Jon Berg wrote: > > Sounds like you got a little wet down there, ay Pete? > > Jon >What you mean "little" white-eyes?
Met up with Bill McKenna at 6:45 Thursday morning. We rode out across Vt, down 88 to Binghamton, NY, and then down 81. We covered 650 miles before calling it a day in Harrison, VA. Got up early the next morning, rode another 100+ miles down 81 to Roanoke and then got onto the Parkway . The BRP varied between socked in, with 20 foot visibility, drizzle with 50 visibility, overcast, and sunshine. All in about equal amounts for the remaining 300 miles. Most of the road was covered with wet leaves and pine needles, so we stayed somewhere near the speed limit, especially in the socked in parts.
Arrived at EaSTOC about 5:30 under drizzling conditions and found that the cheerleaders would not be showing up to give the promised massages. The weather forecast for that area was calling for 24 hours on torrential rain, with flash flood warnings for all of western NC. What really upset me though was when I found out that Derek hadn't arrived yet, and that I'd have to wait to kill him. ;-)
The weather forecast was right on, and it started to pour, just as I went to bed. It didn't stop until after I had turned in again the following night. On Saturday, the group of us sat under the pavillion, discussing tires, steering head shake, and various recipes for barbecuing Derek who had only remained alive this long by showing up after I went to bed. Once the talk became serious, Derek organized a meal run, where 8 hardy souls ventured forth in search of sustenance. We found a nice restaraunt about 10 miles down that part of Rt 276 that hadn't washed out yet, and enjoyed a very good meal and great company.
Upon returning to the campground, a couple of people decided that they didn't like the looks of the brook, (which had risen over 3' since the previous evening, and moved their tents to higher ground. Claude Hill gave a seminar on Internet connections, and software, which I think was more to save himself from having to listen to another tire discussion than anything else. I even understood part of what he was saying.
Saturday evening saw everyone partaking of the meal prepared there at the campground, and another round of tires and headshake. As I am always early to bed, and knew I had a long day coming on Sunday, I said my goodbyes, and slogged off towards my tent and wet sleeping bag.
Sunday saw Bill and I, up packed and on the road by 7:30. The weather was still mostly overcast, but no rain, no fog, and the roads were now clean and dry. We stopped at Mount Mitchell for breakfast, as well as a few stops for photos. Bill was starting to get into the rythym of the road, and we made pretty good time up the Parkway. We reversed our southward route, and exited at Roanoke, to pick up Rt 81 again. About 8 :00 that night we pulled off and found a motel, just below Winchester, VA.
Monday dawned clear and dark (6 a.m.) and we rode. And rode. And rode. . . When my bike started to stall out on me, it was almost a welcome break. Running along in the left lane at 80 mph indicated, it began to feel like I was running into a horrific head wind. When I dialed on more throttle, I found I was already at the stop, and was slowing down. After pulling to the shoulder with a stalled machine, I managed to restart the bike, and everything seemed normal. After it happened a second time, Bill asked, "How's your fuel filter?" "It's in there", I replied, and realized he had probably hit it first time, since the filter was the origianl with over 37000 miles showing. I managed to get it to the next exit, where somebody had conveniently built a nice gas station. They just happened to have a nice automotive fuel filter with 3/8" inlet and outlet. While it was significantly larger than the stock part, it still dropped right in and left plenty of room to refit the plastic.
Problem solved, we remounted and rode. And rode. And rode. . . I left Bill in Concord where he had reserved a room, and headed for home, where I arrived at 6:30 p.m., hung up my wet tent, sleeping bag, etc, and went to bed. I even made it to work that night at 11:45.
All in all, I had a great time. Would I go again? Yes, but I would take a week to go down, enjoy some side trips, etc. and then 3 days to come back. All of which would use up 7 days of precious vacation time, and since I only get 15 days a year, well, maybe.
But in answer to your original question, Jon. Heck, no! I didn't get wet. I wear a Darien.
Pete Wells
P.S. Apologies to Derek. He was just convenient. I could have been just as happy killing anyone else. ;-)