Spring Trip III

"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

Breakfast at the Waffle House, right near the Super 8 Roanoke.

     Generally I like to get "...up at 6, out by 8..." If I'm traveling by myself I can generally get up, pack, load the bike, have breakfast and be on the road in an hour and a half. When traveling with others you move only as fast as the slowest "packer." On the third morning Curtis and I were up and out of the motel by 7am. Breakfast was at the nearby Waffle House, and we were on the road by 8am. After a gas stop at an Exxon on the way to the Blue Ridge Parkway we continued our journey south.

Just on of dozens of terrific views along the BRP.

     Today our goal was to ride south from mile marker 122 to mile marker 408, which is where the Mount Pisgah Inn is, and where we would meet Curtis' brother Gary, who was traveling up from Atlanta. 286 miles on the BRP on a sunny day is bliss! The plan was to take a break at an overlook in the morning, and then stop for lunch at Boone, North Carolina. Then ride in the afternoon, taking a break in mid-afternoon, arriving at the Pisgah Inn by 6 or so.

Robby and his Can Am Spyder. You see more and more of them on the BRP.

     There are a lot of overlooks on the BRP. You simply can't stop at each one of them. I like to ride for an hour or so and start looking for a scenic place to stop. On the BRP that means you travel 50 miles or so.  The thing about the BRP that makes it so great is that it is generally a series of S curves, with a few straight stretches thrown in so you can pass slower vehicles. There are a few really tight curves rated at 30mph, but the majority are 45mph, and you can really work on your skill. After an hour of this fun we stopped at an overlook, and found a gentleman named Robby there, along with his Can Am Spyder. Robby is a former Harley rider, but began to have some physical challenges, and was almost ready to give up riding. His son had a Spyder, let him try it, and then decided to get one. He really enjoys it, and is able to keep on riding. I have a friend who has a beautiful Gold Wing, but is afraid to ride it. I think a Spyder might be the solution for him. For myself, if the time comes where I have trouble "holding the bike up" I'll get a Spyder before I stop riding.

Gary walking down to the rocking chairs where we waited for our table at the Pisgah Inn  and enjoyed the view.

     After lunch in Boone NC we continued south once again. At the afternoon stop Curtis texted his brother that we would be at the Pisgah Inn by 6pm or so. On arriving we found Gary there, and he had already put his name in for a table. We had a wonderful dinner, enjoying the spectacular view along with the food. After dinner a quick run down the BRP to mile marker 428, but on this evening it was too cloudy for a nice sunset. I led the way back to mile marker 408 where we get off on US 276 fro the ride down to Brevard. This road is a real challenge in the dark! At the Parkway it twists and turns for 10 miles or so down the mountain with a series of 15mph curves. Leaning a bike, trying to see into a corner to correctly judge your line with only your headlight and the amber reflectors in the road takes intense concentration. We all made it down to the intersection of US 276 and US 64, and then right towards Brevard. In ten minutes or so we were at the house we rented. LOTS  of motorcycling tomorrow!