End of a Guzzi Era 1971-2018?

[Texas Turnip]

One deep regret is that I did not tzke pictures of all the Guzzi visitors from Alaska to Fl and Cal to NH that have visited me. Also, for a US  map with dots indicating where they were from. I wont say who went to Linden, Texas looking for me when he should f been in LINDALE!
Getting the 49 states and a million miles don.t compare with getting all 254 counties in Texas.

Hope to get back,Tex

[John Ulrich]

Ken,  What are you telling us?  Hope the recovery is going well.   

[Kiwi_Roy]

Hey, don't leave Canada off the map.

I haven't visited you yet but if ever I get down that far.

Glad you are on the mend.

[guzzisteve]

It takes longer w/you get old. Hang in there Ken.

[bad Chad]

Way to be cryptic Farmer.

[oldbike54]

 Spoke with Ken , everything is fine other than the process is taking longer than he had hoped . We will see him at Cedar Vale .

 Dusty

[John A]

When did you move from Linden?   

[rodekyll]

[snippity]
 I wont say who went to Linden, Texas looking for me when he should f been in LINDALE!

[snip]

When did you move from Linden?   

It was late and I was tired.   

This topic is code.  Tex is between bikes on account of he surplussed the Breva.  He's saying that if I don't get my sorry butt down there and service his EV soon he'll drive the truck to rallies.  Making it my fault is a potent threat.      

I spoke with Ken over the weekend.  His right arm is 80%, less wrist, which is weaker.  Left arm is healing more slowly, maybe because he sourced the steel plates and pins from his scrapper stash.  I told him to find fresh stuff, but being a true Guzzisti, he wanted to save money.  He says snake wrangling is still an issue.  He's walking steady, but slowly, and gets tired sooner than he'd like.  I think he said he's scheduled in another daily nap.  He drove the truck a couple weeks ago (it was a chore) and he's getting back to cooking some. 

As always, Ken is joking and upbeat about his situation, and in every conversation he says he's the luckiest guy on the planet.  But it's stressful and depressing to be sidelined watching the game when you're the team's heavy lifter, and he's got a few more months of recuperation before he's roadworthy again.  Ken likes to be the guy looking out for the rest of us -- not the other way around.  So a little frustration might sometimes sift through the chinks in his optimism.

Hang in there, Tex!  It's gonna be fine.

[twowings]

Can't he just be strapped-down with some goggles and a bearskin to a trailer behind Georgeann's bike? 

[rodekyll]

Can't he just be strapped-down with some googles and a bearskin to a trailer behind Georgeann's bike?

You're saying Tex should be strapped down and forced to use google while being towed in a trailer behind a smallblock with a bear???      That's just stupid.  Have you ever seen a smallblock?

[oldbike54]

You're saying Tex should be strapped down and forced to use google while being towed in a trailer behind a smallblock with a bear???      That's just stupid.  Have you ever seen a smallblock?

 Well there was the time Beaver got home with the bear and left Ken at a gas station in Colorado . She did say that along about Enid OK she was beginning to wonder why Ken hadn't requested a cigar break and kept wandering off into the woods when the took bathroom breaks .

 Dusty

[PJPR01]

Maybe a Guzzi trike should be built for Tex!  Might be a good way to "transition" back into riding again!

Could be christened the "Banana Bread Breva" in honor of all of those fine morning delicious snacks Tex always has provided for the GRIT rally!

 

[Arizona Wayne]

Beaver riding a small block now?  Makes more sense, IMHO.  If so welcome to the small block club. 

[LowRyter]

I expect we'll see Tex on the road in 2018.

I met Tex at the Salida CO National after I just got the '98 EV.  It seemed like I had come across my long lost family.  I mentioned it and Ken Hand said:

"Welcome home, John."

Now I have two Guzzis and ridden them 70k miles.  (20% of what Ken has ridden I would guess).

[Jim Rich]

Hang in there Ken.  You are in many of our thoughts and good wishes.   

[rodekyll]

Well there was the time Beaver got home with the bear and left Ken at a gas station in Colorado . She did say that along about Enid OK she was beginning to wonder why Ken hadn't requested a cigar break and kept wandering off into the woods when the took bathroom breaks .

 Dusty

And I've been wondering what the hell she was doing chasing after him with the camera every time they stopped.  So I swiped it and downloaded the chip.  After enhancing the images and running them through phazer recognition here's what really happened:

Typical potty stop:

Nice little side road near a creek.






This looks like the place. .  . .






The pause that refreshes






Right back to bike






And back on the road

[SmithSwede]

Yes, best wishes Ken.   I have great confidence we will see you back on the road soon.