Day 6 - cutting it short

 

May 26, 2022 – plan was to go to Virginia Beach tonight and then drive north over the bridge tunnel tomorrow, but the weather is calling for a sever thunderstorm to come in with the potential of high winds tomorrow.  Temps are in the low 60’s so we need the leather jackets and the heated jacket as well.  Zoey started out on the bike but after a couple of hours she got in the van. We stopped at noon for lunch, and everyone agreed we could be home by late afternoon (for some) early evening for me if we skipped Virginia Beach and drove straight up the bridge tunnel and home.  Would be a long ride but all good highways. One concern was if the winds tomorrow get strong they might close the bridge – then what would we do?  Everyone tried to cancel their room but the hotel said we were past the cancellation time frame.  I contacted Choice, got Eugene (after 3 or 4 others) and he made it happen.  Gas up and head out to route 64 then 13 north and the bridge.  Zoey was riding with me on the bike.  It did not warm up much today, temps remained in the mid 60’s and then we had a few sprinkles not enough to put on rain suits but enough to make it feel even colder.  Another stop for gas and Zoey got back in the van.  We all took 113 at Pocomoke City because Don had Bill and Sandra’s stuff in the van.  Jimmy could have gone straight up 13 but he wanted to stay with the group as long as possible (he was my tailgunner) and did a great job keeping everyone together and me informed.  Everyone started peeling off as we reached the turns for their homes.  Don and I got home at 7pm.  420 some miles.  I sent a text message letting everyone know we were home safe and asked them to reply which they did with the time they arrived home.  Don kept one trip meter set in the car and we traveled 1440 miles from start to finish.  Do I have any regrets?  Yes one especially.  I wish I had taken the time to stop at one or two overlooks on the BRP so Zoey could have gotten a good view of the valley below and the feel for just how high up we were.  So we are now going to plan to take the truck, go to Gordonsville and clean off grandmom’s grave and then ride part of the parkway and make a few stops.  Just a Friday, Saturday and Sunday later this summer.