Breakfast stop in West Plains with Nancy, Larry and Burl
It’s trip time again for us – left yesterday morning with our friends, Larry and Nancy, on our motorcycles. We headed east on 60 and by noon we were having a picnic at the Kentucky Visitors Center just across the state line.
Around 4:30 we hit Nashville – perfect timing for rush hour traffic along with dark clouds rolling in. We stopped at a Mickey D’s to put on rain gear and regroup. Our reservations for the night were another 30 miles down the road in Lebanon – did we cancel them and avoid the rain or take our chances and go on? Either way we knew we’d face traffic – either yesterday afternoon or this morning. Finally decided to press on and an hour later were at our hotel and relaxing after 11 hours and 480 miles.
Today’s route started on I-40 but after we passed Knoxville, we headed south through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg (think Branson on steroids!). But as civilization was left behind, we entered a canopy of trees covering fabulous winding roads through the Smoky Mountains.
The view is great from the back of the bike - especially coming out of a mountain tunnel.
We had ridden part of this road several years ago but still the views of the smoke rising from the mountains was breathtaking. Our route took us into North Carolina, through Maggie Valley until we reached Waynesville where we are spending the night with Larry and Nancy’s son, Justin and his wife, Jessica.
Their home is up in a wooded area and the view is spectacular. After being on the bike all day, I decided I needed to take a walk – and I had two choices, up or down! Chose to climb up at the start of the walk and was glad I did – it was steep and curvy but got my heart rate pumping quickly.
We cooked out tonight and enjoyed a late birthday celebration for Larry – then sat on their deck and took in the cool mountain air. The homes in this area don’t even have air conditioning and I’m looking forward to sleeping with a window fan.
Tomorrow we head over to tour the Biltmore and then ride north on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Virginia. Sadly, we will say “good-by” to Larry and Nancy. Nancy had a bum knee that’s not compatible with long rides on the bike so they have decided to return to Springfield.
We’ll probably stick with most of our planned route but knowing us, that’s subject to change at any given minute given our whims.
It’s an open road and we’re heading for an adventure!
We were heading southeast yesterday too, although a little further south than you are… went through Memphis yesterday, and then down through Birmingham and now in Valdosta GA, on FL line. Have a great trip, we’re counting the hours ’til the BEACH!