“…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”
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| Yet another fanatastic view from the Blue Ridge Parkway. |
The trip home was routine. Not what I had anticipated. Originally I had planned to either ride north on the Skyline Drive and then decide when to get off of it and finish the ride home on local roads….OR…take I 64 east from Waynesboro to Charlottesville VA and then north on US 29 to US 15 to Frederick MD. Then I would ride the rest of the way on my route around Baltimore. Probably home by 4 pm or so.
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| I often stop at an overlook and set up a camping chair and read for a while. |
This morning “…the best laid plans…” went awry. The forecast called for heavy storms in the afternoon at home. It had rained over 3 inches there yesterday and more of the same was expected today. As much as I wanted to have a great ride home I didn’t want to end up riding through heavy rain on the way home.
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| One of my favorite things that happened on the trip was lunch at The Barn. |
Not wanting to tempt fate I decided to take the fast way home….or some version of it. Up at 6 am I got dressed and packed my bags, then I loaded the bike and had breakfast. On the road by 7:15 I rode I 64 east to I 81. Then I rode I 81 north keeping an eye on the clouds. As I rode I could see the mountains to my right, often with dark clouds looking like rain here and there over them. Should I interstate it all the way home, or not?
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| When I was teaching, grading papers, a vision would come to me of a day I had been on the BRP. |
I rode around 85 miles on I 81 to the exit for Stephens City VA where I took VA 277 east to where it intercepted US 340 by Dinosaur Land. US 340 goes all the way to Fredericksburg MD ( about 30 miles ). There I could make the decision to take I 70 east to Baltimore and I 95 north home or around Baltimore on back roads.
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| Beautiful bike and beautiful scenery. |
I decided to take the long way. This allowed me to stop at the Delta Diner for lunch, and then cruise back home on one of my regular rides. I had a nice turkey sandwich with Swiss cheese and mayonnaise on toasted rye. Then a nice ride home, only stopping to gas up, and home by 2 pm. I never hit rain. My next trip is with my daughters in late September into the middle of Pennsylvania. Until then day rides, each day on a different bike.
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| Marker at the southern end of Skyline Drive. |
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