April 13th, 2015
Day 3.

The day started out very slowly, caused by my now “unsettled” stomach. It was not the worst. I felt I could manage.
Despite that, as I loaded up the bike for the next leg of the journey, it was a rather beautiful morning.
Breakfast was simple. The usual/standard continental breakfast one finds across most of the motel/hotel chains across the country - Scrambled eggs, assorted juices, sausages, gravy, biscuits, a couple of fruits, yogurt, cereal, waffles and the likes. Take your pick.
I just could not find the appetite to load up on breakfast to start the day off so I settled for a banana and some yogurt which I opted to take along with me for later in the morning.
So at 9:20 a.m. and a warm temperature of 75’F, I set off onto Route 250 back towards Afton and onto the BRP.
Back onto the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) I continued to make my way southwards.
I was not even 6 miles (9.6km) into the ride on the BRP when I was greeted with more stunning views again.
A preservation museum was offered. I just had to see and experience it.
It gave me a glimpse into what life was like during the 1840’s for the pioneers that began to settle the country.
No sooner had I left this place was I greeted with more sweeping and stunning views!
I couldn’t do this much longer.
This was too much!
I had to continue my journey and I vowed to be back to visit at a more leisurely pace in future - Good Lord permitting with wealth and health!
So I motored on for another 35 miles along the road till I arrived at the junction of the BRP and Highway 56.
I swung northwards and not long after arrived in Vesuvius, VA.
The road quality was good. The area was very tranquil and well kept up by the local residents.
White picket fences demarcated the individual properties and it projected a sense of pride in their properties.
Crossing the railroad tracks that ran through the area I continued my route which filtered me through Steeles Tavern and on to Raphine, VA right at the junction where interstate 81 runs across.
This afternoon, the interstate would once again be “my friend”. I wanted to make up for time spent oohing and aaahing along the Skyline Dr. and BRP up to this point in time.
So heading southwards once again, the ST took a deep breath, picked up her skirts and downright marched away with me.
We arrived in Marion,VA later that afternoon and with an early check-in at the Econo Lodge on Main St., I turned in early to give my body a little more rest before the next days’ ride.
The sky was laden with thick clouds and threat of rain loomed. It seemed that I had made it off the road at a good time but with only 206 miles (330 km) travelled this day.