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The Airframe&Powerplant mechanic, neighbor, taught me the thread trick to seal (the notorious) VW vertically split crankcase (which is very similar to the Lycoming and Continental piston engines). Makes me ponder resorting to this on the V11 shift plate . . .

Yeah, I've had stuff ordered from Harper since last August.

Where did you order?

Ha, yeah, I bet those place-names have "local pronunciations" out there. They just seem to fit so nicely in the sequence (as much as Tucson to Tucumcari) . . . "Of travel, I've had my share, man! "

That reminds me to mention that the garage spaces were "subdivided" between 2020 and 2021 . . .

So, no leak?

I love learning "local" pronunciations! "Ta-PO-ka", then. It is interesting to look at the Native American place-names that are, seemingly, along the same vein: Tellico, Telliquah, Tallulah, Toccoa, Tehachapi to Tonopah . And, yet, "Tapoco" is an "acronym" (portmanteau-style blend? ) attributed to the builders of the adjacent Cheoah Dam, built 1916-1919. Also known as "The Fugitive dam" for its role in the popular Harrison Ford/Tommy Lee Jones movie. Ta-Po-Co = Tallahassee Power Company South'n SpineRaiders first visited the Tapoco (before this latest and most excellent remodel) in 2009, the year before we started staying at The Lodge at Tellico. (In case you are wondering if it's okay to bring your Vincent to a Spine Raid) . . .

Which Hylomar product is right for this application?

If I had a "five-day-four-night" pass for the SSR, I would try to stay at TheTapocoLodge. Even at year-eighteen, SSR XVIII, this remains an >insertion/extraction operation< for me, with my Sport.

The Tapoco is awesome! I've never stayed there, but their restaurant is our Saturday lunch destination/ re-gather place!

Okay, so . . . heads-up, y'all . . . Bryan tells me that building 200 is sold out for our weekend (the rooms above the "Game Room"). I just reserved a room in 400 (above the garage) and understand there is one left in that building. And this is seven months out! What is up? What changed? IMO, it is two years of people not getting out and now making a determined effort to travel. I saw this happen to a friend who takes his RV and motorcycles to Florida every year for Antique Motorcycle Club of America and "Bike Week". Not this year. Asked why, he told me, "Everything is booked up." Seriously consider making your reservation for SSR XVIII if that is on your Hopes&Wishes List. I told Bryan that our status of non-organization, non-event, non-registration, and non-entity do not support his offer to "block off rooms." "Y'all come, now! Ya hear?"

I'm still amazed how the airbox is integrated into the spine frame . . . clean and clever!

Frankly, I really don't think we are a good bet on the innkeeper "blocking off rooms," being the slippery bunch that we are. Seriously, if you really do want to make the Eighteenth South'n SpineRaid, weekend after Labor Day 2022, it is not too soon to reserve a room (and a space in the garage! ). https://lodgeattellico.com/

Thanks, @footgoose! I'm going to book my room this far in advance, as well. The original innkeeper was not willing to give us this kind of consideration. It will be great to see you guys again!!

Having just bur-ground a measured amount of freshly roasted Peruvian whole beans, I thought I could get this posted while they extract at a pre-selected time/temperature before the result is submitted to my consumption. The new innkeeper, Bryan, at The Lodge at Tellico reached out to @Blueboarhound saying he just reserved a couple rooms for our weekend, but they are not part of the "Guzzi group." He is concerned enough to offer to set a number rooms aside for us and asked that I give him a call. Before I do, I wanted to get your input, realizing there is still no "registration." Hoping to have something less-than-sketchy to tell him. How many rooms do we usually need?

" . . . cruelly undervalued . . ."

"LA BELLEZZA HA UN GUSTO" See, there? The thread is headed right back on track . . .

We are all in luck. Tellico Plains, Tennessee, features the Trout Mountain Coffee House (and Inn)! And also the Telliico Grains Bakery. Expect good coffee, and some great food. More great food in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, for the South'n Spine Raid at the (long running) Tellicafe. Otherwise, we'll huddle in the garage and scrape burnt toast into hot water. And rejoice!

I remember references to that NASA study! An experienced operator suffered a session of "teaching" me to machine a critically dimensional part on a "knee mill" this weekend. A great experience for me! And, I'm pretty sure he'll fully recover from the frustration. There were Vernier calipers and reference dimensions involved. But also a lot of "feel" and "eye" . . . . .

Pretty sure it is the fault of my "last technician" as my watchmaker and BMW dealer referred to my errant efforts, rather with minimally restrained askance . . .

Such reverence. Just and endearing. R.I.P. Dennis. We are all better having been touched by his spirit.

What! No pic?

All of them . . . If I launch one more sketchy winter thread, I expect a contingent of SpineRaiders to show up and give me and the Sport a push down the driveway like it has training wheels . . .