The Journey - Day 5

Today did not start out with a slow ride through town. We were at the Gateway to Skyline Drive and it was all horses on deck! Everything they say about Virginia and the Shenandoah's is absolutely true! Part of the joy of riding is the feeling of being in touch with everything around you...becoming one with the flow of the road, breathing the freshness of the air. I couldn't get over how unbelievably fresh and fragrant the air was after the storms the night before. We stopped at Big Meadow for lunch, deer grazing nearby.

After finishing Skyline Drive in fine style we passed onto the Blueridge Parkway. The corners were nice big sweepers, the views no less spectacular. We stopped at Humpback Rocks Visitor Center for a quick break and met up with a couple on a Harley who were coming in from the south. They had just turned around because of the rain which they said, was pretty heavy.....Hardly..lol. Well not too heavy for a couple of seasoned riders (haha) who aren't afraid of a little rain! After all it was just yesterday when the falling rain was in our favor and the weather witch (that would be me) could call upon it at will! Well it was a good thing we had a lot of it today...will that is, or perseverance, tenacity or stupidity...whatever you wish to label it! It rained and it rained hard. Contrary to yesterday's relief the temp kept dropping.

Eventually it did let up but then there was a lot of wind especially on the open ridges. And yes, despite all of this we still managed to have a blast! The weather eased as the weather witch (yup, me again) called on the sun who obliged us nicely. And the pay-off was on the other side of the storm...as we kept climbing up we could see the lightning almost parallel to where we were, the clouds moved up and over the ridge where we rode, like smoke from a fire.....and the air was so fresh and pure it was like drinking water from a glacier...if you have ever done so, you know EXACTLY what I am talking about. The rest of the ride we followed another biker on a Goldwing keeping time and momentum as if we had practiced the ride together. We never did get to meet them other than a wave and a toot of our horns as they turned off to their destination at Otter Lake about 40 kms before our turn off to Roanoke. By this time our fuel was getting down and I was running on reserve. Not my favorite fuel level especially in the mountains with wet clothes and the dire wish for a hot shower.

So another exciting day! And yes Mom, we got some gas, a room, a hot shower and I am ready again for tomorrow's journey.....down the rest of the Parkway and to our original destination, Deals Gap! By the way, we stopped at Mary's tunnel (amazing) to take some pics and you will never believe what we found there. If we had not decided on day 2 what this trip was, on Day 5 it would have been decided for us......it is always important to take a moment to read the signs!