6th August, 2016.
Day 15.
I was up at 5:00 a.m.
I particularly wanted to make an early start.
I began getting myself together and prepared to load up for a possible 6:00 a.m. start.
Exactly 27yrs. ago to this morning, to this day, I remember receiving a phone call from halfway across the world informing me of my fathers’ “passing” in the overnight hours.
It seems like just yesterday!
I miss him tremendously.
I said a prayer for him, wherever he might be, wishing he could still be with “us” and for the opportunity for me to be able to share these exciting times, stories and tales of my motorcycling journeys/travels.
My mind went right back to that first day he put me on the Honda 50 and took me to school.
It warmed my heart that showed with an affectionate smile.
That’s where this all began for me!
Opening the door as I proceeded to begin loading the bike, I was met with very dense fog!
No way could I ride out into this! I could not even make out the cars across the parking lot of the motel.
I had no choice in the interest of safety, but to wait for it to lift before starting my riding day.
So to kill time, I set about downloading what few pictures and video footage I captured the day before in between some new footage I captured doing a “walk-about” in the parking lot.
Around 8:30 a.m. the fog began to lift and I proceeded to load up.
I met up with owners of the other bikes parked next to mine in the parking lot. Like me, they were also waiting for the fog to lift before starting out as well.
so we struck conversation and I learned they had ridden here all the way from Canada, purposely to ride the very same highway 28 I had just come off the day before!
How coincidental!
We had experienced the same thrills and chills of the road, having shared the same experience.
Our conversations and descriptions of the ride were so similar!
……… and through them, I got to learn that the road, highway 28, was a.k.a. “The Moonshiner”.
So we all went about loading up and securing our touring luggage, wished each other a continued safe trip and travels, and parted ways.
I finally felt it safe to get on the road around 9:15 a.m..
From here on out, it was highway riding all the way with nothing much to take note of or tell about.
It wasn’t long after, I think about 45 mins. or so, but definitely less than hour, when I crossed into W. Virginia.
W.Virginia riding is always nice.
Road quality in these parts is really great - the kind my bike and I love.
And not to mention, the scenery is just breath-taking.
Almost Heaven! Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River ………
Around midday in the Charleston area, I pulled off the highway in search of some much needed coffee and a snack - my substitute for dinner last night and breakfast this morning, or should I say for the lack thereof.
Besides, the bike needed some gas.
I found a Marathon Convenience store that satisfied that need for both and used a few extra minutes to force a break.
I really felt tired despite a decent nights’ sleep.
The mountain twisties of the day before had worn me out more than I realized.
I made a mental note of making sure that henceforth, I would put myself in better physical condition before each ride/tour in an effort to meet the challenges of whatever an area would throw at me.
4:00 p.m. found me in the Coshocton, OH area for another rehydration/hide-from-the-heat break.
Home was now foreseeably within striking distance.
And so I pushed on, arriving at home close to 6:00 p.m.
My journey was now officially at an end and ready for my history book.
As the days went by and I compiled/revised this trip, I had journeyed 3835 mi. (6136 km), coming away with new friendships and experiencing so much more of the natural beauty of this country and the blessings and enrichment bestowed upon me through this experience.