We arrived home today at about 4:45 pm under cloudy skies. We left Danville this morning in the first rain since the 2nd day of our trip. It was just a light on and off sprinkle until we stopped for lunch at Stingray's at the Cape Center just this side of the Bridge Tunnel. As we left after lunch it became a light steady rain until just before Exmore when it returned to a light drizzle again. By the time we reached the Maryland line we had riden out of the rain and would have no more the rest of the way.
While we were sad the trip had come to an end we were all glad to be home where we wouldn't have to check into another motel again and to sleep in our own beds. Perhaps the best part is no 6 am alarm tomorrow morning. Everyone arrived home safely and except for a few lost items, a dead battery and a new tire the trip went without any problems. In a day or two I will write some more to wrap this all up. I may even go back and rewrite some of the posts I had to write in a hurry. Well that's it for tonight. It's good to be home!!!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Plans Change!
Day 25:
I ended last nights blog by saying we pan to ride to Grandfather Mountain and then some of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Well after scrutinizing the map a little closer I decided that might not be a good idea as Grandfather Mountain was about 50 miles out of the way in North Carolina. I had thought it was in Virginia and up ahead of us. I decided Grandfather Mountain was better left for another trip. Instead we rode Rt. 58 which runs across the bottom of Virginia from Abingdon to Va Beach. It is a winding mountain road which runs up and over the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is a great motorcycle road as evidenced by the number of fellow motorcyclists we met going the other way. We found a nice restaurant in Hillsville and had a great lunch. It was just one of those places you pull into on an impulse and it turns out to be a place you want to remember for future trips. They even had strawberry shortcake for only $1.00!!! Shortley after we left there Kathy wanted me to pull into a gift store we happened upon coming around a curve. It was a really nice place with collectables, food produce, baked goods and anything you could imagine. We spent 30 to 40 minutes there before we got back on the road. We checked into our last motel about 5:30 pm. The only room they had was a suite. It was real nice with a very large room, two queen beds and a livingroom area. Tomorrow we begin our final leg as we ride the last 355 miles of our trip. We hope to get home sometime between 2 and 4 pm. Though the time has passed too quickly it will be good to be home.
I ended last nights blog by saying we pan to ride to Grandfather Mountain and then some of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Well after scrutinizing the map a little closer I decided that might not be a good idea as Grandfather Mountain was about 50 miles out of the way in North Carolina. I had thought it was in Virginia and up ahead of us. I decided Grandfather Mountain was better left for another trip. Instead we rode Rt. 58 which runs across the bottom of Virginia from Abingdon to Va Beach. It is a winding mountain road which runs up and over the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is a great motorcycle road as evidenced by the number of fellow motorcyclists we met going the other way. We found a nice restaurant in Hillsville and had a great lunch. It was just one of those places you pull into on an impulse and it turns out to be a place you want to remember for future trips. They even had strawberry shortcake for only $1.00!!! Shortley after we left there Kathy wanted me to pull into a gift store we happened upon coming around a curve. It was a really nice place with collectables, food produce, baked goods and anything you could imagine. We spent 30 to 40 minutes there before we got back on the road. We checked into our last motel about 5:30 pm. The only room they had was a suite. It was real nice with a very large room, two queen beds and a livingroom area. Tomorrow we begin our final leg as we ride the last 355 miles of our trip. We hope to get home sometime between 2 and 4 pm. Though the time has passed too quickly it will be good to be home.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Almost Home!
Day 24:
Today we rode 411 miles to Kingsport, Tn. For the first time since Williams, Arizona we have finally left I-40. We are just over 500 miles from home. We should arrive sometime Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow we hope to go to Grandfather Mountain and ride some of the Blue Ridge Parkway. If all goes as planned we should end up in Charlottesville, Va. tomorrow night.
Today we rode 411 miles to Kingsport, Tn. For the first time since Williams, Arizona we have finally left I-40. We are just over 500 miles from home. We should arrive sometime Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow we hope to go to Grandfather Mountain and ride some of the Blue Ridge Parkway. If all goes as planned we should end up in Charlottesville, Va. tomorrow night.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
A visit to a King! Of Rock and Roll that is!
Day 23:
Today was a slow day for a couple reasons. First while checking my tires this morning I noticed a cut running the circumference of the tire right in the center tread groove. As luck would have it there was a Harley dealer just a couple hundred yards from the motel we were staying at. I arrived just about 10 minutes after they opened and they took me right in. After talking to the customer rep for the Harley Davidson extended warranty they determined since it could have been caused by running over something they would cover it under the wheel and tire provision of my warranty at no expense to me. After a couple hours I had a new tire and also had my rear brake pads replaced. Total bill was $75.00 for the brake pads and installation. Finally around 10:45 am we were on the road but not for too long.
About 130 miles later we arrived in Memphis, TN. where it was soon determined we were going to go to Graceland. We toured Elvis's home and were really surprised just how modest his home was. With all the money he had I expected marble & gold and such all over the place but while his home was nicely furnished it was pretty much just a small family home. We saw his cars, motorcycles, awards, costumes from his shows and movies and even toured his private jets. Again these were not as extravagant as you might expect of someone of his wealth.
By the time we resumed travel it was almost 6:00 pm. After fighting traffic to get out of Memphis and back on I-40 we manage to travel about 60 -70 more miles to Jackson, TN. where we found a motel and had a good steak dinner. Tomorrow I would like to reach the Virginia line and perhaps get as far as Blacksburg, Va. We'll see.
The above photos are of Kathy and I outside of Graceland and of a bronze statue of Elvis at the Tennessee Welcome Center.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Little Rock
Day 22:
When we left Elk City this morning the skies were mostly sunny and it was warming fast. There was no sign of the storms that came through overnight. By about 10 am there was not a cloud in sight. The temperature eventually reached 92 degrees today. We stopped at at a place called Cherokee Trading Post for breakfast. Afterward we browsed the gift shop where Kathy found a couple rings she liked. I believe Ginny bought something too but I am not sure what. there were some pictures we liked but they don't ship pictures. In spite of the time spent there we still managed to do about 450 miles, the longest day of the trip so far. We ended the day at Little rock Arkansas. we should get well into Tennessee tomorrow though I am not sure just where we will end the day. It will depend on if we stop anywhere or not.
When we left Elk City this morning the skies were mostly sunny and it was warming fast. There was no sign of the storms that came through overnight. By about 10 am there was not a cloud in sight. The temperature eventually reached 92 degrees today. We stopped at at a place called Cherokee Trading Post for breakfast. Afterward we browsed the gift shop where Kathy found a couple rings she liked. I believe Ginny bought something too but I am not sure what. there were some pictures we liked but they don't ship pictures. In spite of the time spent there we still managed to do about 450 miles, the longest day of the trip so far. We ended the day at Little rock Arkansas. we should get well into Tennessee tomorrow though I am not sure just where we will end the day. It will depend on if we stop anywhere or not.
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