This article was originally printed in the Moto Guzzi National Owners Club monthly newsletter. http://www.mgnoc.com

Travels with Tom - 2002/12, by Tom Bender

I remember the first Guzzi I ever bought, a badly neglected 850-T. On the test ride I had to drag my feet to stop! The aluminum was dull, the paint faded, the tires bald and the engine needed a set of sleeves and pistons. I redid the forks, bought new tires, and had the fairing and bodywork painted white. I repainted the frame black. Jerry Buller redid the carbs, mounted new tires and tubes, and tuned it up for me. I redid the front brake and had the rear brake shoes relined.

I didn't realize it needed sleeves and pistons until I was in New Mexico. I'd left home the day before and ridden 450 miles to Tucumcari, New Mexico. The next morning the oil was a quart low. I was en-route from Newton, Kansas, to Los Angeles, California, and after giving it some thought, I decided that if it conked out there were busses, trains, and airplanes to get me home. I kept the rpm under 3500, and it used one quart of oil every 400 miles, averaged 47 miles per gallon of gas. I found many new and exciting back roads to explore and all in all had a great time! I still have that bike. I've put about 70,000 miles on it. Gladys and I have had a lot of fun on that old T. I've made many modifications to it since that first trip, and it's not the same bike I started with, but that's okay because now it's a lot better.

Last month we celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. We decided to have a big "doins". I cleaned out my shop and brought home tables and chairs from church, helped Gladys decorate, mowed the yard real nice, and sent out invitations, and ordered food. There's nothing like having company to make a person tidy up around the place. We set up a buffet line and at the head of it was a small table with old photos of us. We've sure changed a lot since we tied the knot. Most folks wouldn't have recognized us in those old pictures. You know I got to thinking about that, I decided that even though she has a few more miles on her, Gladys is a lot better than she was; hopefully, I am too!

Right now one of our club members is undergoing radical changes in his life. This man has made many changes during his life and helped many people in the process. Bob Nolan the "Good Samaritan" I recently wrote about had a heart attack and is scheduled to undergo quadruple bypass surgery. I hope some of you will include him and his wife, Marian, in your thoughts and prayers. I know Bob will be better after he gets those new "fuel lines hooked to his carb". That's all for now. Via con Dios, Tom.

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