Resurrecting an Italian Supermodel on her 50th Anniversary for the family's 100th birthday party

It is really amazing that we all made it up here on our old bikes.
I literally had not started my bike for 9 years until about 3 weeks ago.
The carb slide sticking issue went away on its own.....mostly
The clutch sticks a bit sometimes.
The starter button failed and the bike needs to be started with a screwdriver that I touch to the contacts directly to the starter motor causing sparks to fly.
Rad's bike had a rear brake sticking issue. With no time to deal with it, we just opened the bleed valve and let the brake fluid out. But he had not started his bike in 7 years prior and put zero test miles on it before shipping it out to California for the ride.
And Jim probably even prepared less for the ride. He did absolutely nothing including checking air pressure in his tires before setting out. And speaking of tires, all are more than 15 years old.
All this was a recipe for disaster. But some how we all made it here.
But we all need to ride back home
So the story doesn't end here for sure

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Hells yeah FD!

Wish I had the time off from family and responsibilities to join you for a few miles. You were just a few miles from me. Wishing you safe travels and keep the rubber side down.

See you in (or off) the road.

Jeff G.

I'm sorry that I missed all the fun, my Guzzi and I would have enjoyed the ride!

Looking forward to the return trip RR.

Hanging out at The Ranch for the day.
Traded in the classic bikes for electric side by sides

no doubt the Moto Guzzi would make it! after all, it's a solid vintage!
i would take my 1970 MG Ambassador in a blink of an eye anywhere, which i did 10 years ago. a friend called with a proposal, a week later i was on the way to Alaska.
looking forward to your next Thailand Edventure!

btw, take care of your clutch shines unless you want to replace the input shaft. i'm pretty sure a lack of grease causes the stickiness.

How can I do something why I am on the road? Anything I can do at this point? I still have a long way home

no worries, it'll be good for a few more hundred miles. but not thousands...

Jim and I weren't happy how our front brakes were working on our old bikes. Here we are trying to figure out how to adjust the front drum brake on the Moto Guzzi trying to get all 4 shoes to start to bite at the same time. We were fairly successful but this ain't no modern bike with mono block radial calipers. On both bikes, and especially mine, you need to plan slowing for the corners early.

There are no shortages of fun beautiful roads here around Mendocino. Jim and I go on a 50 mile loop ride to check out how our front brake adjustments worked.

I let Jim ride the Guzzi. Like Rad, he came away very impressed by the bike. It is very raw and engaging. Super fun.
I thought the BMW is a better motorcycle but no where near as entertaining. I was bored on the BMW. It does everything well. It felt like a big scooter actually. You could ride this BMW around the world. But the Guzzi will put a bigger smile on anyone's face ..... I feel.

I’m sure you’ve been putting big smiles on a lot of faces riding those two gorgeous classics around.

I am enjoying this older Guzzi so much, it almost has me convinced that maybe I should start dating older women........almost but not quite convinced.

You might be a hot commodity..

Looking forward to finding out how JJJ transforms the R90 to a Bumble Bee and back at will.

Time to leave the Mendo Mansion
We are heading south.
This ride is only really half way thru.
And after this afternoon, I am solo.

I think I might miss morning coffee time here.

Ed, When you and JJJ are out for the 50 mile ride, what are Rad and the 50 doing back at the home base?

Cleaning the windows?

Saying goodbye to the Mendo Mansion.
Rad and Kate left earlier......something about having jobs to get back to.
The last supper with the crew

Jim and head in to downtown Mendocino for a Chimay

Last views of the amazing house views

And the even more amazing Ranch.

Let's see if the bikes still start. I have 800 miles to ride back to So Cal

Good trip and JJJ definitely fared better on this one. Thanks for showing us the scenic side of California!

Leaving Mendocino on hwy 128. The trees are so big and dense, you almost have to use your headlights during the day time. I had to lighten up the photo to see the bikes.



Stopping at my favorite Champagne winery in Anderson Valley for a little bubbly tasting at Roederer Estate.

Jim's BMW started to have some electrical issues on our way back to San Francisco. The voltage gauge was fluctuating like the voltage regulator was going out. We rode together down the 101 and we both got safely back to San Francisco.
These 2 hours droning down the freeway made me realize my bike is no touring machine.
Jim got back home safely.
Rad and Kate got back to LA and flew back to Texas without incident.
I still had 500 miles to go to complete my mission.
I stopped in San Mateo and had dinner with my friend and professional chef and sommelier. And it was safe to expect something great on the menu

With all that wine, I got a late start in the morning needless to say

One doesn’t tour with supermodels, even 50 year old ones. Just noting so you know.