This year’s trip is with with my 3 Sons, Roger, Steve and Chris. Steve and I left for Chris’s house in the afternoon on April 25th. I took Stinger and Steve is riding the Triumph. Roger is meeting us there with his Harley. Tomorrow we will set out on our journey.
The four of us left for the Sidecars in the Smokies rally, at Ironhorse Motorcycle Lodge Stecoah, NC. at around 10:30. We did 374 miles to Roanoke, Virginia, where we planned to stay the night.
On April 26th, we started off from Roanoke Virginia to Boone, North Carolina. With only 2 stops, we did an amazing 212 miles, mostly on the Blue Ridge Parkway. What a fantastic time we all had.
We had good weather until today. The rains came. 172 miles from Boone, North Carolina to Ironhorse Motorcycle Lodge in Stecoah, North Carolina. Made the best of it and we were there. All was well.
We went out for another ride after we arrived. The roads in this area are very curvy, with many speed warnings signs of 20mph. We pulled up to a stop light and there was a UPS truck in front of us. None of us were happy with the idea of having to ride behind this truck. The light changed, the truck pulled out and we started to follow him, with the hope of passing, but there were no opportunities. But soon, he sped away and we struggled to keep up with him. Apparently, he knows these roads better than us.
Today, even though it rained until mid-day, my sons went on a 83 mile ride, with 22 miles of which were on the infamous Tail of the Dragon.
Tonight, was the big dinner and auction. I won the “Oldest Rider”, “Badass”, and got 2 t-shirts (one for Mary). Steve and Roger each won tool sets and poor Chris didn’t win anything. Debbie and Robert came down from New Jersey to join us. However, their ride was very cold and wet, and they just turned in for the night.
Only 118 miles today, so we could rest up for the 2-day trip home. Went to Wheels Through Time Museum and the Snak Shak in Maggie Valley, North Carolina for lunch. Steve and Chris hadn’t been to the museum, so ten went in and Roger and I stayed out and talk with a few friends (people I had met before).
At lunch, an attractive high-school waitress came over to us. She had a nice smile and was wearing a turban. I asked about the turban, and she said it was to cover the curlers in her hair, as she was going to the prom that night. After she walked away, another less attractive waitress came over to wait on us. I told her nothing personal, but we wanted the other waitress back. She said “no problem, I understand” as if she was used to hearing it. The cook in the back overheard the conversation and was laughing.
We traveled 323 miles from Stecoah, North Carolina to Salem/Roanoke, Virginia.
Another long day, We did 380 miles from Salem/Roanoke, Virginia to Jeanesville, Pennsylvania (Chris’s house), through hail, rain and quite a bit of wind. All was well though. Tomorrow, Steve and I now need to make it home safely. Roger headed home to Pittsburg.
We are finally in the arms of my beloved. It was a great trip, achieving most of what we planned. The weather could have been better, but it’s all behind us now. A big thank you to Mary and to all my three sons (it should be a TC sitcom), who took excellent care of me. I am very proud of them!