The Goose goes home....subtitled "why am I in Germany!!"

catweasel67 · 09-20-2009, 08:59 AM

So, lots of rumblings in the Guzzi forums about the Mandello factory moving, closing, changing over the last few months (probably more). Then I heard about a Guzzi owner's demo being held at the Guzzi factory to support the workers and to show solidarity. I had a few days off, had wanted to take my Goose to the "nest" since I've had it, so off I went.

My plan was to slab it from Wien to Mandello, total journey is about 900km (a tad under) so, being stupid, I set up the route in Mapsource, uploaded into my Zumo, strapped on my tent and sidecases and off I went.

It's 7am ish and I'm off! GPS is on, MP3s are playing, directions are being given, it's a nice day and the slabs in Austria, espciallly in the Alps provide some stunning eye candy. Some few hours in the Zumo tells me to turn off the motorway and not really caring that much I obey (did I mention I was an idiot?). Turn left....right...right....left...it blathered on until I hit the small, but world famous, village of Fucking. "ahh!" and "doh!" as I remembered plugging the "via Fucking" route into the Zumo. But hey!! a few snaps and I'm back on the road.....once again bimbling, obeying without question or concern :)

Picture time...but, of course, my random route first. Red (magenta? pink?) is day 1, Yellow is day 2.

and then the aforementioned piccie :)

Moving along I'm sort of feeling bemused by the route but hey! I'm on the bike and all is good. I'm meant to be slabbing it but what the heck! I'll just get there later :)

And then I'm in Germany...total surprise! but not quite as a big a surprise as the Swiss border...I'm like "huh?". But hey! Now I get to come into Lake Como from the north so bonus....again. Roads like this kept croppping up

.

Still...after almost 13 hours of riding I reach Guzzi heaven

and

I'll skip the 80 odd Guzzi pictures :p but here's a wee sample

and

.

Anyhooo...with a party to get back to in Wien, I left Mandello at lunchtime, this time taking the slab proper. It was a fairly straightforward ride back, another 900km. Took about 11 hours and, well, as much as slabs can be boring, the pass through the alps is pretty bloody stunning and I hit it at just about the right time

.

1800km of riding in 2 days :) the pefect end to a weekend.

Flood · 09-25-2009, 12:35 AM

Wow! That was quick!

I was in Mandello for the Guzzi world days in September 2005, but we took the small roads and did it in 2 days with a sleepover in Tyrol.

catweasel67 · 09-25-2009, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flood

Wow! That was quick!

I was in Mandello for the Guzzi world days in September 2005, but we took the small roads and did it in 2 days with a sleepover in Tyrol.

it was fun being there, and next time I go I'll allow more time :p Doing 900km in one day has given me a new found respect though for the Iron Butts...although, to be fair to me, I'm limited in range by increasing amount of pain :( stupid arse...stupid knee..

Time to get a "day long" and then maybe lower the pegs a tad

GB · 09-25-2009, 03:49 AM

Beautiful! Love it! Thanks for taking us to the Guzzi home

How does one actually pronounce the Austrian village of Fucking in German?

catweasel67 · 09-25-2009, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gadget Boy

Beautiful! Love it! Thanks for taking us to the Guzzi home

How does one actually pronounce the Austrian village of Fucking in German?

well..I pronounce it as it looks :) but then I'm English :)

Leaving the place was almost as much fun though...the "exiting" sign defines my life right now...

Flood · 09-25-2009, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gadget Boy

How does one actually pronounce the Austrian village of Fucking in German?

Fooking.

dlearl476 · 09-25-2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catweasel67

to be fair to me, I'm limited in range by increasing amount of pain :( stupid arse...stupid knee..

Time to get a "day long" and then maybe lower the pegs a tad

Same here. What works for me is a fair bit of stretching before getting on the bike, along with an ALLEVE tablet, and a beaded seat cover. Works wonders.

Thanks for the report.

What's the word on the Museum?

catweasel67 · 09-25-2009, 03:45 PM

how do you stretch your arse?

Museum? you mean the....Guzzi musuem? yeah..you'd think after I rode 900km I'd make the time eh? I got there too late and left too early...this time.

maybe next time

09-20-2009, 08:59 AM	#1
catweasel67 ^OP BAN - Born Again Noob Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Vienna, Austria Oddometer: 5,524	The Goose goes home....subtitled "why am I in Germany!!" So, lots of rumblings in the Guzzi forums about the Mandello factory moving, closing, changing over the last few months (probably more). Then I heard about a Guzzi owner's demo being held at the Guzzi factory to support the workers and to show solidarity. I had a few days off, had wanted to take my Goose to the "nest" since I've had it, so off I went. My plan was to slab it from Wien to Mandello, total journey is about 900km (a tad under) so, being stupid, I set up the route in Mapsource, uploaded into my Zumo, strapped on my tent and sidecases and off I went. It's 7am ish and I'm off! GPS is on, MP3s are playing, directions are being given, it's a nice day and the slabs in Austria, espciallly in the Alps provide some stunning eye candy. Some few hours in the Zumo tells me to turn off the motorway and not really caring that much I obey (did I mention I was an idiot?). Turn left....right...right....left...it blathered on until I hit the small, but world famous, village of Fucking. "ahh!" and "doh!" as I remembered plugging the "via Fucking" route into the Zumo. But hey!! a few snaps and I'm back on the road.....once again bimbling, obeying without question or concern :) Picture time...but, of course, my random route first. Red (magenta? pink?) is day 1, Yellow is day 2. and then the aforementioned piccie :) Moving along I'm sort of feeling bemused by the route but hey! I'm on the bike and all is good. I'm meant to be slabbing it but what the heck! I'll just get there later :) And then I'm in Germany...total surprise! but not quite as a big a surprise as the Swiss border...I'm like "huh?". But hey! Now I get to come into Lake Como from the north so bonus....again. Roads like this kept croppping up . Still...after almost 13 hours of riding I reach Guzzi heaven and I'll skip the 80 odd Guzzi pictures :p but here's a wee sample and . Anyhooo...with a party to get back to in Wien, I left Mandello at lunchtime, this time taking the slab proper. It was a fairly straightforward ride back, another 900km. Took about 11 hours and, well, as much as slabs can be boring, the pass through the alps is pretty bloody stunning and I hit it at just about the right time . 1800km of riding in 2 days :) the pefect end to a weekend. __________________ Planning NA 2010 NA 2010 Adriatic Loop August 09 Mandello Guzzi Protest Sept 09 "I've got the key to the gates of paradise...but I've got too many legs!!" Jeff "Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." -- Robert E. Howard catweasel67 screwed with this post 09-21-2009 at 06:28 AM

09-25-2009, 03:49 AM	#4
GB Mod Squad Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, ON Oddometer: 53,463	Beautiful! Love it! Thanks for taking us to the Guzzi home How does one actually pronounce the Austrian village of Fucking in German? __________________ ADV decals, patches & flag? Here

09-25-2009, 03:45 PM	#8
catweasel67 ^OP BAN - Born Again Noob Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Vienna, Austria Oddometer: 5,524	how do you stretch your arse? Museum? you mean the....Guzzi musuem? yeah..you'd think after I rode 900km I'd make the time eh? I got there too late and left too early...this time. maybe next time __________________ Planning NA 2010 NA 2010 Adriatic Loop August 09 Mandello Guzzi Protest Sept 09 "I've got the key to the gates of paradise...but I've got too many legs!!" Jeff "Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." -- Robert E. Howard

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09-25-2009, 12:35 AM	#2
Flood F5lood. Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Austria Oddometer: 9,342	Wow! That was quick! I was in Mandello for the Guzzi world days in September 2005, but we took the small roads and did it in 2 days with a sleepover in Tyrol.