hill and onto the truck more Munchausen than a “watch this” account worthy of a “FAIL” on youtube.  Sorry.  Seriously.

Grappa aside, Nick is a sober and skilled rider and was equally careful and prudent when loading his Norge.  He rode it slowly down the hill to the rear of the truck — purposefully spotted to bring the tailgate as near level as could be on the slope, with the ramp posing only a minor rise.  Nick did it all in textbook fashion.

Again, I will do some push-ups to atone.  These days, it takes very few to reach hairshirt-worthy pain.   :'(

Bill, you artfully dodged the issue of truck trip vs. bike trip.  I'd venture to guess that Leafman60, pyoungbl, and brlawson each rode more miles to get to the GA rally.  Nevertheless, we enjoyed flying the Guzzi eagle high above that BMW rondel.  On my way home I did see Nick and his red Norge blow by me on I40 Eastbound.  He must have been anticipating that grappa because he was well over the speed of light.
Peter Y.

Nicely played pun, Peter, with the "artful dodge," given Nick's choice on pickup trucks.

As for the Guzzista most deserving of the “long distance award,” here, too, as with the loading scenario, I was teasing. 

That said, Nick’s Philadelphia-area to Cross Junction (211 miles) run was a traffic- and slab-avoiding course of action; https://goo.gl/maps/SlT8O. 

But, he then rode the Norge 554 or so miles to Hiawasee, https://goo.gl/maps/kfGAo, for a 1100+ mile r/t.

I really don’t know how far you three Stelvites mentioned above rode, but suspect Nick’s wasn’t the shortest route of those.  OTOH, of course, doubt of he was on gravel as some of you no doubt were! 

Again, apologies, though; as with my “ride up the ramp” story, I was kidding.  Have enjoyed seeing the pix posted in the rally thread, http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=75875.0. 

And, as I said before, I need to get some emoticons with steroids!

Now … Kathi and I have to go down now to our tiny orchard and try to put up an effective deer barrier.  Fewer of those pretty pests this year, but they’ll find and strip those spring blossoms, buds, bark, and leaves.  Suspect only trip-wired claymores would really do the job, but one must try.

Best to all.

Bill