Preparations were to be made the week prior to the trip but work ruined that plan. With a whole week off, I gave Friday to normalcy and all day Saturday to prepping. A trip to Hermy's netted a new pair of tires, a killer deal on some moto pants, and a clearance HJC helmet. Cycle Gear sold me a pair of boot covers. Harbor Freight sold me a tire changer, in spite of which I still managed to get the Wee re-shod by late Saturday night.
Sunday morning packing and final prep finally had me rolling at noon... for about 4 miles... until I turned back to switch windshields and helmets on the strength of "better the evil you know".
Underway with more than half the day already gone, I headed east. As always, I managed to swap Mountain Road with rt 895 in my mind's map and ended up jerking around out in cow country. I head for rt 78 to rt 81 S. This route always buffets me to pieces and the traffic is borderline terrifying, but I need to put some miles behind me. I promised myself I'd go more rural on the other side of Harrisburg.
On the other side of Harrisburg, the traffic thinned out - so the buffeting did, too. Not one for inspecting the teeth of a gift horse, I stayed the course. Soon Pennsylvania ended, and then Maryland, and West Virginia. I knew this progress was illusory and there was a long slog of Virginia, but it still felt like progress. In VA, I became aware of the Blue Ridge off to the east. With it's peaks poking up into the clouds, I knew I was missing a moto 'bucket list' item of riding Skyline Drive all the way down... but that would take days. I enjoyed the view from the ground and kept moving.
As a travel day, I had no intention of camping. An hour or so before dark, I stopped for gas and food and contacted command central to arrange hotel accommodations. I figured another 60-90 minutes and got moving again. I checked in an hour later to find a text message with directions to my home for the night in Staunton, VA.
GPS took me there without issue - this was almost too easy. Another big smile emerged behind my faceshield when I pulled in to park... under a covered entry... behind two motorcycles with Florida plates.
What could be better? I checked into a ground room floor to be close to the bike, which turned out to be ridiculously close.
What could be better? I checked into a ground room floor to be close to the bike, which turned out to be ridiculously close.
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