Subject: (MGCL) Weekend trip
From: Wayne Orwig
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 16:03:08 -0400
To: Moto Guzzi list

This last weekend my wife and I took the California from Georgia to West
Virginia (too many states) for a gathering with a group of other
motorcyclists from the east coast. We camped at a place that caters to
people that want to do white water rafting on the New River.

The ride up on Friday was ordinary. I took a number of back roads in the
Asheville area to add a little variety and did about a 90 mile length of the
Blue Ridge Parkway. But, all good things must come to an end and the last
half of the trip I slabbed it. It was about 400 miles up, and we arrived in
time to dine with many of the others that had arrived at the campground
restaurant.

There was then partying and drinking of our favorite beverages and all was
good.

A couple of rides were organized on Saturday. Everyone quickly noticed on
the maps and GPS's a road that was nearby that wiggled all over the place,
so that is were we headed. But, it was a gravel road. And not just ANY
gravel road but more like cobblestone rocks. I was watching as my windshield
would shake one direction and the Givi bags would go another. We decided to
turn back after a mile of it. On the way back we passed the other group, and
they continued on. Later they said it wasn't worth it, but we were still
wimps. Our group got back to pavement and followed a small one lane road
along I-77 north of Beckley. It zigzagged all over the place, crossing the
interstate at LEAST 5 time. Later in the day we also took the old road under
the New River Bridge. That road is so narrow it is one lane, one way, with
numerous switchbacks. It one point we came upon a group of cruiser bike
riders. They we obviously inexperienced and were riding very slow. You know
what happens when you ride real slow and try to go around a sharp cambered
turn? Well, you fall over. So we had to stop and pick up a Honda Shadow and
after verifying everything was fine, we were off, back to the campground. We
ate at the campground restaurant again that evening.

There was then partying and drinking of our favorite beverages and all was
good.

Until Sunday morning. That is when the lightning and rain started. Luckily
we were in a cabin on a raised platform, half way up a hillside. We watched
the entire hillside turn into a river. I've never seen that much rain at one
time. Eventually we decided to load up the bike and head down the hill to
the restaurant for coffee and get the heck out of there. Riding down that
muddy hillside is the only time I recalled wishing I did NOT have integrated
brakes on the bike, but all was fine. I even got over the spots that were
beginning to wash out. While at the restaurant that told us we needed to
leave because the lake was overflowing into the parking lot. As we loaded up
someone asked where we were going. That was when they informed us that the
road out was flooded! Bummer. They said the only way out was up over the
mountain on a small goat path. Ok, probably a horse path. So, back up the
mountain we go. I was following a 4X4 for a while. He was so proud of the
fact that he had made it through a nasty bit of deep water once that he
stopped on the other side, forcing me to put my feet down. Idiot... We
passed a couple of tree that had been split open by the lighting. Eventually
we made out to a small town called Oak Hill, where there were a number of
flooded businesses. Things were not going well. Shortly we were on I-77
headed south to the heat and dry of Georgia.

I found that:
My Aerostitch has been very good to me in the rain before, but this time it
held IN as much water is it kept out. When I stopped for gas the water ran
down my pant legs onto my boots.
The new waterproof gloves I got last year were totally dry. Of course they
were on a shelf at home the entire time.
The Givi bags didn't leak a drop that I noticed.
When you get to Georgia and you are soaking wet with wet weather gear on,
people stare. (water, what is that?) And then the a heat turn it all to
steam.
The California did very well in deep water. I did get some water in the
carbs, but that happens even in a slight rain. I never did find that
leak.
A GPS is good for finding your way down a goat path in the heavy rain.

Wayne Orwig