June 11, 2012

Day 10

Still raining this morning but we pulled on the rain gear and headed out for the Blue Ridge Parkway. After 25 miles of traveling in rain from a light drizzle to heavy and fog so heavy at times you couldn’t see more than a few feet we decided this just wasn’t fun. The Blue Ridge Parkway is beautiful and fun to ride when it is clear but a real nightmare when the conditions are as they were today. A minor change in Gabby and we headed for Blowing Rock by way of the Great Smokey Mountain Expressway, route 40; other local roads and finally Blowing Rock Parkway arriving at the Azalea Garden by noon; only 155 miles today but that was enough in the rain. The motel is just as I remembered; lovely gardens, flowers everywhere, white wicker furniture on the front patio and under the gazebo. This time Bob has joined the motel staff; a bob-tail orange cat that at first wasn’t too interested in us but warmed up to us later in the afternoon and decided my lap looked pretty darn comfortable. Reminded me of holding Lucky; if I stopped rubbing his head Bob would reach out with his front paw and grab my hand and pull it to him. Don was sleeping or I would be hearing “Sheila, get that cat down you don’t know anything about him.” The rain stopped and we walked the half block to Knight’s Restaurant for a great lunch and then walked up or down town (not sure) and checked out the many small shops especially targeted to tourists but it is a very pretty town. If you want to really shop there is a mall just a few minutes outside of town. It’s about 4 pm now and there are about 10 cars in the parking lot but I’m afraid we frightened off at least 4 others. It amazes me to see people pull in and drive back to the end of parking lot where are bikes are and Bonnie and I are sitting outside; they stop and then slowly turn around point at the bikes and pull out of the parking lot and go to another motel. It really is sad that bikers have such a bad rap when 99% of us are decent people from all walks of life and professions. I have to laugh because we are riding a GoldWing touring bike; a GoldWing Trike and a Suzuki and not one of the 1%ers would be caught dead riding any of these bikes. But to anyone who doesn’t ride a bike I guess a bike is a bike. Well the rain has stopped and the sky is beginning to lighten. I hope tomorrow is clear but we probably won’t get on the Blue Ridge. Need to head for Emporia VA which is at least 235 miles; I would like to find route 58 and avoid the interstates if possible.

Welcoming patio with fresh coffee

Gazebo to relax

Private cabin for rent

Bob