LEG 1 DAY 7
HIAWASSEE, GA TO TURKEY CREEK CHEROHALA SKYWAY NC
255 MILES TODAY - 1208 MILES TOTAL

After another round of $2 pancakes, I say goodbye to my new friends: Brad and Adriane, and head off from the rally. It feels great to back on the road, heading toward a destination and not riding in circles. I find that I don’t like so much riding for the sake of riding alone, I need more of a purpose, a challenge, a seemingly unattainable goal - to keep my interest (like riding in 49 states in 6 months). It was that way with bicycling; I guess it will be that way with motorcycling.

LEG 1 DAY 5&6
Georgia Mountain BMW Motorcycle Owners’ Association Rally
269 RALLY MILES

On the morning of the first day of the rally, I wander up to the pavilion. It is heartening to see other motorcyclists with actually more gear packed on their bikes than I have. Huge trailers towed by motorcycles that expand into tents complete with dressing rooms. Sidecars outfits and dogs carriers on motorcycles complete the scene. A few vendors are starting to set up. Other than that, still pretty quiet, since it is Friday and most rally attendees will show up tonight.

LEG 1 DAY 4
COLONY HOUSE MOTOR LODGE - ROANOKE, VA TO
BMW MOA GEORGIA MOUNTAIN RALLY - HIAWASSEE, GA

402 MILES TODAY - 1086 MILES TOTAL

Defeated perhaps? More like premature surrender - my giving in to the rain and not sticking it out for another campground. “Get your money’s worth out the hotel” I said as I frequently talk to myself anymore. Last night, I spread all the wet things around the hotel room to dry, inverting the boots on top of the heater unit. The only real wetness problem I am having is with the pants...

LEG 1 DAY 3
SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK TO
COLONY HOUSE MOTOR LODGE ROANOKE, VA
185 MILES TODAY - 684 MILES TOTAL

Morning now in Shenandoah: I wake to the serenades of a chorus of birds, a deer passes by the open tent door sniffing the green though quite sparse vegetation. I turn over, too damn early to get up...

LEG 1 DAY 2
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE TO
BIG MEADOWS CAMPGROUND SHENADOAH NATL. PARK
309 MILES TODAY - 499 MILES TOTAL

I wake up rather slowly as usual, having spent a good part of the night on the beach stargazing. Breaking down camp, loading the bike and preparing breakfast can really eat up some time. Late start, as I am headed for some Eastern Shore backroads to capture more of that shore "vibe"...