Bill Hagan

Yes, quite the place. BTDT ... but, thankfully, not in June of '44. Our entire 10-day tour of airborne battlefields in France, Holland, Belgium, and Grmanywas inspiring. Touring cemeteries was sobering. The latter visits included German ones; two of my uncles were in the Wehrmacht and my mom a physical therapist at a German military hospital in Rottweil! As a retired career U.S. Army guy that amazes even me. Stories, if you care, in May in Kentucky. Bill

I had to look up that “Burning Man” reference. I then saw that "smells" at one had nothing to do with the other. A noncombatant in the sexual and other revolutions of the '60's and '70's, I have never been into druidical gatherings of the Burning Man sort, tho my parents, both closet bohemians and hippies, would have loved to attend the early ones at least. For me, however, the term evoked another “burning man,” and I was puzzled by the connection until I did the wikipedia thing and learned about about the one @docc mentioned. The "Dead Man’s Corner” in my head was this: I visited that spot in May 2018 with five other Old Flatulent paratroopers like me who, at least in our fading memories, “were soldiers once … and young.” We toured several battlefields and cemeteries where, in particular, our “alma mater,” the 82d Airborne Division, the 101st, and other airborne formations had fought in WWII. Many are still there. As I started my Army life as a tanker, and my father was an armored crewman in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy in that unpleasant international event of ’39 - ‘45, I was especially drawn to the affair at Dead Man's Corner. By now, if still reading, here’s that story: Dead Man's Corner God bless all those brave folks. Feeling (somewhat) apologetic for thread drift, Joe & others, I did do some Guzzi-sightseeing, too. Met these folks at a rest area at a rest area: And stopped here to kick tires: Jaap was, regrettably, vacationing in the UK when I was near his home Nijmegen/Arnhem, of “A Bridge Too Far” fame, so we couldn’t link up. Ciao, Bill

Probably much less for a horse! The U.S Army once had a field manual for executions. In quintessential Army form, there was a depiction of a circle on white paper for firing squads. For hangings, a "drop chart" listed various possible weights of the prospective condemned withcorresponding feet to drop. Adhering to the guidance ensured breaking the perps' neck without decapitating heads! Behind every such rule there is almost always a "bad example." Bill

You are kind, Al; we do love our home and its location. It is a dramatic change from our previous place in downtown Atlanta. As for location, I guess you could not decipher my "Above Pott's Camp along Braddock's route, Virginia" location below my avatar. Well, had you done so, you'd have been the first! Anyway, despite our strangely gerrymandered "Winchester" zip code, we live 12 miles to the NW of that town on US 522 between Gainesboro and Cross Junction, both of which have about four stop signs to the collective credit! In any event, you are welcome to visit anytime. We always have a spare bedroom for visiting Guzzisti. And, we will be housesitting for our (Wendell) N.C. kids in April, so I may ride your way and say howdy then. Bill

Every February for the past several years, I have invited Guzzisti — and, now and then, even a worthy Other Brander — to “Moto Grappa Tech Days” here at the top of Virginia. [If bored beyond the telling, you may find pix of previous events somewhere in the bowels of this forum.] This year’s event was last weekend, tho the run-up started before that, and shooting the wounded extended it until Tuesday. Kathi (who escaped during the time to one set of our grands in N.C.) would say that recovery operations are still ongoing! In many respects, MGTD are way more about beer, bourbon, food, & BS than any real "tech" work, but the gatherings are great fun. As I usually do, I have these on Smugmug in “landscape collage” form. That way, they all open in collected thumbnails first. You can then hover your cursor over the individual pix to read, if desired, the captions. You can make the pix bigger and see (again, if you wish) all of captions in larger text size if you select the slideshow option and let it roll. Here they are: MGTD 2023 Bill

I only know one other guy -- and no gals (which may be a clue as to something) -- who owns Saabs and Jags. Naturally, none of these run. Just realized that my fruitcake friend is a serious Guzzista, too. Then, in the course of throwing these stones, I realized that I am a vintage FIAT and Studebaker aficionado. Bill

BTDT numerous times, at several points, including from the Old North State. Oh, oh. I wondered how you think I might have gotten to Tellico from here at the top of Virginia without crossing said divide. Then I saw the "V11" bit. My runs on the Ballabio were always north from Atlanta. Picky, picky. Bill

Regrettably -- but necessarily -- the Norge is history. Sold it last April to a young couple who love it and have added miles of smiles to its already82K. As I have said elsewhere (and maybe even here somewhere) about that, anyone can ride a motorcycle 100+ mph, but coming to a stop sign at the top of a hill on broken pavement, two-up -- without even considering the metric tons of Kathi's stuff in our panniers and trunk (Her Grace allows me the tank bag ) -- is more of a challenge than, at 75+, I am willing to take with said precious passenger. With four more Guzzis in the stable, and the EV, even at 107K miles, a reliable, safe, and pleasant pilot and pillion mount, it's not as if I am inconsolable about my plight. So, next SSR, either we'll take the EV or Kathi will drive one of our Fits as a sag wagon. FWIW, while hardly a fixed route -- and I have run this axis of advance to points south numerous times, I often think the most fun way to get to Princeton, at least, is to get to SR 42 to Newport, US 460 to Narrows, SR 61 to Rocky Gap, then up US 52 & (very briefly, thankfully) I-77 to Princeton. As TR was fond of saying, "Deeelightful." Bill [P.S. Edited to apologize for continuing the thread drift! Best wishes on that new-to-you Guzzi. It's one of my favorites.]

Makes sense to me ... Seriously, Kathi and I might take a more back-roads route than that quick Google Maps avoid-highways shot, but it's hard to get there from here by any bad roads that don't start with an "I." Consider an overnight here before launching on the longer leg. Bill

We will be in 301 again, our "usual" for years. We can run a decibel test this May in Kentucky and compare. Bill

That means you'll be our neighbor. Don't snore loudly or Kathi will claim it's me. Bill

Enough of this Osteichthyes chatter. I am still trying to sort out which Guzzi I will straddle, and none of them will have fishing tackle aboard. My present plan -- which as with those in the Army, is unlikely to survive first contact -- is to trailer the EV to Atlanta where Guzzi god & guru Wayne Orwig will ensure it is ready for the cross-country trip I probably won't make anyway. I'll get it back in April or so, then ride it to Kentucky, the PNW, or just back here. Kathi will be in Italy then PNW for almost all of May until early June, so I will be unsupervised. So many opportunities. If only I can find someone to mow our dandelion and ragweed farm. Seriously, the EV has lots of storage room and is the ideal mount in my moto-harem for LD missions. But, it has a leaky front tire, which I can probably fix myself. More troublingly, it also has a spark issue of some sort that is maddening. My grasp of automotive electrics is, aside from creating unintentional light shows, primitive, whereas Wayne "knows all" and is also well acquainted with my EV from our Atlanta days. OK, back to the fishing forum. Bill

A fish, silly. Seriously, I'm going to go with Lake Sturgeon, but am curious, too.

BTDT That's the late, great Dennis Kristof admiring -- as was quite appropriate -- my Griso. FWIW, the river was not narrow that day after some late spring rains. Bill

Brave talk for a Volunteer.

Cherry bombs were the lures of choice when I grew up in western Kentucky. Bill

Just reserved "our usual room." Bill & Kathi

Count me out of fishing ... other than from the bank. I have hurled on almost every boat ride I've taken, whether aboard a dreadnaught or a dory, in heavy chop or on a glassy lake. Ditto aircraft of all sorts, tail draggers to Delta One over the pond. Heck, I was a master military parachutist back in the day, when the young(er) paratroopers had been carousing the night before and now smoked -- yes, really -- in flight. Couple that with an NOE flight on a hot North Carolina summer's day, and I was miserable. That said, I did become quite deft, even elegant , at filling the little bag. Apologies for the reverie of days of yore, but just reading about your fishing-charter plan made me step outside for a breath of fresh air where I recalled that ancient history. Just in case I have not been clear enough, that would be "NOPE!" to leaving shore. Best, Bill P.S. The sKSR, followed by the Mutton Run up to Daviess County, may actually be the start of a moto-run out to the PNW in early June.

^^^^^^^ Those enamored with faux bourbon from Lynchburg, Tullahoma, and similar Volunteer State wannabes should reflect that when folks flush their toilets -- or leave their privies! -- in Kentucky, the results flow to Tennessee. Bill

Sounds good. I'm retired Army, so I don't camp out of continuing protest. Seriously, I always take two days for my runs to Kentucky. If taking a southerly route, usually RON at hotel in Princeton, W.V. Stay in touch. Emails are better for me than PM's. Bill - wrhagan AT earthlink DOT net

Tom, I am 95% in on this, as I also have an event in Daviess County the following week. [And, not irrelevantly, Kathi will be in Italy, thus leaving me happily unsupervised. ] Anyway, let me know if might be in interested in riding for all or part with this Old Flatulent. If so, we can work the eaches after Epiphany. Bill P.S. I know Hampton isn't next door to the top of the Old Dominion, but let me know if you might have any interest in coming up for the Moto Grappa Tech Days MMXXIII in February. For more, see ...

The Haven Brothers are a class act. I include Todd in the present tense because I leave my passenger pegs down on all of my machines to give rides to "selected personnel" who are no longer with us. It always makes me grin when I recall Todd's signature line on posts and emails after he lost a lower leg: "Wherever I am, I'll always have one foot in Texas." Now ... what's the story on that Griso in your gallery? Lovely backdrop for a grand machine. Bill

I did not claim "good," only inexpensive. Bill

I am very much interested in making May Kentucky Month -- tho the thought of any centerfolds from this bunch skeers me. Anyway, as those who care know -- an exceedingly small group -- I have ridden for many years twice to Kentucky annually: in late May (Memorial Day weekend) and late September for "Mutton Runs." As I ride exclusively on entertaining backroads vice the slab, the most practical way to make both of these events is to do the sKSR first, then head up to Daviess County. That mean$ lodging co$t$ ju$t as $everal of our 13 (ga$p) grandkid$ have birthday$. The days of those little shixes being happy with empty boxes are long gone. Moto Guzzis are my hobby; buying things for grandkids is Kathi's. As my newest Guzzi is a 2017 model, guess who spends more. 😳 The biggest impediment to being gone that long at that time of year as it's prime weed-growing season! That sounds like a joke, but I'll need to hire a bush hog instead of my zero-turn if I don't get lucky. I only wish that dandelions and the like were cash crops. I can mooch for a few days in Eddyville with an old friend, and possibly with some other unsuspecting high-school or college friends -- tho Kathi has a no-fly list that includes a Greensburg redhead from days of yore -- that I might lean on for free lodging between the events. Still, a 1500-mile roundtrip -- something like the map here -- is otherwise enticing. I sent a PM to Joe about that cabin's room, but if that is taken or all of this is in my too-hard-do box, I'll reserve a room now at the lodge and cancel if I must later. Bill P.S. I am still licensed to practice law in Kentucky, but as an officially retired Old Flatulent and "Senior Counselor," I'm exempt from paying bar dues. If any of you end up wearing an orange suit, I can return to "active duty" for your court appearance and would only charge you those bar dues.

Other than riding Guzzis, of course! Election news gets understandable first place in the media here today, but this also made our local daily, the Winchester Star! 😄 If you care, here’s a link to the “rest of the story," which even has some Guzzi content. Old Guy Collects Flags Bill P.S. Apropos the second part of this post's title, the newspaper reporter who wrote the story collects ... drum roll, please ... sink stoppers! Yes, really. Has 600 of them! Made me seem darn near normal.