Orson Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 A quick trip to Italy for a rideabout... I headed south towards Tuscany Crossing the Apennine Mountains from Modena to Lucca via the Abetone Pass Pitigliano The Val d'Orcia has been designated a world heritage site. Google some pictures and you'll see why. I stayed with a couple who run a restaurant with a few rooms in Rocca d'Orcia. This is the third time I've stayed there and I feel I've become a friend rather than a client Radicofani Castle in Tuscany. After a few days motoring around Tuscany & Umbria, I headed north towards the Piedmont Region famous for its Barolo wines and white truffles. The Langhe region with the Alps as a backdrop The mighty, mighty Goose at rest. The old girl still running as strong as the day I bought her A neat aspect of the Langhe region is the several ridge lines that cross the area. The tops of these ridges offer spectacular views of the surrounding hill towns. Sometimes you can spot three, four or even five towns from one vantage point After a couple days puttering about the Langhe, I headed northwest to Lake Como to meet with fellow ST.Ners Daniel Kalal and DD and spousal unit Dan First view of Lake Como A recent precipitation had dusted the Alps with snow but, the weather was glorious DD & Dan weren't scheduled to arrive until late afternoon so, as the good weather was holding out, I decided to head out and explore. Waiting to board the ferry at Belaggio. Wherever you park a Guzzi, an oldtimer is sure to bathe it with admiring glances. Looking south from the ferry from Belaggio towards Como The Guzzi anxious to get going again. The ferry doesn't take long to cross the lake A mountain village nestled in the hills above Mandello Back down to the Lake in time for a late lunch After lunch, I decide to pay a visit to the factory. Guzzi owners are required to make at least one pilgrimage to the factory during their lifetimes Last time I visited about 13 years ago, I was the sole visitor. This time, I was but one of dozens clamoring to gain entrance to the hallowed halls. A clear sign of Moto Guzzi's impending rise to World Domination 350cc world champion Carlo Guzzi's desk. The phone on the desk is a direct line to the Vatican The mythical otto cilindri The eight cylinder engine, almost unbelievably as small as a modern inline four engine Pausing on the way back to catch the ferry at Varenna for a requisite Guzzi on Lake Como picture Varenna is one of the prettier towns on the lake After disembarking in Belaggio, I had the pleasure of meeting fellow Guzzisti Daniel Kalal at a lakeside restaurant for a quick beer. Unfortunately, he couldn't hang around for dinner as he had to catch the last ferry. Later that evening, I met up with DD and Dan for a nice cocktail and dinner at our hotel. It was great to finally meet after more than a decade on ST.N and a couple of near misses. Unfortunately, I had to return to Parma the next day in order to catch my flight home. I covered approximately 3,000 km in about two weeks with only one day of light rain so, the trip was a great success. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoguzzi Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Nice, thx 4 posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docc Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scud Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 "After lunch, I decide to pay a visit to the factory. Guzzi owners are required to make at least one pilgrimage to the factory during their lifetimes." Great trip and pics. Thank-you for clearing stating this pilgrimage requirement. I will endeavor to comply... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PDoz Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Hmmm...I like this pilgrimage idea....are religous donations tax free in the us like they are in australia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docc Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 I would so love to go there, as we all would I am sure. I would feel a bit of a tourist taking the train or hiring a car to arrive and walk up. Better to ship my Sport to The Netherlands, meet up with a few of you fine chaps and ride from there. Crazy difficult, sure. But isn't that what pilgrimage is made of? Orson, thanks again for the inspiration! . . . Mandello Spine Raid? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orson Posted October 29, 2015 Author Share Posted October 29, 2015 Just for the record, Agostinis in Mandello rents Guzzis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewgnu Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Well next year's the big one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docc Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Well next year's the big one... 95th? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewgnu Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Well, a big one. Big one before The Big One. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossi46 Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 Docc look forward to meeting you in 2021 then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docc Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 Wouldn't that be something!! Can't count on Orson to take us (virtually) everywhere . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Jaap Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 You could rent a Guzzi from TLM in NL and ride with the Dutch crowd to Mandello in September Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docc Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 You could write me a note, yah? You are The Chief Whip, after all! (BTW, how many hours to ride from NL to Mandelo del Lario?) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Jaap Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 You could write me a note, yah? You are The Chief Whip, after all! (BTW, how many hours to ride from NL to Mandelo del Lario?) Two days ride, hotel in South Germany and Mandello included. Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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