Day 2 - day of challenges

 May 22, 2022 – Day started out beautiful, temps were low and Zoey started out on the bike.  We both had to wear jackets. Not long after getting on the parkway was our first challenge of the day.  There were hundreds of people on bicycles, some sort of marathon, and they were not riding single file.  We had to move to the wrong side of the road and weave back and forth.  I would radio back if there was an approaching vehicle.  We stopped for a break at Peaks of Otters and Zoey got in the van saying it was too scary with the twists and turns and no guardrails and then all the bicycles.  It had warmed up to 75 degrees and it was nice riding.  Next challenge we had the detour around Roanoke but it was well marked but took time.  Back on the parkway we rode for a couple of hours and I knew we needed to stop but couldn’t find  place with gas and I was getting low so knew everyone else was too.  Finally Bill suggested we were close to Meadows of Dan so we pulled off there, got gas and ate lunch.  Back on the parkway and next challenge was a cow out of the pasture and I was concerned it would run in the road.  After Roanoke the parkway opened to fields spreading out on either side.  Many of the fields were fenced with cows or farmers cutting hay.   The parkway meanders over the top of the mountains but I wonder how many mountain folk were displaced to give us the park.  The flowers blooming put a sweet smell in the air, Rhododendron, tulip trees, wild iris, plus a dozen or so I don’t know.  Not long after getting back on it started to rain.  Just a few sprinkles at first but I stopped to put on the rain suits and a good thing because it rained steady for the last 100 miles.  Had a short surprise detour just 15 miles before arriving at Blowing Rock but again well marked.  Azalea Gardens is still as beautiful as I remember.  Seems everyone on the group is impressed as well.  Went dinner at 6, walked to the restaurant which was a challenge for me since it was up hill.  It was mentioned during dinner that a couple of the group needed to stop more often than every 2 hours for a bathroom break.  I don’t know unless they tell me but I’ll try to make it every hour and a half from now on. We covered 272 miles today.