"...its about the journey, not the destination..."
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| Early morning on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Roanoke Virginia. |
Up and out early for the last day of the trip. Once up on the Parkway I couldn't help myself; I HAD to stop and take a picture of the early morning up there. Just beautiful!
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| Yet another wonderful place to stop to take in the scenery. |
The thing about riding the Parkway is that it is pretty much a series of "sweepers," turns that you can take at speed and enjoy the power of the bike. The Tail of the Dragon is a series of 15mp or 20mph turns that are very challenging. Riding the Parkway is a joy, while riding the Dragon is work, unless you are a street racer willing to risk life and limb to ride fast. The Parkway is just more fun, and it stretches for 465 miles, while the Dragon is 11 miles.
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| Not beautiful by any means, but a GREAT motorcycle! |
I stop mid morning to take a break, knowing full well my time up on the Parkway is coming to an end...as i sat there I looked up at the GS....from some angles it looks gangly and awkward....once you’re riding it comes alive...no longer the ugly duckling it’s quick, responsive, light...unless you’ve ridden one I don’t think you can appreciate what a truly great bike it is...the newer ones are lighter, faster, have a lot more power...the newest ones have a lot of electronic features like so many new bikes have today... Mine has a fundamental simplicity...I truly love this bike...
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| Just before the Parkway crossed US 60 above Buena Vista Virginia. Beautiful! |
...the true beauty of the Parkway is illustrated from where it intersects US 60 just above Buena Vista Virginia. Riding north for the next 6 miles the Parkway is a series of S turns, one after another. I ran through this section in 5th gear at about 60 mph, “dancing “ with the road. Just one great turn after another as the road rose and descended. GREAT fun!
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| A last stop up in the mountains, on Skyline Drive, before I ride down to the "lowlands." |
After lunch at Waynesboro Virginia its back up to the mountains, now traveling north on the Skyline Drive. This is a toll road, but since I'm old I was able to purchase a "senior pass" for a mere $65 which allows me to travel Skyline Drive as much as I like without paying additional tolls. Actually it is a good deal.
I rode Skyline Drive about 20 miles until it crossed US 33, and then headed east on US 33 until it crossed US 29. Then north on US 29 until it intersects US 15. North on US 15 to Frederick Maryland, and then my back roads route through Maryland horse country and home. The last day of the trip had the best weather, and some of the best riding. I never get tired of this trip!
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| My buddies! |
***** Sorry about the wierd font! The program will not let me correct it! ******
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