rocker59
Cruisin' Guzzisti
Although it's only about 50 miles from home, I've never camped at Luap's SWMO Wildgoose Campout before. I've stopped by a couple times over the years, but for some reason I've always thought it was "too close". Mother's Day Weekend hasn't really helped. Luckily, though, this year was different and two nights of camping was in the cards!
The plan was to leave after work on Friday Afternoon and ride up to Anderson, taking the direct route of I-540 and US-71. My buddy, Andrew, showed up at my place about 5:30pm, and we headed across town to pick up Marcia just after 6:00pm.
Our big route to the rally: Map Link
My two riding buddies, Andrew and Marcia, getting ready to hit the road:
It was a pretty uneventful 70-80mph run up the highway to Anderson and the campout. We arrived and found a nice spot in between the Tulsa crew and the Missouri crew:
After setting up and fixing a drink, we wandered around the campground and found some familiar faces:
...and a great campfire with plenty of scrap from the local mill that needed burning:
Me, Johnny, Andrew:
By popular demand, Luap broke out the banjo and played a few tunes:
A couple of awe-struck bystanders enjoying Luap's banjo picking:
Me, Gordon, and Andrew discussing the finer points of banjo music, whiskey, and campfires:
There was a cold front that came through late Friday and the temps were falling. It turned into quite a cool night for May. The temp dipped below 40-degrees early Saturday Morning, if I'm not mistaken... Luap and LaSandra had the coffee on which made the cool temps more bearable. LaSandra also cooked up some mighty fine pancakes, eggs, and sausage for everyone! Great way to start the day!
After breakfast, we mingled a bit then decided to go for a little lunch ride. Andrew got a call from his work and, unfortunately had to pack it in. He would be working the rest of the weekend while we were playing. I asked around and Gordon thought a lunch ride sounded good. We picked a great route and a great place to eat. We would ride MO-59, MO-90, and MO-112 to Roaring River State Park and eat at The Inn & Conference Center.
Departing about 11am, Marcia, Gordon, and I topped off with fuel in Anderson then headed South on MO-59 towards Noel and some Missouri Ozarks curvy goodness...
Our route to Roaring River: Map Link
MO-59 South of Anderson:
Arriving in Noel. The highway is sandwiched between the bluff and The Elk River:
One of the reasons this is no longer US-59:
Light traffic and beautiful scenery!
...and a fun road to ride:
At our lunch stop, The Inn & Conference Center at Roaring River State Park:
From the park, we rode MO-112 up to Cassville, then MO-76 back to Anderson... Map Link
More great scenery on the way back to Anderson:
Upon arriving back at camp something looked different about my trailer...
I was laughing out loud as we pulled up to this sight:
Every fridge needs magnets, right?
Well, after laughing about what my Guzzi Friends had done with my trailer while we were out riding, Marcia and I headed over to check out the bikes that were lined up for the show... As usual at Guzzi functions, versions of the California were most prominent... The "touring class" had more than 20 bikes lined up with Californias ranging from a '93 Cal III to a couple of '97 Cal Aniversario 75s to several variants of Jackal, Bassa, and EV...
The People's Choice winner. Steve Walker's 850 LeMans with a great looking Convert in the background:
A couple of farkled Quotas were in attendance:
Johnny and his Non-Guzzi Class winner Triumph America:
Pat's fine looking V11 LeMans. (Man! I need to wash mine!):
Jay's very trick Jackal. EV wheels, rearsets, Cruisliner bags, custom seat, and more!:
The Distance Award winner rode this EV down to Anderson from Maine! First time I've seen the red/creme paint scheme in person. Very pretty!
Michael D and Marcia awaiting the awards presentation:
Here I am with the lucky winner of the high hand in the "non-run poker-run" Her hand was something like three kings, a jack and an ace! Oh, and she was nice enough to buy beer and whiskey later with some of her winnings!
Gordon's gorgeous red Norge:
Jay's bike and campsite. All his gear fit in his Cruiseliner bags! He set up next to us after Andrew packed up.
Marcia's and my campsite:
Michael D, Gordon, Pat, Frank Smith had a nice spot:
"Quick Kamp Row" down by Indian Creek:
After enjoying dinner, a couple of great burgers cooked up by chef LaSandra, Marcia and I snapped a few pics of Indian Creek, the namesake for the campground:
Then it was back to the campsite to enjoy a little campfire time:
After the party gave out at the sideline campfire with our Missouri and Oklahoma friends, we headed over to the main campfire where several serious Bull Sessions were taking place:
...and a serious fire was burning in the pit.
Soon, Marcia and I hit the tent. The night was a little warmer than the previous one. Down to 49- or 50-degrees, I think. Great camping weather! I didn't want to, but we had to rise early Sunday Morning and head out early because of Mother's Day commitments. Up at 7am, on the road at 8am, dropped Marcia off at 9am, home by 930am running the Friday Afternoon route in reverse down US-71 and I-540 to Fayetteville...
Luap and LaSandra sure know how to put on a campout! What a great time! Many thanks to y'all for putting this on and bringing nearly 100 Guzzi Folks together this weekend. It was a great time!
The plan was to leave after work on Friday Afternoon and ride up to Anderson, taking the direct route of I-540 and US-71. My buddy, Andrew, showed up at my place about 5:30pm, and we headed across town to pick up Marcia just after 6:00pm.
Our big route to the rally: Map Link
My two riding buddies, Andrew and Marcia, getting ready to hit the road:
It was a pretty uneventful 70-80mph run up the highway to Anderson and the campout. We arrived and found a nice spot in between the Tulsa crew and the Missouri crew:
After setting up and fixing a drink, we wandered around the campground and found some familiar faces:
...and a great campfire with plenty of scrap from the local mill that needed burning:
Me, Johnny, Andrew:
By popular demand, Luap broke out the banjo and played a few tunes:
A couple of awe-struck bystanders enjoying Luap's banjo picking:
Me, Gordon, and Andrew discussing the finer points of banjo music, whiskey, and campfires:
There was a cold front that came through late Friday and the temps were falling. It turned into quite a cool night for May. The temp dipped below 40-degrees early Saturday Morning, if I'm not mistaken... Luap and LaSandra had the coffee on which made the cool temps more bearable. LaSandra also cooked up some mighty fine pancakes, eggs, and sausage for everyone! Great way to start the day!
After breakfast, we mingled a bit then decided to go for a little lunch ride. Andrew got a call from his work and, unfortunately had to pack it in. He would be working the rest of the weekend while we were playing. I asked around and Gordon thought a lunch ride sounded good. We picked a great route and a great place to eat. We would ride MO-59, MO-90, and MO-112 to Roaring River State Park and eat at The Inn & Conference Center.
Departing about 11am, Marcia, Gordon, and I topped off with fuel in Anderson then headed South on MO-59 towards Noel and some Missouri Ozarks curvy goodness...
Our route to Roaring River: Map Link
MO-59 South of Anderson:
Arriving in Noel. The highway is sandwiched between the bluff and The Elk River:
One of the reasons this is no longer US-59:
Light traffic and beautiful scenery!
...and a fun road to ride:
At our lunch stop, The Inn & Conference Center at Roaring River State Park:
From the park, we rode MO-112 up to Cassville, then MO-76 back to Anderson... Map Link
More great scenery on the way back to Anderson:
Upon arriving back at camp something looked different about my trailer...
I was laughing out loud as we pulled up to this sight:
Every fridge needs magnets, right?
Well, after laughing about what my Guzzi Friends had done with my trailer while we were out riding, Marcia and I headed over to check out the bikes that were lined up for the show... As usual at Guzzi functions, versions of the California were most prominent... The "touring class" had more than 20 bikes lined up with Californias ranging from a '93 Cal III to a couple of '97 Cal Aniversario 75s to several variants of Jackal, Bassa, and EV...
The People's Choice winner. Steve Walker's 850 LeMans with a great looking Convert in the background:
A couple of farkled Quotas were in attendance:
Johnny and his Non-Guzzi Class winner Triumph America:
Pat's fine looking V11 LeMans. (Man! I need to wash mine!):
Jay's very trick Jackal. EV wheels, rearsets, Cruisliner bags, custom seat, and more!:
The Distance Award winner rode this EV down to Anderson from Maine! First time I've seen the red/creme paint scheme in person. Very pretty!
Michael D and Marcia awaiting the awards presentation:
Here I am with the lucky winner of the high hand in the "non-run poker-run" Her hand was something like three kings, a jack and an ace! Oh, and she was nice enough to buy beer and whiskey later with some of her winnings!
Gordon's gorgeous red Norge:
Jay's bike and campsite. All his gear fit in his Cruiseliner bags! He set up next to us after Andrew packed up.
Marcia's and my campsite:
Michael D, Gordon, Pat, Frank Smith had a nice spot:
"Quick Kamp Row" down by Indian Creek:
After enjoying dinner, a couple of great burgers cooked up by chef LaSandra, Marcia and I snapped a few pics of Indian Creek, the namesake for the campground:
Then it was back to the campsite to enjoy a little campfire time:
After the party gave out at the sideline campfire with our Missouri and Oklahoma friends, we headed over to the main campfire where several serious Bull Sessions were taking place:
...and a serious fire was burning in the pit.
Soon, Marcia and I hit the tent. The night was a little warmer than the previous one. Down to 49- or 50-degrees, I think. Great camping weather! I didn't want to, but we had to rise early Sunday Morning and head out early because of Mother's Day commitments. Up at 7am, on the road at 8am, dropped Marcia off at 9am, home by 930am running the Friday Afternoon route in reverse down US-71 and I-540 to Fayetteville...
Luap and LaSandra sure know how to put on a campout! What a great time! Many thanks to y'all for putting this on and bringing nearly 100 Guzzi Folks together this weekend. It was a great time!
