Day 13 - Hot, hot, hot.....

We left Keyser with a forecast of rain....the humidity and the heat however, turned out to be the real challenge.

We managed to dodge most, if not all, the rain.  We did get a bit but the little bit we got just cooled us off for a little while.

We made a quick stop in Bedford PA to check with the visitors bureau to see if there were any stickers.  We didn't find any there but what we did find were a lot of interesting things to see, none of which we had time for this trip unfortunately.  We were trying to beat the rain and get some distance in because the forecast shows more rain for Friday and Saturday depending on how far north we get.


One of the sites we didn't get to see was the memorial for 911 Flight 93.  It is only 25 minutes west of Bedford but would mean 3-4 hours out of our way.  We will put this on our "list" of sites to see on another trip.  We did get to see the "Coffee Pot".  These type of tourist attractions were, and still are, very popular with tourists.  You only get to see them, however, when you take a trip off the large highways and interstates.  These can be found in Canada and in the US...we have the Canada Goose in Wawa, the Lobster in Shediac and I believe there is a Nickel in Sudbury as well...just as examples.

The Coffee Pot was built in 1927 and was originally a lunch place according to Roadside America.  We didn't stop but we got a picture.....as we turned around in a the parking lot across the street to head out in the "right' direction.  Bedford looks like a really interesting place to visit though and will definitely put it on the list for the next ride through...covered bridges, GPS tours, Orchards and Wineries and they even have their own Magnetic Hill called Gravity Hill!

The rest of the day took us through some beautiful countryside with a quick lunch at family restaurant that spanned 3 generations of family.  We had a great homecooked meal there!


Lots of corn fields, horse and buggies (this is also Amish country) and a few dark clouds.

I wonder?.....

Despite the threat of rain, it was more hot than not!  It can make you think crazy thoughts, like "do you think I could fit under that thing?"  Will have to wait another time to answer that question.....

We ended the day early in Williamsport.  A cool shower and air conditioning were very welcome.

We walked a couple of blocks to a great restaurant called the Bull Frog Brewery and were treated to a great meal, beer and some live Jazz music.  Around the time we were heading out we were also treated to a huge rain storm which meant a $5 cab ride back to the hotel.  We also saw some great artwork just outside the restaurant as well!

The hot weather and beer also meant an early night for me which is why you are getting this post now and not yesterday! It also meant another bath for Fred...or are those tan lines?


Cheers folks!

Day 12 - Almost Heaven, West Virginia!

Yes it may sound like a line from a song and it is...but I typed it as an address because this is definitely a destination.

220

We left Roanoke this morning heading for the 220 going north.  This took us on the interstate for about 5 km and then on the first part of the 220 was 4 lane for about 50 km.  It then narrowed to a beautiful 2 lane road which took us through Douthat State Park and George Washington National Forest..  The Douthat State Park was like being in the middle of forest with no one around.  Occasionally you would come out to campsites or a lake, cabins but for the most part it was just forest.  As we rode through the State Park we also entered the National Forest.  It was like riding through solitude, cool and relaxing, quiet and serene. 

Douthat State Park Waterfall

Approaching State Park Gate

Babbling brooks!

Gate at Douthat State Park

We stopped for gas and lunch in Monterey, Virginia.  The girl at Hull's Hideaway was very helpful and gave us a recommendation for our stop of the night in Keyser, West Virginia.  Shortly after leaving there we crossed from Virginia into the state of West Virginia.

We spent the rest of the afternoon riding through West Virginia...these roads were the best of all the roads we had ridden since we left...rolling hills, sweeping turns, tree canopies, open meadows, huge farm fields and farms and the occasional small town to stop for a bum break....add that the temperature for most of the day was a steady 23...it was Heaven.



Larry said it best - if you wanted to create a road for someone who loves to ride motorcycles, this is exactly what you would order.

We made one more stop in Petersburg at the DQ for a bum break.  We met a lovely man at the DQ who asked us where we were from.  Apparently he was originally from Chicago and thought it was funny that he didn't detect an accent from us.  Not sure if it is because we have adapted our speech or we didn't add the obligatory "eh" at the end of each sentence.  Glad to hear that we were from Canada, he announced that he was going to charge us Canadian tax on our ice cream, which apparently works out to a 5% discount.  He really was lovely. 

We stopped for the night in Keyser, arriving at the Keyser Inn just in time to relax, pick up a few "supplies" next door at Sheetz, start the blog and then....the rain came.  We finally ordered a pizza that could be delivered (long story) and settled in early for the night.  Hopefully we can get out before the rain in the morning....Faith & hope!

Day 11 - Yawn....Internet

So it was a day of interstate...or as Larry (and now Terri) always refer to it...the internet!  Both are highways I guess....

Not a lot of pics or big stories today, so sharing some other pics from along our trip!

At Fontana Dam?

Funny sign at the Fontana Dam...can't use washrooms due to "power outage"...for real?

Welcoming committee at the Tail of the Dragon!

Told this trooper that I didn't envy him his job (it was some friggin hot)

Shower Games!  I won!

Old razer disposal....no clean out thought!

At Otter Peak Resort.......fun energy games in the shower and old in the wall disposal systems!











Random shots!




Have a great day with lots of blessings!

Day 10....this day was definitely a 10!

Heading to the Dragon!

Approaching Fontana Dam

We took a little extra time for ourselves and got away around 10:30 a.m.  We headed, not far from where we stayed, to the Fontana Dam....

This dam is one of the largest east of the Mississippi and holds a "significant" amount of water back.  It is a huge dam.



We later travelled the 28 below the dam on the road we had just seen well below it.  Our destination was to the junction of the 28 and 129...Deals Gap.  The beginning of the Tail of the Dragon.  Motorcycle Mecca, motorhead madness....there are all kinds of bikes, cars and other modes of transportation through this road...318 curves (some soft, most not) in 11 miles.

After buying the shirts, the stickers, the signs, the "stuffies", we decided we would have a quick lunch before we made our way.

The Tail was not dissappointing.  We all made it through, we were all thrilled and we all had a fabulous time.   The online pics are going to be amazing!


The day was filled with curves and twists but the tail was by far the most challenging for sure!

After the tail we headed toward Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg...we made it somewhere after Pigeon Forge but just outside of there somewhere...truth being told, it was hot...so very hot....42 degrees when standing, 35 degrees when riding...none of which included the humidex.

Providence again stepped in on a stop to check our maps and brought us to a Hampton Inn which just happened to share the parking lot we stopped in, and just happened to have a pool, and just happened to be next to the craft beer store and just happened to be next to someplace to eat and just happened to have a laundry....and was not expensive.....and we got Rockstar Parking!

Fred likes his hot bath after a long day!

Little "D" got his own bed!

Fred got another bath!


Little "D" finally got to relax in a real bed !








Yup...I would say today was a BIG FAT 10!

Day 9 - Good-bye Blue Ridge, Hello Smokey!

After we left Little Switzerland, we headed south again on the Blue Ridge.  There seemed to have been quite a bit of road construction but nothing huge.  We had some great runs and made a few stops, one being the highest elevation on the Blue Ridge at 6053 feet.











We went through tunnel after tunnel...there are 26 in all.  What was really crazy were all the butterflies....so many of them and they would settle into these beautiful white flowers, sometimes sharing the space with the honey bees.  Blue pattern on top and an orange brown one underneath their wings.



Eventually as we neared the end of the parkway, we moved from Virginia into North Carolina and out of the Blue Ridge Mountains and into the Smokey Mountains.  We were sad to see the end of the parkway, but we were all looking fowrard to what was still going to be a big day tomorrow.






We stopped in Cherokee for lunch and a little bear hug...







As we were leaving Cherokee we had to stop for some foot traffic....3 adult elk and 3 little ones....just like ducks at home crossing the road, except a little bigger!  The hillsides were covered in vines, all over the trees and ground...it was just like the leaves melted into the side of the mountain....


We made our way out of Cherokee heading to ourhotel to be closer to the 129 for the next mornings' ride.  We found a great little place on the 28 in Fotana.  THe Fontana Resort was amazing.  We spent a quiet evening (by tequila standards), got to bed late and allowed ourselves a little sleep in for the next morning....we would need our rest!

...but not until Terri was done playing with the puddy cat!

Day 8 - We are not alone....

Day 8 started out with an early morning get away...the weather was perfect.  Fresh, sunny with lots of potential for a great day.  It did not dissappoint.

We spent all day on the Blueridge, not leaving it until we settled for the night.

In between, we spent some time at Mabry Mill, where we got to see an authentic mill and appalachian home dating back hundreds of years.  We learned how they made appalachian post and lathe chairs from local trees including the woven seat.  These chairs, because of how they were made, lasted a hundred years or more and many are still handed down from family to family.  Life was hard then, although I don't imagine that these people had much opportunity to dwell or think about that.  There were too many other things to occupy their thoughts.


This trip is so much different than the last...last time we had lots of traffic and saw very little, if any, wild life.  This time, not much traffic but we have seen several deer (some who didn't make the crossing of the road), wild turkeys, and another bear.  I happen to be the only one who saw the bear and he was actually quite funny.  I spotted him along the roadside in some tall grass.  The rest of the field had been mowed already, except for this piece of long grass next to the road.  I was in the lead so as I came around the turn I saw the familiar round black head sticking up in the grass...as soon as he noticed that I noticed him, he slowly sank down in the grass and disappeared.  No mistaking that face though!

A little ways further a small deer was starting to cross our path, and as I slowed she turned and ran back into the forest...the damn turkey, not 10 feet further though, had other ideas...his little feet just ran a little faster until he was almost to the other side.  He took off in flight with his tail feather spread...they really are a beautiful animal in the wild.  Not so lucky were the folks who hit one further down the road....not sure if they had stopped to check the damage or collect supper..he was one big turkey!

We passed over the Linn Cove Viaduct late in the day with a quick stop at the center. 

You know it is funny sometimes how you learn things and how providence will sometimes take you by the hand and show you what you need to know.

Our intention had been to make Asheville which was still another hour away and we were all getting a little tired.  We stopped in a spot high in the mountains where we managed to get cell coverage not far from our stop in Linn Cove.  I called ahead to a place we had stayed at back in 2011.  They did not have enough room for us and the costs in that area are now quite high.  I decided to see if we could find something closer.  A couple of phone calls later, no rooms but recommendations for the next place until we found the Big Lynn Lodge. 

At the site of Big Lynn Lodge, used to stand a very large Linden tree.  The Linden tree was native to this region and almost wiped out by disease.  The Linden tree that stood in front of the lodge was also known as the Big Lynn or the marrying tree.  I will let you read the rest of the story in the photo posted below, but suffice to say, in one of these pictures you will see the rest of our group standing below the 2 "sprouts" from that original tree.  All this in a little place on the Blueridge called Little Switzerland.  There is way more history here than I can type in one day.

Marrying Tree "sprouts"

old gates of Little Switzerland

All I can say is that I will stay here again.  Supper and breakfast are included in your rate, as is the phenominal view of the mountains, valley, and sky!

Good night!

Big Lynn Lodge view