We were up early and on the Blue Ridge Parkway by 7:25 am…………deer on the side of the road…….must be careful.
We find ourselves on rural roads #208, 231 which are not on our maps, smooth narrow pavement with numerous twists and turns…..scenic beyond words. We enter Lexington via hwy 60, picking up hwy 11 to
We are hold up 
On the road before 8 am…..after a breakfast 
Up early at 6 am but my riding buddy was having problems getting and finding what he needed to get his bike loaded….so 8.10 am and finally heading south on 219……not knowing the road and following the GPS we ended up off 219 and found ourselves riding in a circle when we recognized buildings we had passed 3/4 hr ago…..the wonders of GPS.
We were not disappointed: after all we are retired and have an open time table…..the detour was spectacular….twisties and up and downs that put your heart in your mouth……I did take one turn wide fortunately no car was met, though this caused us to slow down.
Tonight we are in Keyser West Virginia……now on hwy 220 s heading to Franklin where we will pick up hwy 33 through Virginia to Skyline Dr to avoid paying the Font Royal Park Fee….remember we are pensioners, pinching pennies and trying to do America on 70.00 a day each.
West Virginia born of a nation divided, was the setting for the first campaign of America’s Civil War. It seems that many West Virginians saw their loyalties laying with the Union while the balance of Virgina sided with the souths Confederates…..now West Virginia didn’t exist officially until 1863. In 1861 Union Gen. George B McClellan’s army crossed the Ohio River and won the battle with the Confederates claiming all land east of the Ohio for the Union. Though in Union control it wasn’t until June 20th 1863 that President Lincoln issued a proclamation under which West Virgina became the 35th state.
Didn’t mean to bore anyone but I know some of my readers are history buffs and may be interested………though I must add that history records many West Virginian Regiments were made up of Ohio and Pennsylvania men and boys.
Till To mor…..goodnight
Up early, said my goodbys to my son Corey,then off to Olivers coffee shop to say adios to the town’s movers and shakers, Frank,Bill,Ron,Larry,Jim missing were Doug & Gary who gave their best wishes yesterday. 
Left Gravenhurst at 7;15 and in light traffic, and the 407 made it to Grimsby On at 10.am. John ( Pedro in future ) already there….apparently he was up at 4 am chomping at the bit to get on the road……
We headed for Fort Erie and crossed into the USA before noon. Tonight we are In Bradford Pennsilvania . My riding companion was complaining about his BUTT so we booked into a motel at 3:45…….will likely be on the road early….219 hwy has been interesting and we will continue on it for a few more hours.
We are only 7 days away from departure……My riding buddy has just enjoyed a weeks holiday with his Venesualan Girlfriend who had to jump through many hoops to get a visa for Canada….its taken a couple years yet she has a visa for the USA….go figure
We will likely meet up with Katty in Cartagena Columbia…
It’s only 9 days to departure…….bike is partially loaded….actually a number of times. The difficulty is finding a place for all the things you may need for an adventure on a bike which will last 6 or more months. Discovering that you have little room for cloths was discouraging so out went the suit , ties, fancy shoes & socks. Down to 5 T-shirts, 2 pair of jeans, 7 prs of socks and underwear which will give me 7 days of changes but as Pedro estimated if we swapped we could get 14 and if we turned this inside out we could double that before washing……..
I will post again on the day we depart….Sept 2nd 2012
It’s only 20 more days until I leave for the 2nd part of my journey. The summer has gone by so quickly….I know its not over but the CNE starts this weekend and to me that’s the end with school and Fall Fairs about to start.
I am mostly mended and have been busy putting the final farkles on my bike. This part of the trip will be on my 650 VStrom…..the Kawasaki will spend the winter in the garage wondering if it will ever see the road again. I keep telling myself pack lightly……2 changes of cloths 1 pair of shoes and my new riding gear….will carry extra socks and underwear.
On the advise gleaned from The Hubb I went and had extra copies of my ownership, international driver’s licence,passport main page with 1 copy of each laminated on the advise of Greg Powell…Dreams/Greg’s Motorcycle Adventure. Greg recently completed 10 months on the road from Newfoundland to Deadhorse Alaska and to the bottom of Argentina….he met with myself and John Carney last week end and gave us valuable tips….thanks Greg,….it was a pleasure meeting you and we will get together at the Sept 7th Horizon Meeting in Robbinsville NC where Greg is a guest speaker. As you may have guessed, I have company for the trip…John, a retired helicopter pilot and most recently a yahtsman has parked the ship and purchased a Tiger Triumph 800. So YEA its great to have company. While, getting the copies mentioned above I realized my drivers licence expires while I am on the road , so I made a be line for the renewal office……..may get it before I leave….I am a believer so it will be here before Sept 2nd.
I have cancelled as many bill producing items I could….TV, PHONE, INTERNET……taxes…..can I do that ? Let’s call it a tax holiday…..Prepaid a couple services. Tomorrow I will winterize my 5th wheel which will be stored at my Mothernlaw’s for the winter along with my truck….THANK”S MARIE….the car will be used by my son to pull his fishing boat on week ends and hopefully he will put it in the garage before winter…THANK”S COREY. Still need to make final arrangment’s on the house.
