"I tell you what" said the receptionist, "because you look so tired and wet, I'm going to give you a free upgrade. You now have a room with a jacuzzi bath." How nice was that? I didn't even know that Holiday Inn had suites!
I left a dreary Washington at 7am, following Mark to the start of the I66 and finding after an hour of hair raising clashes with Mack trucks, the road to the mountains. Arriving after a breakfast stop, I was greeted by a ranger who suggested I not bother with the SkyLine Drive as the visibility was terrible and would be so for the entire drive. Staring into the fog I decided to take his advice and dropped down into the Shenandoah valley to follow the 380 to Waynesburg.
Despite the continuous rain it was a lovely ride and gave me a chance to get to know the bike. I described it to Mark after a brief test ride yesterday, as 'agricultural' which it is. But there is something about it. Once its moving and you aren't making loads of clunky gear changes, it suits the roads really well. And there is something so American about it. Something hard to describe.
I stopped a couple of times for gas and coffee and everyone give the thing a look of respect. It must have a place in peoples hearts that I have yet to grasp. Passing road workers I received waves and a salute from one man.
After 7 hours riding I decided to stop as the rain was becoming even heavier. So you can imagine I was very happy to lie in my Jacuzzi and warm up the old bones.
I am reading John Steinbecks book of his travels across America in the 1960's. He discovered that if he put his dirty clothes in a bucket of water, the vibrations of the engine washed them as he drove. I have discovered that a Jacuzzi works just as well! I cleaned it afterward!!
It looks like I'm going to be holed up here for a couple of days. There are severe weather warnings across the south. Thunderstorms and high winds locally; tornado's and golf ball sized hail along the Mississippi. Should be clear Saturday, so I'll set off again then.
Job for tomorrow.... Get a replacement charger for the netbook as I left it in Washington. Pillock...
I left a dreary Washington at 7am, following Mark to the start of the I66 and finding after an hour of hair raising clashes with Mack trucks, the road to the mountains. Arriving after a breakfast stop, I was greeted by a ranger who suggested I not bother with the SkyLine Drive as the visibility was terrible and would be so for the entire drive. Staring into the fog I decided to take his advice and dropped down into the Shenandoah valley to follow the 380 to Waynesburg.
Despite the continuous rain it was a lovely ride and gave me a chance to get to know the bike. I described it to Mark after a brief test ride yesterday, as 'agricultural' which it is. But there is something about it. Once its moving and you aren't making loads of clunky gear changes, it suits the roads really well. And there is something so American about it. Something hard to describe.
I stopped a couple of times for gas and coffee and everyone give the thing a look of respect. It must have a place in peoples hearts that I have yet to grasp. Passing road workers I received waves and a salute from one man.
After 7 hours riding I decided to stop as the rain was becoming even heavier. So you can imagine I was very happy to lie in my Jacuzzi and warm up the old bones.
I am reading John Steinbecks book of his travels across America in the 1960's. He discovered that if he put his dirty clothes in a bucket of water, the vibrations of the engine washed them as he drove. I have discovered that a Jacuzzi works just as well! I cleaned it afterward!!
It looks like I'm going to be holed up here for a couple of days. There are severe weather warnings across the south. Thunderstorms and high winds locally; tornado's and golf ball sized hail along the Mississippi. Should be clear Saturday, so I'll set off again then.
Job for tomorrow.... Get a replacement charger for the netbook as I left it in Washington. Pillock...
Hmm - I remember using a jacuzzi to wash clothes, OK as long as the dye doesn't come out! Glad its going well, if not a little wet, we haven't seen any pictures of the rain yet. M
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