Lazy Day

The weather could not have been any better today in the Blue Ridge.  Bit  brisk riding, but I am not complaining.  Hard to leave the area for home.  Couple of pics from a few hours on the bike.  Click on them to enlarge.

What Recession?...and Snake Hunting.

We left Monteagle, TN this morning, after a short visit with my mother and headed back to Lexington, Va.  Our trip back took us from I 24, thru Chattanooga, then I 40 to I 81 north.  The entire trip was bumper to bumper traffic. The majority of the vehicles were 18 wheelers. So where is the recession?  I can not imagine what the truck traffic would be with a booming economy. 

After two nights at  Jim Oliver's Smokehouse Best Western we are happy to be back at the Lexington, VA Hampton Inn.  The Smokehouse is always an experience.  You never know what you will find under the covers...and every room smells like smoke. Guess that's how it got the name, Smokehouse. Duh. 

It was nice to see upon our arrival back here that my motorcycle trailer was still in the parking lot and the bike still inside. We left it here so we wouldn't have to tow it 500 miles down and back to TN. 

Friday I am looking forward to riding back up onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, while Elaine chills out in town.  Since seeing the Timber Rattlesnake crossing the parkway I am now obsessed with going back up and finding one. MAN THAT WAS ONE FAT SNAKE.  Here's what they look like...

So that's all for now, and if you don't hear from me again...I got bit.

June 1st, 2011

In the mountains of Tennessee at this moment visiting Mom. On our way here though we went to Lexington, Va. with the Klakrings as they worked their way back to Arkansas.

Dennis, loading up his bike for the ride to Blue Ridge and back to Arkansas.  Glare off his head may have caused an exposure problem with my camera. By the way, I was rather impressed with his Subaru Outback's capacity to tow his bike along with all the packages and luggage they had in the car.

Our first day out on the Blue Ridge Parkway. May 29.  Dennis at Otter Lake...just after we passed a nice fat Timber Rattlesnake crossing the parkway. I mean fat!  I never gave it a thought that these snakes were in this area...I will definitely be more aware the next time I seek out a tree to pee. 

Dennis (left) taking matters into his own hands at the Dam.  Fortunately, Virgina law requires helmets.

The Klakrings.

Below...Dennis, me, Linnea and Elaine at the pass, Rt 250.

This joint is for sure haunted...wonder if Norman Bates' mother is upstairs.  They actually had Christmas style candles in the windows...lit!!!

Time to cool off in the Maury River, Goshen Pass.  Memorial Day crowds.

Actually, it felt like we were in Laredo, at the border.

Headed for Tennessee, May 31st...leaving the bike in the trailer, at the Hampton Inn, Lexington, Va.  Hope the insurance is paid up for theft.  Would expect it to be ok.  The day before, Elaine left the door to the truck open, ALL NIGHT!  Everything was still intact and no critters were in the truck. I hope...remember, there are rattlers up in them woods.

Sunday evening we had a little fun at dinner...Dennis demostrated his ability to eat fast and we captured the moment on film.........

. Oh yeah...one other observation made by Dennis...