So, Kathi, out of the blue today, said , “Let’s go for a ride, Bill.”
Hmmmmm. My mind raced. She wants to fly out to visit grandbabies in Seattle or at Fort Bragg? A Disney cruise? OMG.
But, she is not like me, and would not just “accidentally” drive by the Kubota dealer on the day some new models are delivered.
So, this was just a carpe diem, joie de vivre sort of genuine pursuit of happiness on her part. I really don't deserve her, and am ever-grateful she doesn’t know it.
Unlike the sunny and warm day the TWC astrologers had predicted, today turned out warm in degrees but cold in feel, as blustery gusts and cloud cover made it seem in the 40’s rather than 60’s it was.
This was a mini-trip, hardly worth, I suppose, a “ride report,” but it was fun, so it gets one anyway. The Norge, too, at almost 11 years and 70K (other Guzzi's ate their share of miles in that time, too) remains a joy.
We didn’t go far, only 110 miles, but these were nearly all on rock & rolling roads and the foliage, while muted compared to past years, was still grand. Only had one self-inflicted “OMG, we’re gonna die!” moment, but the Norge has more poise and competence than I, and Kathi is the perfect pillion, so only I really knew how close that might have been.
Otherwise, it was a grand if modest little romp. The route appears in the maps, below, with the larger only to show the “big picture” for those who’ve never heard of Largent, Paw Paw, Shang Hai, and the like.
A set of W.V. thugs in a pickup were tailgating asshats at the outset , but I waved ‘em by, and that was about all there was of traffic for the rest of the trip. Retirement has made it possible for us to see that midday on a weekday means that back roads are pretty much deserted playgrounds.
Stopped for hot beverage warm-ups in Berkeley Springs, then headed off to Paw Paw and wherever after that.
We would have made a larger loop, but had to backtrack when we ran into road construction just north of Largent, but the reverse run back to Berkeley Springs along the rushing Cacapon, followed by the high ridge road of Winchester Grade almost to home made Kathi pound my back to ensure I saw this view and that. I mostly didn’t as I was focused on playing the lines, watching for deer, and otherwise keeping two contact patches in place.
So, that’s that. Hope she gets in that mood again soon.
Here’s the route: https://goo.gl/maps/NaU3NmVNgSz
And the maps:
And a few pix:
Bill
[Edited to amend route on maps. Yes, I know no one cares. Still, aside from my OCD issues, I had noticed that Google maps "corrected" my route to head straight down U.S. 522 , rather than Winchester Grade Road on the way back home.]
Hmmmmm. My mind raced. She wants to fly out to visit grandbabies in Seattle or at Fort Bragg? A Disney cruise? OMG.
But, she is not like me, and would not just “accidentally” drive by the Kubota dealer on the day some new models are delivered.
So, this was just a carpe diem, joie de vivre sort of genuine pursuit of happiness on her part. I really don't deserve her, and am ever-grateful she doesn’t know it.
Unlike the sunny and warm day the TWC astrologers had predicted, today turned out warm in degrees but cold in feel, as blustery gusts and cloud cover made it seem in the 40’s rather than 60’s it was.
This was a mini-trip, hardly worth, I suppose, a “ride report,” but it was fun, so it gets one anyway. The Norge, too, at almost 11 years and 70K (other Guzzi's ate their share of miles in that time, too) remains a joy.
We didn’t go far, only 110 miles, but these were nearly all on rock & rolling roads and the foliage, while muted compared to past years, was still grand. Only had one self-inflicted “OMG, we’re gonna die!” moment, but the Norge has more poise and competence than I, and Kathi is the perfect pillion, so only I really knew how close that might have been.
Otherwise, it was a grand if modest little romp. The route appears in the maps, below, with the larger only to show the “big picture” for those who’ve never heard of Largent, Paw Paw, Shang Hai, and the like.
A set of W.V. thugs in a pickup were tailgating asshats at the outset , but I waved ‘em by, and that was about all there was of traffic for the rest of the trip. Retirement has made it possible for us to see that midday on a weekday means that back roads are pretty much deserted playgrounds.
Stopped for hot beverage warm-ups in Berkeley Springs, then headed off to Paw Paw and wherever after that.
We would have made a larger loop, but had to backtrack when we ran into road construction just north of Largent, but the reverse run back to Berkeley Springs along the rushing Cacapon, followed by the high ridge road of Winchester Grade almost to home made Kathi pound my back to ensure I saw this view and that. I mostly didn’t as I was focused on playing the lines, watching for deer, and otherwise keeping two contact patches in place.
So, that’s that. Hope she gets in that mood again soon.
Here’s the route: https://goo.gl/maps/NaU3NmVNgSz
And the maps:
And a few pix:
Bill
[Edited to amend route on maps. Yes, I know no one cares. Still, aside from my OCD issues, I had noticed that Google maps "corrected" my route to head straight down U.S. 522 , rather than Winchester Grade Road on the way back home.]
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