With only 180 miles to do by 11 am I actually have breakfast in the motel. This may not seem like a big thing to most riders, but it is a huge step for me. It's taken years to wean myself of that Ironbutt mentality. For me it was the destination and not the ride. There is something to be said for doing a 1000 mile day, because you can be in some pretty interesting places at the end of that 1000 miles. Living in the extreme southeast US puts a lot of locations out of reach without some big mileage days. I would normally be on the road by 5 am or earlier. This trip is going to be different and I'm going to be extremely flexible with my route and destination. If I feel like stopping for the day, I will. If the weather looks crummy in one direction, I find a better direction.

With that plan I'm on Hwy 25 off to Johnson City, TN for lunch. Greenville, SC is one of those place to which I can see myself living. It has that "small town" feel even though it is growing. I elect to take the toll road around town and then pick up Hwy 25 again.

Near Hendersonville, NC I-26 is the road of choice. I must be getting close to Johnson City because every other vehicle is a BMW Motorcycle. A lot of riders cringe at the thought of taking a freeway. I don't mind them at all and enjoy the wide-open vistas they provide, especially on this road. I even enjoy I-75 through Atlanta. There, I said it and will now take my meds. Later in the trip I would learn to regret these words.
 

One of the brilliant advantages of using a GPS is the ability to enter the coordinates of a location, which I did with the Ridgewood BBQ. My routing preferences were set to avoid major roads and take medium to minor roads. This took me down some real cow paths and made for an immensely enjoyable ride. Down these roads I kept thinking I was in West VA based on the topography and house construction.

I don't miss any of my BMW Motorcycles, but do miss the camaraderie of the riders. The club scene is great and there's always something to do or a place to ride. We have some of that with the V-Strom group, but I don't believe another motorcycling group has the same atmosphere. Thinking back on the trip, I probably should have spent a day at the BMWMOA Rally to renew old acquaintances. Seeing the group at the restaurant brought back a flood of pleasant memories. Two hours was just too short a time to spend with this group.
 
Way to full of good food, I say my goodbyes and head east down Hwy 133 toward the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The Jeb Stuart Hwy (76) through the area is a pleasant mix of tree covered roadways and twisty mountain passes. The weather goes from blue skies to threatening rain to slight sprinkles. Temperatures are perfect and the road is well maintained.

 

Hwy 614 is also a pleasant road north of the recreation area, but the skies are getting serious and I have some miles to make. With that thought I head up to I-81 and end the night in Waynesboro, VA.