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Sept '23 Va Guzzi Riders Lunch Report
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VA Guzzi
Sep 18, 2023, 4:33:04 PM9/18/23
to VA Guzzi
Guzzisti,
Every so often Ma. Nature beams a beatific smile down on us motorcyclists. Saturday was such a day. The morning was actually cool enough that the Guzzi motors sang an especially blissful note. No, I'm still not well enough to ride, but I remember how every Guzzi I owned responded to the cooler temps of fall, especially if it was a little "moist". Misty rain may not have been the most wonderful for the rider, but all the Guzzi- motors LOVED it.
So, Alice & I caged in the Nissan Pup, but everyone else was on two (or three) wheels. Attendees were: Richard Krammes riding a Honda Rebel. Bob Corfield on his venerable SP (240K miles & counting, Bobs' goal is 300K). David Phillips, also on an SP, an earlier model than Bobs'. Allyn & Suzie Chapell driving Allyn's Mille-GT sidecar rig. Mark Yeates on an EV ('98 I think). MIke Jones on his Convert. Nate Jones on the Kawasaki Ninja. & My Son Doug on his '03 Stone. Doug & I have been slowly getting this bike "right". It's a little of a "frankenguzzi" w/parts from several models incorporated, but it's running & looking good! 8 bikes, 6 of them Guzzis, all Tonti frames from about 1980 to 2003.
There were 5 of us when we went in to Amici's. Apparently the lady I spoke to a week earlier didn't note my reservation for 8 when I called. But, our waitress quickly pulled two tables together, we ordered our drinks, then, as the rest of the group arrived she pulled a third in line so all 11 of us got seated. I understand that the 3rd table needed a leg-shim & was a bit of a hassle to keep from rocking, but the food was good enough that a little irritation was overlooked. FOOD & service...excellent! Our orders ranged from full dinners to subs. All came out together except for Allyn & Suzie's calzones, taking a few minutes longer to bake. My traditional order of linguini w/red clam sauce was the best I've had for years. Mike said the eggplant parm was good, but not quite up the benchmark set by Sanzone's in Stuart's Draft. Alice commented that her vegi sub was very good, close, but not as wonderful as the one she had at Nick's in Buena Vista in July. We're becoming a group of gourmands!
With new & seldom seen faces around the table the conversations ranged especially widely. Interesting, as always. After our super-fine lunch we adjourned outside for a tire-kicking session. It had warmed up enough that standing around too long turned full riding gear into sauna suits, so, one by one we headed out. I drove behind Allyn & Suzie in the sidecar rig for a number of miles. You could tell Suzie is an experienced sidecar passenger the way she leaned with the turns.
A really nice meet, hope to see y'all out at one soon.
Ron
PS, I just called in reservations at the Blue Ridge Motel for the Va. Guzzi camp-over Oct 6-7-8 at Willville in Meadows-of-Dan. I can't ride, but I'll drive the Pup & hobble around on my cane so I can at least hang out w/old & new friends. I'll be looking for ya.
Every so often Ma. Nature beams a beatific smile down on us motorcyclists. Saturday was such a day. The morning was actually cool enough that the Guzzi motors sang an especially blissful note. No, I'm still not well enough to ride, but I remember how every Guzzi I owned responded to the cooler temps of fall, especially if it was a little "moist". Misty rain may not have been the most wonderful for the rider, but all the Guzzi- motors LOVED it.
So, Alice & I caged in the Nissan Pup, but everyone else was on two (or three) wheels. Attendees were: Richard Krammes riding a Honda Rebel. Bob Corfield on his venerable SP (240K miles & counting, Bobs' goal is 300K). David Phillips, also on an SP, an earlier model than Bobs'. Allyn & Suzie Chapell driving Allyn's Mille-GT sidecar rig. Mark Yeates on an EV ('98 I think). MIke Jones on his Convert. Nate Jones on the Kawasaki Ninja. & My Son Doug on his '03 Stone. Doug & I have been slowly getting this bike "right". It's a little of a "frankenguzzi" w/parts from several models incorporated, but it's running & looking good! 8 bikes, 6 of them Guzzis, all Tonti frames from about 1980 to 2003.
There were 5 of us when we went in to Amici's. Apparently the lady I spoke to a week earlier didn't note my reservation for 8 when I called. But, our waitress quickly pulled two tables together, we ordered our drinks, then, as the rest of the group arrived she pulled a third in line so all 11 of us got seated. I understand that the 3rd table needed a leg-shim & was a bit of a hassle to keep from rocking, but the food was good enough that a little irritation was overlooked. FOOD & service...excellent! Our orders ranged from full dinners to subs. All came out together except for Allyn & Suzie's calzones, taking a few minutes longer to bake. My traditional order of linguini w/red clam sauce was the best I've had for years. Mike said the eggplant parm was good, but not quite up the benchmark set by Sanzone's in Stuart's Draft. Alice commented that her vegi sub was very good, close, but not as wonderful as the one she had at Nick's in Buena Vista in July. We're becoming a group of gourmands!
With new & seldom seen faces around the table the conversations ranged especially widely. Interesting, as always. After our super-fine lunch we adjourned outside for a tire-kicking session. It had warmed up enough that standing around too long turned full riding gear into sauna suits, so, one by one we headed out. I drove behind Allyn & Suzie in the sidecar rig for a number of miles. You could tell Suzie is an experienced sidecar passenger the way she leaned with the turns.
A really nice meet, hope to see y'all out at one soon.
Ron
PS, I just called in reservations at the Blue Ridge Motel for the Va. Guzzi camp-over Oct 6-7-8 at Willville in Meadows-of-Dan. I can't ride, but I'll drive the Pup & hobble around on my cane so I can at least hang out w/old & new friends. I'll be looking for ya.
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