Special Treat - USA Four Corners Journal Day 9 -

I planned a special treat for today: riding a portion of the Blue ridge Parkway, but I got a second unplanned treat: a rain shower. My alarm went off as usual this morning, but I didn’t get started, until 8:00 a.m. It was to be a day of rushing up I-77 to I-81 to the Harrisburg area with a side trip to check out an 80 mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway has mile after mile of sweeping curves; the longest straightaway is about 1/4 mile. The speed limit is 45, but there were no cars behind me pushing to go faster.
I stopped at Mabry Mill. It’s a reconstructed frontier community. The park rangers were giving talks on spinning yarn, working as a blacksmith, etc. It’s the kind of thing I like to visit, but there wasn’t time to stop and listen.

The second treat of the day was a shower. I pulled under a bridge and put on my rain suit and got back on the highway. The rain lasted only two or three miles. Then I had to get out of the suit because the air was like a steam bath. I put the cool vest on, which I’ve used several times. It really does work.

The rest of the trip was just interstate miles. I did make my room reservation using my laptop and air card from a gas station. I tried to connect to the WiFi at the Hampton Inn next door, but they required a special code, so I abandoned that idea. When I got to my hotel there was a No Vacancy sign on the door, so it was a good idea to book ahead.

I forgot to mention yesterday that I went 190 miles between fill-ups and didn’t need to go on reserve! These new pipes are giving me better mileage. I’m getting 46-48 mpg.

I had an equipment failure. The skivvies I bought that aren’t cotton and dry quickly have hems that are too thick. After sitting on them in the same spot for a week my legs finally protested. I guess I’m going to have to find another style.

More interstate tomorrow and then a ride through lower Vermont and up to New Hampshire.