Bill Hagan

Kevin, Look forward to you joining the Muttoneers! Whether yo join us from a launch from the Moto Grappa (c.450 backroads miles from Pinckney) or meet us in Owensboro (444 ditto), it's childplay for you given your run to and from Tellico Plains! Mutton is an acquired taste, but as I tell folks, "it's acquired me." That day's average speed surprised me, too, as I generally do as you do, i.e., loiter at c.40mph average on backroads. In this case, I smelled the barn and wanted to get home before dark. Moreover, while some of the roads I took were pretty technical and not made for rapid riding -- at least at my age and skill level! ; the stretch of U.S. 50 from Grafton, W.V., to vic. Romney, W.V., comes immediately to mind ... ... there were sections that permitted orange-suit speeds now and then. Must go. Dentist appointment! Bill

Oh ... meant to add this, but had another dotage attack. While I appreciate the hints on getting around the C&P issue, it is nonetheless interesting to me that this is the only forum of the (way too many) that I frequently post in, that poses this issue. No biggie, of course, but odd to me. Back to cleaning house here; Kathi returns from a "shower" in Philadelphia tomorrow; I have converted what she left as pristine into a set for a remake of Animal House. Bill

"If you really want/need to standardize the font on a C&P post ..." On the merits, thanks. When a teen grandkid isn't handy, it's nice to draw on the skills of members here. Seriously, thanks. I'll try that next time ... if I remember. Bill

[First, an apology about the largish typeface font size. I write such posts in an email first, then cut & paste to forums. I have never quite figured out the protocol here to make my "email" posts appear the same as "standard posts." Yes, I see the "Size" options, and select "Default," but still fail. As a geezer who frequently almost always misplaces my reading glasses, I don't mind the larger print, but regret if that bothers you. ] Three Muttoneers — a smaller group than usual — rode for mutton at this fall’s church picnic at St. Mary of the Woods in Whitesville, Kentucky, last weekend. These are semiannual events, usually held on the Memorial Day Sunday in late May and the last Sunday in September. This time, Bob W., rode down from Rochester, N.Y., to the Moto Grappa on his Moto Guzzi V7 Classic. Then, he and I rode to Maysville, Ky., where Scott M. rode from LIma, Ohio, on his Piaggio P3 to join us for the rest of the trip to “Mutton Land,” Daviess County. While in Whitesville for the picnic, another Guzzisti, Rick C., of Celina, Tenn. -- @Goofman here -- did a day trip to join us before heading home again on the same day. The pix of this trip always seem to show that all we did was to eat, drink, and be merry. We certainly did that. 😊 Yet, we regret not having more “on the road” photos. Having once nearly committed accidental suicide by fiddling with a handlebar-mounted camera, I have since stopped taking such pix from the terror that followed the disaster I was lucky enough to escape that day. OK, if it must be disclosed, I also gave up on-the-move photos after trashing a Nikon DLSR when I did not stop soon enough to get it covered before the rain got to its $600 innards. 😱. [Yes, thank you, I know that one may “harvest: stills from Go-Pros and clones, but I’m not going there, either.] That said, I do miss the nice shots, e.g., this, taken in the Wisconsin Driftless area c.2012 … … but not enough to go back to doing it, so these will have to do for my photo memories and your travelogue … unless, of course, and quite understandably, you leave now! 😄 Here are two samples … Bob at launch - Across the Ohio River from Maysville, Ky. … the rest at the link, below. ============== As usual with my smugmug sets, the link opens in “landscape collage,” so you don’t have to go to the larger pix of the slideshow. Hovering your cursor over individual photos reveals the underlying captions. If you use the slideshow version, the pix are obviously bigger and all captions appear. But, inexplicably (to me), unless you manually move the slideshow along instead of letting it roll automatically, the captions might disappear unless you leave cursor in place in lower left corner. I’m a Luddite. 😉 ============== https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/Mutton-Run-Fall-2025/n-CQqNwp Bill

. But, wait ... there's more! As I was culling those countless pix, I ran across a few of our cameo appearance at the Kentucky Guzzi rally near Frankfort. Saw this fine fellow, @Chuck! Bill

I got back Tuesday from the 2025 Fall “Mutton Run.” As usual, I’ll post a “too many pix” ride report when I finish culling and captioning the “even more than those” photos. In the meantime, I’ll note that we did have Spine Raider Goofman join us at the picnic. Regrettably, my phone cam decided to give up on focusing for a few days, so you’ll have to trust me that it was, indeed, the Rickster -- @Goofman -- from Celina, Tenn. After the picnic, we visited some of my relatives at the cemetery, did a local ride in and around Daviess and Ohio Counties, then thanked Rick for visiting before watching him head home. Bill

I recall -- note that my recollection is hardly evidence -- that Randy made those. Bill

. Over the years,I’ve ridden to the SSR on a Ballabio, Griso, EV, Stornello, V7 III, and Norge! Bill

Thanks for posting that, Kevin, as I had not realized I might have captured you not "looking your best." In my own case, my best has been pretty low rent since the '90's! Seriously, I have been chronicling SSR's since the first. I take (quite literally) hundreds of amateurish pix and then cull those down to (still too many) ones and post them here and, occasionally, another Guzzi forum. That culling process is often hurried. In this case, commitments and chores on our return meant I didn't even get to add captions to the pix. I like those as if the pix don't insult the victims enough, the captions add a coup de grâce. But, "sneaky," no, at least ever intentionally. Now, as do all "historians," I may take liberties with the truth, but that is almost always in the sense of not posting unflattering pix of me, e.g., a sullen look, picking my nose, or one that highlights my avoirdupois. Heck, maybe that's why I take the pix anyway, i.e., to have few of me and delete any that I get that others take -- at least with my camera. For example, Kathi -- who ALWAYS looks better than I do -- asked someone to get a pic of the two of us. This: As always, Kathi looks great; I failed to "suck it in," so ... yup, I didn't post it in the slideshow, thus proving that I, too, am not immune from vanity. Finally -- OK, almost -- I often take pix (especially of the posed kind such as the one you complained about) in "bursts," and then choose the one in which the fewest people are blinking or whatever. In the case of the one of the three of you, Josh, and Adam, I only took two, did not study those intently, thus posted the one you did not like. Here's the other: As I peck out this TLDR response to your concern, both the original and this are in the slideshow. Unless I hear differently from you, I'll sub the second for the original, as I think it does show you in a better light without making Josh and Adam less handsome than their actual selves. [Edited to say "done." ] Now, happily for all reading this, I have to go tend to one of those back-home tasks. The plumber crew will be here in about 15 minutes for their second day of work on our septic system. They are “renewing” our Alternative Septic System’s peat mo$$, and will leave with $12K of our moto-money! I now know why scotch whisky is so expensive. I wish I had known that peat moss was so dear when I chose my legal career. But “Greta” wasn't around then, so I had no idea that to save the Chesapeake Bay I need to pump the contents of our fluids’ tank to an ASS — a fitting acronym — with its pricy peat moss before it was declared clean enough. Grrrrr. Bill P.S. Nothing above, Kevin, is meant to make light of your knee pain. After a career in the Army, involving as it did, routinely running in boots on pavement, jumping out of airplanes in the 82d Airborne Division, and other "fun," my own knees are shot, so I quite literally "feel your pain." Best wishes with yours, with the hope that both of us can ride for a long time to come.

. . Back home, so a few -- OK, a bunch -- more pix. Captionless, but you can probably figure out who is who. Bill H's SR 2025 Pix Bill

. A few pix from "the Front" at Tellico Plains. Bill

. Howdy. Kathi and I are looking forward to SSR XXI despite our arriving in a car! Aside from still (begrudgingly) following doctor's orders -- effectively enforced by my better 2/3 -- after my hernia surgery, we are traveling before the 'raid. We leave this Friday for my 60th (gasp) high-school reunion, then visiting friends in Ellijay and my brother in Hiawassee before joining you all at the Lodge. Ah, but this is a notice of a nearby “opportunity” for SSR XXI attendees. [Note for mods. If this is “inappropriate” for here, no hurt feelings on my end … but that’s because I am an insensitive lout. Seriously, it’s not something I would likely put in the “classified” section. Inasmuch as it’s a way for interested “known folks" who happen to be nearby to see a motorcycle, the notice is intended for the usual suspects at SSR’s. ================= My brother, Michael, who is “retiring” from riding, is selling his 2016 Multistrada 1200, garaged — it’s never slept outdoors except on multi-day trips — in Hiawassee, Ga. Details, below, but wondering if any SSR folks might be interested in seeing this gem “in the flesh” while we are in Tellico Plains? Michael wants to avoid the hassle and time-wasters of an advertised sale, thus this is an opportunity to ride over to Hiawassee and see a moto-gem. Photos attached. Includes OEM side cases and top case, all with interior bags; tank bag; and Garmin GPS. More general info here: https://ducati-specs.com/models/ducati-multistrada-1200.html Mileage is 19,914. So basically 20,000 miles ... or c.2000 miles since the “big service" four years ago. That service included Multistrada Desmo Service $1,556.46; Hydraulic Flush $109.52; Chain and Sprockets $566.45; Tires $494.00; Labor: $1,202.50; Tax: $275.33; Total: $3,274.76. Michael has not thought too much yet about an asking price, but see FMV info here ... https://www.cycletrader.com/2016-Ducati-Multistrada/motorcycles-for-sale?make=Ducati%7C2316082&model=MULTISTRADA%7C764855672&year=2016 and here: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/what-is-the-fmv-of-a-base-mode-cAhK677XSsO0N1zGIjrJaQ. The roads over to Hiawassee are mighty fine — . But, if you’d prefer (and given the fickle weather forecast, you might!) Kathi and I are in a cage, so I can run you over to Michael’s place in our car. BTW, I have ridden this motorcycle. It’s a beauty and, for this Guzzista, intoxicatingly quick! Need/want more info? Ask me. See you next week! Bill My brother taking delivery … My own test ride. Yee ha! Always garaged; on BT routinely. As I said, "intoxicatingly quick!. OK ... not a traffic stop! The cop’s a Guzzista friend of mine. 😄 Edited to add that if you have any interest in my brother's Duc, that you not reply here, but send me a PM, email, text, or call Bill 4ZERO4-eightZEROeight-8FOUR86 wrhagan AT earthlinkDOTnet

. Sigh, but I do understand that a Honda C-RV is chopped liver among the spinies, lesser Guzzi=es, and the occasional unmentionable "other brands," so my fragile ego will get over this. Bill

. Good afternoon from the Moto Grappa at the top of Virginia. I finally decided I would survive my (sixth! ) hernia surgery of a few days ago, so I gathered up my 500 (!) or so pix of last week's trip south for Moto Grappa Tech Days (South) and the Guzzis in the Blue Ridge 2025 rally.. Culled those down to a bunch — of course, still too many — and added captions. I had held the last (at least by me for awhile) MGTD last year — MGTD 2024 — so fellow Guzzista Steve decided to host a similar successor at his second home near Lexington, Virginia. That serendipitously coincided with an “official” U.S. Moto Guzzi event, the “Guzzis in the Blue Ridge 2025,” held near Wilkesboro, N.C. So, Steve suggested that we meet at his place for a few days, eat and drink inappropriately without spousal supervision , and then ride down to the rally. Perfect. In theory, anyway. The usual Guzzi suspects attended, plus two newbies — Steve’s b-i-l and a beemer riding buddy, both “Miataists.” After MGTD-S, several of us rode on to the N.C. rally. This is the photo version of the story. ============== As usual with my smugmug sets, the link opens in “landscape collage,” so you don’t have to go to the larger pix of the slideshow. Hovering your cursor over individual photos will reveal the underlying captions. If you use the slideshow version, the pix are obviously bigger and all captions appear. But, inexplicably (to me), unless you manually move the slideshow along instead of letting it roll automatically, the captions disappear unless you leave cursor in place in lower left corner. I’m a Luddite. ============== Yes, at last, here are the pix: MGTD-S and Guzzis in the Blue Ridge 2025 Bill

Have been away and just seeing this thread. Great stuff. Posting a ride report, but will be back. Bill