Bill Hagan

WARNING! if you detest “TLDR,” skim & scan … or just run away now. Paid by the word for 50+ years, I won’t change those spots any time soon. Oh, and I am also a Luddite WRT getting the fonts here right when I cut & paste as I have here from ADVRider where I first posted this earlier today in a V-85 thread. Apologoies. Feel free, Docc, to make it all "prettier." =============== Twice a year, I and others ride to Daviess County in western Kentucky. Why? Mutton. Yes, that’s an acquired taste that not everyone even wants to acquire … but it’s acquired me. But, of course, there’s more to it than that. The paternal “Hagan” contributors of my DNA started off in 1662 in St. Mary’s City, Maryland. In the late 1700’s, when Catholics were no longer welcome in Maryland, Hagans were part of the migration of 200 Catholic families to Kentucky, traveling first by foot and then flatboat to what is now Maysville, Kentucky — then Limestone, Virginia. Led, BTW, by Basil Hayden, they went on from there to settle for a time in central Kentucky south of Bardstown. If you enjoy bourbon whiskey, thank “My People.” If Protestants had settled there instead, Maker’s Mark might be a brand of iced tea. Be that as it may, they moved again in the 1820’s to the better dirt in Daviess County, where their descendants — i.e., many of my Hagan family — still live today. Their church, St. Mary of the Woods, in Whitesville, Ky., was established 177 years ago. Parish picnics started soon thereafter, and mutton has been the common, delicious denominator. I clearly remember the first such picnic I attended in the mid-1950’s. But this post is about the latest such gathering, from where I, Kathi, and two friends just returned earlier this week. Scott (Lima, Ohio) and AJ, (Baltimore, Md.) both longtime Guzzisti, and I rode from the Moto Grappa in Cross Junction, Va., to Whitesville. We took three days, riding exclusively on interstitial backroads. [I only learned that word, “interstitial,” yesterday — thanks, @Pillionviewpoint — and am excited to use it!] Seriously, it was a grand trip. The roads between here and there are made for motorcycles. We even travelled on many — e.g., U.S. 62, a twisty challenge, especially between Maysville and Bardstown — that my hardscrabble tobacco-farming (and distilling! ) ancestors would have used, albeit much more slowly. A six-mile blacktop hypotenuse off of 62 — SR 1504 — between Mount Olivet and Oddville (seriously) is one of the most entertaining pieces of pavement on this grand planet. And, in Ohio, we serendipitously stumbled upon — code for “lost” — SR 348 between Lucasville and Blue Creek, a 25-mile collection of scenic sweepers and a surprise whiskbroom or two to keep you on your toes. My ever-indulgent wife, Kathi, has been to many of these picnics as a pillion and, in this instance, driver of our “support vehicle.” She took only a day to join us in Maysville, and, on the return, be with me at Mount Sterling, Ky., before heading home solo. For some context to the slideshow, below, on Day 1 of the outbound leg, we spent some time with Guzzista @Chethro in Ripley, W.V. [Thanks, Chet] And, on Day 3, we stopped in to visit the Ky. Guzzi Rally near Frankfort. On the return, Kathi and I went to Mount Sterling, where I had arranged to have www.gatewaycycles.com/ do the 6.2K service to my V85. I bought my V85 there on my return last June. I cannot say enough good things about this dealership. Carl, the owner, is an avid Guzzista who went out of his way to ensure that the service would be done without delaying my ride home. For example, though closed on Mondays, he and "Super Tech" Coty, made the service happen that evening so I could leave early the next morning! Enough background. Here are the culled pix (bit still lots) in a slideshow with captions. The link opens in “landscape collage” format, so you can see all at a glance without slogging through one by one unless you want to do that. Hover your curser over any pic to see the caption. [For maddening reasons I do not completely understand, the captions “disappear” if one enlarges the pix and goes through them. On “pure” slideshow, i.e., automatic switching to next slide, the captions continue to appear, but the pace is quick. Keeping the cursor in the “caption area” seems to help if going through manually. As I said, maddening. If anyone knows the code to make it more seamless, please tell me.] The pix? Go here: https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/Moto-Muttoneers-Sept-2023/n-LxVRBJ/ Bill P.S. in the (exceedingly unlikely!) case, you yearn for more tales of Mutton Runs, try these: https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/Motos-Mutton-More-Less/n-HnchJc/ https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/Muttoneering-Sept-2021/n-VzxTGK/ https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/Mutton-Running-May-2018/n-dHftGV/

Ditto for me, I assure you!

Note to Self: Find some way to get an Australian passport. Bill

Got back last night ... Now, I'm too busy ... Bill

In Kentucky on Mutton Run. if someone else doesn’t chime in before I get home, I’ll try. Bill

Thank, you, Randy. I am, obviously, not dashing enough to wear that uniform, but make do with a more utilitarian uniform. Bill P.S. @KINDOY2, what’s the story on that cap? The triple-turreted insignia looks as if from an older Carabinieri rank "shoulder board," and the eagle is similar to a Mussolini-era Italian military eagle but sans the fasces. Anyway, thank you for adding to my military moto-museum collection!

You made it back in <4 days!?!?!

I tried to "Ha Ha!" that, but got this ... OTOH, I could "laugh" at Pete's. Obviously, Sede Centrale, Carabinieri, was not amused. I am now worried about disciplinary action. Bill

By the dawn's early light ... on Sunday at the Lodge at Tellico. A great Raid .... thanks to docc and all. Bill & Kathi P.S. Yes, more pix later.

“Mine’s bigger.”

Well, it’s been an interesting day. I can’t figure out how to post pictures with my phone, so my too many words will have to do. Left home about 7:30 and had a fine ride for an hour or so . Then a bee or wasp got into my helmet and started to work.. Anyway, that hurt — as in really, really hurt. I’m not a bee sting virgin. In fact, a week or so ago, two hornets got me. Those really hurt, too, but this was worse. Stopped at a Walmart and got some meds,but the pharmacist was understandably reluctant to give me anything that might make me drowsy as I was riding a motorcycle . Oh, then it rained. Lots of it. Actually, for a very short time. But long enough to douse me completely. Finally made it to the hotel. Took off my helmet, looked in the mirror… and screamed. Let’s just say the puffiness is impressive. Mitch McConnell’s wattle has nothing on mine. So, here i sit in a crowded urgent care waiting room hoping to get something better. Will see you tomorrow. Though you may not want to see what I look like! Bill

We need rain badly here at the top of Virginia, with daily drought warnings and heat advisories. My brother in Hiawassee reports similar conditions there. I'd ride uncomplainingly in the rain just to bring some relief to the flora and fauna. Bill

I protest. If we are going to have drums, these: Bill

I have a few Carb stories that — as the statute of limitations has long run — I’ll share after we wet things down at the pavilion. You might also pass out. I like bourbon and grappa, but the thought a combo is unsettling. That said, not to try seems wrong. We’ll let you know. Bill

Cocked & loaded in the Moto Grappa. Bill

As always, will bring some. Also some Italian maraschino cherries for Kale that I promised him in Kentucky. Bill

All true, Joe, but ... … you left out Grappa. Bill

I’m a drummer, so anything I say about music is suspect. 😄 Bill

Yes, quite fine. It may be, however, that you read more into my post than I intended. I was not extolling the special virtues of that rendition of Ode to Joy, but remarking on the vocal range — and other pleasing attributes — of Carla Maffioletti. That said, as my roots are those of Swabian peasants and Kentucky dirt farmers, perhaps I might be forgiven for liking occasional schmaltz, oompah, and fiddling. And, while I (usually) know better myself, I even consort often with commoners who happily applaud when every movement ends. Many “serious music" cognoscenti sneer at Andre Rieu, but it seems to me that he has brought great joy to so many people around this planet. Is he guilty of what you say is "buggerising around with it making 'easily digestible' arrangements or any of that sort of rubbish[?]” I suppose. Actually, I would not even know of him but for spending so many nights at my mother’s bedside over the five years in a nursing home in Atlanta before she passed in 2018. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/atlanta/name/carmen-hagan-obituary?id=13131309 In her late 90’s, Mom was so addled by dementia that every evening with her seemed like the movie Groundhog Day — I have to be careful here about not digressing into daydreams about Andie MacDowell! — as Mom would ask the same question every few minutes. But, in the course of finding Youtube videos to entertain her, I ran across Andre Rieu and that Ode to Joy vid in particular. Mom NEVER tired of asking me to play it. Sometimes, Kathi and I would listen to that four or five times an evening! On a related note, do you have any idea how many vids there are of babies laughing or puppies playing? Thousands. Mom loved them! I think nursing homes should pipe those sounds in to sooth the residents. So, I will never forget and always be grateful to Andre Rieu for the pleasure he and his orchestra gave to my mom on so many (and I mean MANY) nights. Finally, Mom was born in 1920 in Wurmlingen, 103 years and some 600 km from where I see you live in Leipzig. You traveled almost that far to hear the BRSO in Munich. Near death, Mom seemed to revert, as so many do, to her childhood. She slipped away into sleep every night when we played this: I just teared up listening to it again; I know every word. Schmaltz. Tomorrow, I’ll be back on y/t, but in the Moto Grappa looking for the best video on static balancing the V85’s rear wheel with its new MR6. Life goes on. Best, Bill

I thought I had posted about Carla Maffioletti before, but a search found nothing here. Knowing that my horn vids seem to have resonated with few, I'll try again, given the mention of some wonderful women singers. For all sorts of reasons not limited -- as Kathi sweetly thinks -- to the lady's considerable vocal talents, Ms. Maffioletti is a favorite of mine. Even if you can't stand this sort of thing, go to 2:25 and get a feel (so to speak, of course! ) for her vocal range. Bill

True, but, for me, the ride there is a journey of joy. OTOH, the 500-to-600-mile ride there generally leaves me drained, so the SSR is more a “rest & refit” time of beer, bourbon, and BS than local riding, tho Kathi and I will do a bit of two-up while there. No matter how many times I ride that general axis of advance — and it’s been MANY — to the SSR, Atlanta, Hiawassee, or other points to the SE, there’s always something or someone new to make it fun. This is my planned route on the out-leg for this year. Map doesn’t show the short bump north, but I'll likely RON in Princeton, W.V., as I usually do. I am less happy with the Day 2 run, and will likely mod that into something very different and less straight and trafficky, even if longer. I will launch on Thursday; arrive on Friday afternoon sometime before BENT. Kathi will drive down on Friday. I’ll not even think about the return on Tuesday — from my brother’s house in Hiawassee, not Tellico Plains — until the night before. Serendipity is the best planning technique. As I noted — in an (unintentional, I swear) serious thread drift here, https://www.v11lemans.com/forums/topic/18925-what-music-do-you-listen-to-share-your-favs/?do=findComment&comment=292234, I just pulled the rear tire — an OEM-mounted Dunlop Meridian — and put a Michelin Road 6 on the wheel. It awaits the black-art of static balancing. Regrettably, I am no magician, but we shall see. Bill

As a Guzzista, I emulate the marque by liking quirky music. My most recent affectation for Moto Grappa listening is the Trompes de Chasse, e.g. this ... I am listening to that now while R&R'ing the rear wheel of the V85. The OEM Dunlop Meridian has 4.5K on it and probably enough tread for the run to the SSR ... he says hopefully. But, it's squared off, and that's no fun, and I already have the MR6 here. So, naturally, the "why not" rule kicks in. The front tire is, as expected, in better shape, but its replacement is inbound, thus another application of the WNR. Pulling the rear wheel was the easiest of any of my present and former Guzzis. Fell right off like well done rib meat off the bone. Lots of space, and the cush rubbers stay in place. I didn't even need to drop the lift's cutout. OK, back to listening, now this ... Bill

I could not be happier with the roads right out out of my driveway, but remember from our years down that way the many stupendous roads at the top of Georgia. Grand. Simply grand. Bill

Can't see FB. Same general story? Bill

I missed this thread last month. Sorry. We fly this pair flags twice every year: 6 June and 14 July. We also fly the flag of France on 5 May ... That pairing on Cinco de Mayo no doubt puzzles many, but think how wonderful Mexican cuisine -- already fine, IMO -- would be had the French won! Bill