Muttoneers in Kentucky & the Ozarks

[Bill Hagan]

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I sent the email, below, to some enthusiasts who would might not delete it out of hand. 

Docc replied, and made me think I should post it here, too, tho no spines played.  Given my cavalier -- unintentionally, most of the time   -- practice of breaking rules here generally, here goes:

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Good afternoon from the Moto Grappa.

As I did not get a request from you to be “unsubscribed” from my previous pre-trip messages, you get the pictorial trip report, too.

For those of the “too many pix” sort, know that I culled the K-plus down to just over 200.  Still lots, but, hey, it’s my slideshow; you don’t have to look at it.  😉

As usual, the link opens in "landscape collage," thus allowing you to see pix at all at once rather than slogging through those individually via “slideshow."

In that format, you can simply hover your cursor over each pic to see captions. The system truncates some of the longer ones in collage mode.

You can also view the pix in slideshow form so the pix are larger, and let it roll every 10 seconds or move them along manually more or less frequently.  You may have to have your cursor stay or “revisit” the lower-left corner of pix when captions stop appearing in slideshow mode.

It can be maddening … well, only when you care.  😂

You may note that there are few pix of scenery and the like along the way.  As most getting this know, it’s easy to stop and “smell the roses” when riding solo.  But, group rides are like driving the family in a minivan … stomachs, bladders, interests, hunger, etc., after etc., vary, so we tended stop only for refueling, "bladder maintenance,” and azimuth checks.  That tends to reduce the time we had to stop for the things we individuals mights have chosen when alone.

But, as I trust the pix show, we nonetheless had a very fine time even we didn't stop — as I wished — for every historical marker along the way!  😄

OK, yes, the link at last … Muttoneers in Kentucky & the Ozarks

Bill

 

[Pressureangle]

[Grant]

That looks like it was a great trip !  The squiggly blue lines on the maps look fun.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[paulnaz]

 Thanks, Bill, for the travelogue and unparalleled narration we've all come to enjoy.  Was the initial firestorm planned or was a little too much boy scout fuel used??

  The only thing I saw missing was Lannis, hope he's okay I miss his spirited discussions over at WG, but that's a whole different story.

 

    Paul B

[Bill Hagan]

On 7/3/2025 at 9:24 PM, paulnaz said:

 Thanks, Bill, for the travelogue and unparalleled narration we've all come to enjoy.  Was the initial firestorm planned or was a little too much boy scout fuel used??

  The only thing I saw missing was Lannis, hope he's okay I miss his spirited discussions over at WG, but that's a whole different story.

 

    Paul B

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Apologies, Paul, for somehow missing your post and question.

That "firestorm" was planned.  

They pack the pits -- which extend several feet deeper than the visible wall -- with kindling of all sorts and sizes, then pile an initial load of split hickory logs.  They then douse the whole thing with an accelerant, thus the firestorm.  The water hose playing on the flames and "ceiling" is to keep that initial flareup from warping or otherwise damaging the new pit roof.  

The "chefs" told me that all of that "shock & awe" settles down pretty quickly, and that no accelerant "taste" lingers.  They then pile on the "real" hickory for it to catch, burn, and settle into a thick bed of glowing coals.  That will be around 8 p.m. or so, at which point the various meat -- mutton, pork, and chicken -- is added at the right times during the night.  By dawn, the pit crew -- this is tight bunch of great guys who "inherited" the job and take it very seriously -- remove the (delicious) meat and ready it for the drive-thru sales point and dining-hall meal. BTW, as you might imagine, they also have a great time around those pits overnight. 

This is the first time that this new set of pits was used.  The first set in my memory -- c. 1958 -- was, I think, a relic of the late 19th century.  That one was closer to main road than later ones, and was relocated a few years ago as a result of deterioration and need for more as the parish grew and the picnics more popular. The present one is at least the fourth of such pits as the prior one that was featured in my earlier Mutton Run pix was in the way of the needed new Trinity High School.  

Lannis?  Yes, the w/g experience still disappoints me. Come visit and we'll delve more into that over some very fine Kentucky bourbon.  

But, Lannis has been to quite a number of the Mutton Runs.  He missed this one because of a significant family calendar conflict.  Lannis has his priorities right, and will no doubt return to future romps to Daviess County when more important duty doesn't trump mutton.

Best,

Bill