BRP and a visit to Chartlotte, NC

Just deleted my typed up RR...so here we go again! :huh I even made it Gimmeslack friendly so anyone using a modem can see it :lol2

It was just another Friday at work until 5:00 rolled around...at 4:00. Yeah left a bit early but it was totally worth it. Traffic was light and I cruised out west to the mountains. My destination this weekend was to visit my little brother in Charlotte, NC where he landed a new job and was settling in over the summer. I slabbed 66 via some back routes to 29 then down through Madison to Wolftown Rd.

The fresh rains left clouds hanging in the valleys of the Blue Ridge.

810 is always a blast and with little traffic today. I left my visor open to absorb the many rich smells of a forest after the rain.

Riding through Crozet, I usually pass by this piece of antique lawn ornamentation but made a U-Turn this time on account of the sunlight and general feel it gave me. I'd like to remember how it looked so I snapped a pic.

I cruised on up 250 to the BRP and set south into the clouds and sun hanging low on the horizon.

The drops of rain clung to the flowers as the sun tried to evaporate the dew before it sank below the horizon.

I pulled off at Hwy 56 to make camp. I had to scare away the deer first though.

Haines Chapel pavilion is always a solid and quiet place to sleep...

I awoke at 5:30 the next morning, packed my gear, made some coffee and oatmeal then set forth onto the BRP. The temps were cool in the 50's and I regretted accidentally forgetting my wool sweater. I made do with a long sleeve polo on top of an underarmor layer. The inviting, dark, familiar and dangerous twists and turns had me grinning ear to ear. I pass nobody for nearly an hour. The view to the east captivates me through this valley and I park in the middle of the road, dismount and take this shot.

Swiftly, the sun rises above the horizon painting the verdant trees in shades of orange and red like an early fall preview of what is to come.

The lighting up on Terrapin Mtn was great as I surveyed the James River and paper mill below.

The best things in life are free.

I rode in and out of the fog which filtered the light into blue tints, orange tints and red tints depending on the angle and direction of the road. The sky above my was bright blue. Very interesting feeling.

I made it down to 77 then slabbed it on to Charlotte. Not much to note here other than tractor trailers trying to pass tractor trailers on hills. Things that I would make illegal if I were president :deal

I spotted this beauty.

The rear end felt a little funny in the long sweepers of the highway so I pulled over about 30 mi from Charlotte to inspect. I had a slow leak on my last trip but didn't see anything unusual after filling her back up and giving a cursory glance at the tire. I should be more careful in the future. There is a good chance this was with me for nearly 1000mi or more.

Deciding that it was holding air for now, I pumped her up to 45psi, then set back down the highway. I quickly passed down along Lake Norman with the families in jet boats vacating at their summer lake homes.

The big city of Charlotte's skyline from the beltloop.

It was great visiting with my brother and doing the bar/nightlife thing with a few of his buddies on a Saturday night. Good once in a while, I'd rather be in the woods. They don't have good bbq in the woods though...

I slept soundly on the porch in my hammock, woke at sunrise and patched my rear tire.

I made bacon and eggs, woke up my lethargic brother and dragged his ass up a mountain. He loved every minute of it :deal

It was hazy but Charlotte's skyline is out in the distance in the center of this shot.

Erik surveying the land to the west.

OOOoof

Annnd all the way back down to the car :D

After hooking up his (my old) stereo and tv, I set out back to VA where the riding was good.

This is a procession of snap shots I took along the road.

WOOHOO! VA

I always like to ride Flower Gap Rd just outside Fancy Gap connecting 77 and a Loves gas station with old hwy 52. It is a twisty and fun bit of road to prepare you for the assault on Hwy 52. The undulating banked corners make for many smiles as you pass everyone in their cars.

Then up to the parkway where you just chillax

I don't stop much and haven't in years for the Mabry Mill. I have at least 10 shots so will just add this one to the queue.

This shot is taken on my favorite sweeper in the big field outside of Floyd near the Floydfest grounds. Anyone who is familiar with this area knows just where I'm talking about :D

I palced an order for cartoon-like fluffy cumulus clouds. TWC came in and approved the order around Roanoke so I counted sheep.

I was caught behind some slow riding sportbikes but managed to bide my time staring at her back underneath the flapping t-shirt she just couldn't seem to keep on. Made my afternoon :evil I passed them slowly.

Hours of this? How can you go wrong. Hard to beat!

Well until this turn comes up. Just as good!

Passing over the James River.

I paused around 6 to make some Indian food for dinner.

Noticing my gas gauge was dangerously low, I calculated that riding to mile 0 then finding gas was a poor choice. I plugged in Montebello's store into my GPS then forgot it was set to Shortest Distance when it dragged me down a dirt road to a "NO TRESPASSING" sign. At least it was pretty.

I made it to Montebello to discover the station closed 45 minutes earlier. Shucks. Off I go to Rockfish Valley's Liberty station...some 15 miles away. Hope I make it!

The sun set on the Blue Ridge and I recalled a memory 6 or more years ago riding my Ninja 250 through this valley at the same time of day just hoping I would make it home before dark...before deer...before I had ridden many miles in the night and faced those risks head on. I smiled and wondered how much longer I'dhave good luck in the dark.

Babying the throttle, I mad it to the Liberty and put in 5.1 gal @ 223 mi

Topped off, I turned down 250 then hopped on 64.

The sun disappeared below the mountains and the sky turned a rosy shade of orange (just kidding, I'm colorblind and never know what color stuff is)

I paused at Keswick's Grace Epischopal Church for an eerie shot in their high pressure lights.

The way they light this 1745 church is beautiful. I would like to return in the snow.

THis looks like a quiet spot for me. I think I'll stay here tonight. I made my bed, snacked on some trail mix then went to bet. I woke up about 10 minutes later to a raccoon sniffing around a few feet away. I didn't move and it eventually skittered off. I'm a visitor at HIS church.

The following morning, I admired the stars still alight in the sky and took to the roads. Hwy 20 is dark through the countryside. I was thankful for my HID headlight and aux piaa lights. I stopped for coffee and an unhealthy bisquit sandwich in Gordonsville mostly to let the sun rise a bit more. The deer were out like crazy.

Satisfied, I set back out down the road.

I made it to F-burg then slabbed it home in traffic until HOV where I made up some extra time.

Saw this nice Stang' coupe or fastback? Early.

I was home by 8:15 to start my day, get some teleworking done, mow the grass, wash/hang my laundry, unpack my camping gear and eventually smoke some pork and drink some moonshine on the roof. It was my 27th birthday and the riding was good.