Vermont and New Hampshire
August 29th - September 7th, 2009
(Watch for photos to be posted nightly as we travel)

August 29th (Saturday) - Ron and Don met Jan and I at Exit 407. I thought Paul Medley would show up and buy us a biscuit and see us off, but  he did not so. I assume he had was out of coupons. Ten miles up the road, Ken and T.C. met us at the rest area. On up the Interstate we met John around 11:30. Tomorrow night Ned meets us in Utica, N.Y. and Lucy in Vermont. More to follow.

August 30th (Sunday) - The weather was great today. The skies were clear and the temps were great for the most part. It did get a little cloudy and cool as we got near our hotel in Utica. We took shelter from a drizzle 6 miles from the hotel but only for a few minutes.

August 31st (Monday) - Another great day as we arrive in Vermont. It was a little cool as we traveled through the Adirondack Park but it was warmer than forecast by the local TV stations. (Low 51, high 65). The lake crossing was smooth and Vermont roads are GREAT, just as I remember them. We did pass one covered bridge but it was on private property. (Crossing a creek from one hayfield to another.) Only two issues thus far. Don bought a new CB that does not work and Ned has a minor oil leak. Covered bridges start tomorrow.

September 1st (Tuesday) - Covered bridges are nothing special to the people that live here. Nothing more than a means to cross a river. Rarely is there a place to park near the end and you have to be careful of cars speeding towards you if you do find a place where you can walk out on the bridge. Of course, a lack of interest also means a lack of vandalism, which is mice. We did have to travel a few dirt roads today but they are extremely hard packed and not much different that the pavement. We also took a detour through Smuggler's Notch which is an interesting place. The day ended around 4:30 and may have left some of us wanting more. But for me, it was just the right thing. 158 miles in 8 1/2 hours.

September 2nd (Wednesday) - Another cool morning but much warmer in the afternoon. I have lost count of the number of covered bridges we have seen on this trip. But as we moved further South, I do notice it gets dark earlier in the evening. Tomorrow, New Hampshire.

September 3rd (Thursday) - I cannot believe how lucky we have been with the weather. Cool mornings and light fog give way to sunshine and clear blue skies. Yes, we had some minor moisture as we left Knoxville, but we could have asked for better weather thus far.

September 4th (Friday) - I know now why the people of Vermont are not open to allowing Wal-Mart and other major chains into their rural counties. (Large cities in Vermont do have major stores). It is because they would lose their unique charm and quaint look. Every town has a "Country Store". Most have the town's Post Office is within the store and the post master runs the store as well. If you go in to get a cheese cake snack for breakfast, expect it to have been home made the night before and wrapped in Saran Wrap. There are very few "Little Debbie" or "Hostess" cup cakes to be fond. The "Historic Society" must have spent years listing all the buildings in Vermont that met their criteria as they can be fond everywhere. A lot of these buildings are now restaurants where all the local "guys" meet for breakfast. While the cost of gas here is more than Tennessee ($2.59 in Vermont where it was $2.32 when we left Tennessee)  it is much less expensive than New York and Pennsylvania.

September 5th (Saturday) - It was sad riding today. The pristine paradise we were in started to give way to average looking farms and terrain as we moved out of Vermont and into New York and Pennsylvania. The afternoon temperature started to rise as the second half of our ride today moved from county roads onto the Interstate. The real world is returning no matter how hard I want it to be delayed. We are on our way home.

September 6th (Sunday) - Interstate all day today but some good social time and discussions. Home tomorrow.

September 7th (Monday-Labor Day) - The group dwindled just as it built and we felt the sadness we always feel when friends go their separate ways.
 

York and Gettysburg, PA.
August 1st - 9th, 2009
(Watch for photos to be posted nightly as we travel)

August 1st (Saturday) - A great day of riding as we left Knoxville in minor fog and ended up in Beckley, W.Va. with partly cloudy skies. Now, what will we do tomorrow with a forecast of 90% chance of rain?

August 2nd (Sunday) - At 5:30 AM it was pouring the rain but the radar showed us it was moving through and nothing was behind it. But how quickly would it move through. At 6:30 AM we decided to wait until 9 AM. At 9 AM we postponed again until 11AM. We left the hotel at 11:15 to a few sprinkles. An hour later it was starting to clear up/ By 1 PM we had a lot of sunshine. The decision to postpone and change our route was a good one. But now we are in Cumberland, Maryland, it is raining again. Can we dodge the precip again tomorrow?

August 3rd (Monday) - A day of curves and hills. Not only the best day of riding thus far, but maybe the best day ever, (Top ten anyway!).

August 4th (Tuesday) - A little knowledge was gained today as we toured a museum and the Harley Plant in York, Then, an enjoyable ride in the rural countryside.

August 5th (Wednesday) - Covered Bridges and Horse and Buggies were the order of the day....oh and Smorgasbord too!

August 6th (Thursday) -  We woke up to wet pavement and damp motorcycles. A delay in our departure was timely as the light drizzle gave way to sunshine for our ride. We checked out of our hotel in York, rode to Gettysburg where we saw the film about the Civil War. Then, we met up with our guide who did a great job for a 2 /12+ hour tour of the battlefield. Then we returned to the museum for a quick walk-thru and ended the day with a great meal. Tomorrow, Harper's Ferry and Skyline Drive.

August 7th (Friday) - A great Bob Evans breakfast, more Civil War history and bear hunting on Skyline Drive. As always, I try to work in unexpected diversions. Harper's Ferry, West Virginia and Skyline Drive were on our route so why not? My planned route ended today in Waynesboro, Virginia. I expected the group would hit the Interstate and head home and some of them did.....but Ron, Janet and I decided to go over to West Virginia and do a inverted version of the August 2nd route which we abandoned because of bad weather.

August 8th (Saturday) - Back home and a day early. The group split as some wanted to ride the Interstates home while we opted for the back roads and a later arrival back in Knoxville.
 

Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway
July 2nd - 5th, 2009
 

July 2nd (Thursday) - Knoxville to Troutville, Virginia - via I-40 to I-81 to Troutville.

July 3rd (Friday) - Troutville to Troutville, Virginia via I-81 to Front Royal, Virginia then Skyline Drive to Rockfish Gap and then the Blue Ridge Parkway back to Troutville.

July 4th (Saturday) - Troutville, Virginia to Lenoir, N.C. via the Blue Ridge Parkway.

July 5th (Sunday) - Lenoir, N.C. to Asheville, N.C. via the Blue Ridge Parkway.