GOT TO GO

 I was about to fly to RDU to start this trip with my brother when the COVID came to our house. Vicki got it and liked it so much she decided to share with me. Fortunately, neither of us had severe symptoms and where back in action after the Doctor mandated, her civilian doctor and my VA doctor, ten day cooling off period.

Sep 7

I had a scheduled VA doctor appointment for an annual check up so I had that in the morning and in the afternoon, begged a ride from Vicki to take me to the airport. I booked a non-stop flight in hopes of not getting lost in the airline system and it worked well.

VA doctor says I will live to ride again.

It takes a lot of paper to fly to RDU

Waiting on my bag

Scott arrive just about the same time I walked to the curb. Sadly, I was not met by Scott's dog Jake, as he is a little long in the tooth now and has trouble getting around. We were headed for Hooters for some fine dining but construction kept us from our destination  and we ended up at a big Italian restaurant. The best thing was order a meal and for five dollars you get another one to take with you. So Scott got one to take to Peggy who has been busy cleaning their house for my arrival. Go figure.

The evening was topped off by a mountain margarita. Real moonshine and tequila mix. 

The evil moonshine

Sept 8 Day 2

The mountain margarita had done its job. I went to sleep and slept all through the night. When I woke up, I was confused and thought I was at home which led to many questions. it was pitch black in the room but there was light coming through a window and I wondered why Vicki had left the curtain open. Maybe for the beautiful moon last night. Then I noticed my alarm clock was dark and that with everything being black I figured the electricity was out. That led me to wander why the generator was not running. Out of bed I turned right in the pitch black to go to the bathroom and ran into the wall. This brought me fully awake and I remember that I was not at home but in Scott’s guest room. That moonshine did its job.

Morning on the farm. The house was built in 1890.

Around eight we headed for Garner the small suburb of Raleigh where we grew up. First to stop was Angie’s. Angie’s is a success story I have told many times so I won’t repeat again here. Just know that this is an American small town success story where a young girl who goes from waitress to successful diner owner.

I come for the country ham. As you can see the serving size is correct.

 

From there we went to get an air filter for the Yamaha and now was to had in the supply line according to the dealer. I found many after market filters on the internet but none in town or that would get here soon. So, we just blew out the old one and called it good. Then he did an oil change on the Yamaha and  we were ready to ride. Scott believes in leaving everything to the last minute. I don’t know if that is because he has so much to do or likes the challenge of it.

As always we stopped in to see our family friend Ruby. Ruby is 91 and still going strong but she says she can only walk a mile every morning now. She had walked five miles every morning for when she was in her 30’s before she went to work. She is just such a positive personality.

In her yard we both shared a mutual problem. Duke Energy. That had just come through our yard and butchered our tree’s last week in Florida.  They had done the same to Ruby’s. They disgust me. The past ownership of our power lines did not feel the need to do the damage that Duke does!! 

The afternoon was getting the scooters ready to ride.

Sept 9 Day 3

It is a beautiful sunny day with temperatures hovering around 70. Scott cooked us scramble eggs and sausage for breakfast with good fresh coffee.  You cannot eat all of the eggs as you have to share with Jake the dog.

Before I came Scott told me he had both scooters ready and the Vespa had new tires because there where issues last time I rode this Vespa. Looking at the rear tire I questioned this as it was a little slick. But he insisted that he had put on new ones and did have paperwork to back it up. The Yamaha was ready accept, oh yea, I didn’t change the oil. Yesterday he worked hard to get the drain plug out with no success. He did not have the correct socket. So, enroute to Smith Mountain Lake, VA we are going to stop into Josh’s scooter garage and have him do it.

It was a great little ride to Josh’s in Meban in semi-rush hour traffic.

S

scott and peggy

Hogan Farm Rd. right after I took this picture two dear ran in front of him

 I had not met Josh before but he has a great reputation as a mechanic and kind person. They were right. Took him a minute with the proper 16 point 19mm rachet to pull the oil plug.

Josh and his dyno. He was upgrading the engine on this scooter.

changing the oil

not a good photo of the tire. Good for around town,not good for a several thousand mile trip

That accomplished, I asked for his opinion on my rear tire. “I wouldn’t ride on it for this trip”. Scott launches into the same story he gave me that Josh had installed the tire last year and he has only put a few hundred miles on it. Josh checked his records. Yes, he had changed the tire he said. However, he brought to Scott’s attention that he had had him install a used tire. This made no since to me, because to change the rear tire you have to practically take the scooter apart to install the tire. But I was vindicated on my declaration that it was a used tire.

Scott was sure we could just ride on and find a tire along the way. I had to inform that that was not going happen. Finding anything for a Vespa anywhere is hard. Even the Vespa dealer did not have one. After about 10 calls I found one in Durham about 30 minutes away but not far out of the way.

getting a new tire

 

New tire installed we were on our way to Smith Mountain Lake, Va. to visit our brother.  The ride was great. Great weather, great winding roads. Charlie was not there when we arrived. A tree had fell on this truck while minding his own business driving home from the golf course. Fortunately, neither he or his wife Vicki where harmed as it fell across the windshield. He had ridden in the wrecker back to Greensboro to get his wife car as there were near to Smith Mountain.

He arrived shortly after us. Hello and hugs, drinks made, we got on the boat and went for a ride on the lake.

the brothers

  Sept 10 Day 4

Everyone in the house are early risers, so by 5:30 we were setting on the porch looking at the lake drinking coffee.  Charlie was surprised there were no fisher men headed out early. He cooked slices of the leftover pork from last night on English muffins. By 8:30 we had said our goodbyes and were on the road. We riding ahead of the rain.

We quickly stopped for gas and to put on our rain gear.

Our first stop was at Graceland. Sorry but it is a little past it’s prime.

Our second stop was the Virginia Transportation Museum. We were a few minutes before opening so we had time to study the weather radar. We decided it would be better if we kept going to Paint Bank.

A short stop to buy some groceries and wine and we continued up into the hills. The rain was light and the great winding ride up the mountain to the Depot Lodge in Paint Bank. We arrived before noon, so went across the street to their restaurant across the street for lunch. Our waitress was Heather, who we had long conversations with last year. She is a joy. We ordered the buffalo burgers. They are not recommendable.

The people at the Depot are great. Mary Ann gave us our rooms at 1 and we retired to our rooms and stayed busy inside for the afternoon hiding from the rain. Dinner was cheese, crackers and wine.

pulling on the rain paint

my man Elvis

Graceland

We rode by and I caught this building out of the corner of my eye. So, a u-turn and went back and followed the road up on to the top of the mountain where there was a perfectly kept grass airfield mainly for gliders. They were cleaning up for a big glider competition next weekend. The people there were very friendly and inviting so we wandered around for awhile then hit the wet road.

genuine out houses

Sept 11 Day 5

About 8 we crossed the street again for breakfast. Faith was a waiter. She has been working here for a year and a half but has just started as a server. There was confusion on the order but she really wanted to make it right. We explained the problem but said we would pay it with no complaint. There was an added charge for grits that we thought were a substitution for potatoes.

We left on our ride just before ten. We meandered through the hills and down backwoods roads. We were back about two before the thunder started.

We did drinking on the balcony and across the street gain for dinner.

Chef Cruz

 

yoga on the mountain

There were a lot of abandon old homes on the back roads

Stopped to save the turtle. Probably did not need saving as we saw only one car 
the 45 minutes we were on this road.

At least we did not look like this

...

Sep 12 Day 6

Sep 12 Day 6

Today is supposed to be a great clear day, but this morning it foggy. We loaded up and headed north.

The fog had lifted out of the valley’s so it was comfortable riding. We both had rain gear on, more for warmth that fear of rain. We wander the valleys and bye ways to Covington and continued north. The skies cleared and by the time we got to Hot Springs, VA home of the Homestead Resort. We rode on to the property for a look but did not go in.

The Homestead

We then cruised the block long main street and found a nice little café for brunch. A very nice couple were dining on the sidewalk and we had a nice visit with them. He had been a rider until he had an accident, not his fault, when his first child was born and had parked the bike. They were off to shot clay pigeons, a not very endangered species from them telling it.

We got Gucci coffees and Scott a chicken pesto sandwich and I got tomato bisque and an arugula salad that was very large.

We continued riding through the rolling hills with clear skies and very little traffic. Scott would later comment that in five days we had only passed one vehicle and very few had passed us. Something he claims can’t happen in North Carolina. I plan to prove him wrong someday.

We rode through Staunton VA and were surprised to find that the down district of the old town was very active with almost all the stores occupied.

From there we turned east to pick up the Skyline Drive. Unlike the Blueridge Parkway, you have to pay to drive this one. But our national park senior passes got us a free ride. The were a lot of threatening black clouds around so we did not delay and take in the overlooks.

 

A quick stop on the Skyline Drive. Behind us was black sky.

We exited the Skyline at Elkton and went in search of the Country View Manor our home for the night. It is an old mom and pop motel owned by a young couple. The wife is the manager and she is a very funny and friendly young Korean. They seem to be successful as the also own the motel across the road. The room was dated but clean and neat.

For dinner we road into to town were there was only one none fast food restaurant open and it was Italian. We split a pasta and rode back in the twilight. Cocktails were had setting in the chairs outside our room watching the traffic go by.

 

Sep 13 Day 7

A lazy start today as our first appointment is not until after 10 and it is only a forty-five-minute ride. Since we had time, we decided to ride into Elkton for breakfast. We went to the C&S Diner that has been around for a long time. All the usual characters were there and “the table” was full. Of course, I talked to them and they always love the recognition. Best I could tell they were mostly farmers and a jovial bunch. They may be Trumpys but they all had got COVID shots as they started comparing covid cards. Why I have no idea.

The breakfast was excellent and too much.

This is deep in Trump country and they had a picture of Trump and Jesus but I am not sure which one they held higher.

Back at the hotel we packed and headed north again. It was a great ride through the rolling hills of Virginia. Our destination was a cabin in the woods and my long-time friend Janet, who lives there with her new cat Shadow. The first pet I ever known her to have and a great companion for her out here in the woods by herself.

Like many of the people you will meet on this trip come from our boating days. Janet lived on a houseboat in DC right down town on the waterfront for many years. When she retired from the EPA, though she worked on assignment with many agencies and even lived in Afghanistan, she sold the boat and moved to the cabin full time. She now spends summers in the cabin and winters in California near family in both places.

We had a great visit catching up on things and remembering old times. We bid our goodbyes and were back on the road.

We were off again through the rolling hills with absolutely perfect weather. We rolled into Shepardstown WV about five o’clock and commenced happy hour with our very close friend Alan.

 

George Washington set this post here in what is now know as 
Post Virginia

Cheap gas but we chose to ride on to buy gas where it is worth something.

 Just like my writing, I do not edit these videos either. Alan earned that apron after he paid Vicki to push me down in Paris last year and shattered my shoulder, so he could take my place at the Paris Ritz cooking class.

 Sep 14 Day 8

We spent three nights in around Shepardstown. One day we took Alan on a scooter training trip to Antietam Civil War battlefield across the river from his house. We has had this scooter for 15 months and it has 65 miles on it. We doubled the milage on his speedometer. We were able to get his speed up from 12 mph to 5 mph.

Fashion and good looks are more important to Alan than riding  ability

Sep 15 Day 9

The next day Scott and I rode up to Chambersburg Pa to meet our friend Roland who drove his 2CV down from Mechanicsburg. I had picked the Falafel Shack for lunch since most of our travels with Roland has been international. We all agree the lunch special was in fact very special.

beef and okra stew

This is a dyeing organization

Sep 16 Day 10

Sep 16

We packed our bags and after saying our goodbyes to Alan and Lawrence, who had just come in from Saudi Araba last night, and we were on the road again. Another beautiful day wandering back roads in perfect weather.

we did not see any

In Romney WV we went in search of the Romney Diner. It was on a side street and we circled the block but did not see it, so we stopped and asked directions. The lady said go back one block, turn left and it is right there. We did. I did not see it so I asked a gentleman on the sidewalk where it was and he pointed to the other side of the street and said “right there”. I thanked him and parked. The diner was three tables wide and three tables deep, as non-descript as the outside. We ordered the days special, Rubens with cabbage and a pickle.

The sandwiches were great as were all the staff of which there were many for such a small place, but I guess they did a robust take-out business.

Hunger satisfied; we went for a stroll through town. They have a courthouse from the 1800’s so we went in to check it out. People were friendly and told us to go to the second-floor courtroom. The building appeared to be pretty much unchanged. In the courtroom a gentleman from downstairs came in through a back door to the room.

We went on to learn that he was Eric Strite, County Clerk. A great person to bump into. For the next hour he told us the history of the building and the county. He took us into the basement and let us play with the record books from the 1860’s. As is often found the hand written notes are the most interesting parts. There were several detailing the snow fall and a drought when not a drop of rain fell between early June and the end of August. The exact dates where in the book but I could not remember them.

He then took us to the furnace room. The last building in the local government being heated by coal.

The folk story is that a union soldier was having a bowl movement
on this book when he was shot

There's coal in those hills

What luck it was to run into Eric. But I seem to do this often and when people comment on it, I tell them you can do the same thing. Just keep an open mind and for god sake don’t buy into the “be afraid” agenda that America seems to promote.

A great stop and we are on the road again. Meandering again with almost no traffic and wonderful scenery. There was just one problem, we forgot to gas up. There was no gas station on the map in front of us. So, we came upon Ben Shaver cutting the gas at his old homestead and we stopped to ask where the nearest gas station. He said it was in Brandywine, our destination, about 16 miles away. Though we decided we could make it, Ben insisted we take the little gas he had left over. Ben had been born 83 years ago in the homestead. He was in law enforcement for 41 years. He then went on to tell us the dangers we are facing in America with weaponization of the Federal Government. What the hell?????? Yes the government is arming for a coup!

Scott and I were stunned. Neither of us had heard this story before. How the hell did he come up with this story? We were to quickly learn how at our AirBnB. There were five tv stations at least, that broadcast right wing radical stuff. Gary Bauer was preaching everything that Ben had told us. If I just watch this stuff, I would be buying guns and trying to overthrow the government. Wild stuff.

Safely ensconced in our doublewide we decided we needed to stock up for the invasion and went in search of food. The only place was a carryout pizza joint. It was very busy but we had the pizza and a salad in about 30 minutes and retreated back up into the hills and watched Rockford Files and ate pizza.

 

 

 

Sep 17 Day 11

After a breakfast of leftover pizza and coffee we headed out on a big loop. Again, it was just another beautiful day for riding. Our first stop was Seneca Mountain park. Talked to the rangers and the interns there with Americorp. All very enthusiastic except for the ranger that was expecting forty Boy Scoots who looked like they were going to stand him up. If we had hung around, they said we could have some of Woodsy the Owle’s birthday cake. But we had riding to do.

Somewhere I took a wrong turn but it was the right turn in the end because it was a great narrow paved winding road over the mountain.

Back on track we headed for the Green Mountain Observatory.

We found a small gas station/ restaurant for lunch. It was a good lunch. Scott had chicken tenders and mine was so good I can’t even remember what I had.

Shortly down the road we came to Green Mountain. There were few tourists and we were able to hop right on the tour bus after the orientation. It was very interesting orientation and bus tour of the telescopes. The Green Mountain has the largest fully directable telescope.

We meandered back to the double wide and had leftovers for dinner.

Sep 18 Day 12

We started slowly today. We are headed for Floyd VA. We could not check into until 4 so we were in no hurry. So, we went to the only restaurant within 30 miles for breakfast. It did not open until 9, so we hung out in the parking lot and met some of the early customers.

Bethany let us in right at 9. The others went into the back part of the restaurant while we sat in the front watch the chef in the open kitchen. Scott got the special as it has country ham. I ordered silver dollar pancakes of the kid’s menu. The chef looked over my way and decided I was not a child like eater and sent over three medium size pancakes. I could only eat two.

Back the AirBnB we loaded up and hit the road.

First stop was at the Navy “Communications” Center for a photo. Not sure how they get the boats up here. The site was very neat and had family housing on the base with great security.

 Despite my best planning we ran into a gravel road along the Cowpasture River. Again, like the others, it was not a bad ride. Back on the road we came up on a motorcycle with a small dog setting in a cloth bag on the back. He seemed very comfortable and happy.

Not a lot of choices for lunch so we stopped at the only place on the route, Pine Top Restaurant. There were about 15 motorcycles in the parking lot but thankfully they had already eaten were heading out. We had to wait for a table to clean and took a seat. There was a menu but the main draw was the buffet and I fell for it. It had pan fried chicken and mashed potatoes and that sold me Needless to say we had ample food for lunch.

We arrived at Floyd Hotel just before the check in time of 4. The rooms were great. Big and well furnished with a great bed. There were Bluegrass bands in the yard and I had full intention of going down to see them. But two gin and tonics and a football game put me a sleep for about an hour and by then they were gone.

Sep 19

Our last day on the road. We were just headed for the barn so there was nothing exciting. Roads were good but a little busier than we had come accustomed to. Scott was leading as this was his country and I told him for lunch I wanted ribs, meaning to say east caroling BBQ. We stopped for gas he told me we were going to Hooter’s for BBQ. My fine “no” may have surprised but he picked another place called Steve’s.  Over lunch I explained to him that I rarely go to chain restaurants and it is forbidden on scooter rides. We are here to see new things not stuff out of a box. He totally gets it now as he was extremely pleased with Steve’s and is already talking about coming back. Seems his big priority was beer and he knew Hooters would have one.

We rolled down Hogan Farm Rd about 3 and called it a trip.

 

Sep 20

My flight does not leave until this evening, so we had time to do stuff. First stop was the restaurant at the NC Farmers Market. Nobody ordered country ham this morning. Then me, Peggy and Scott went over to the market to buy fresh vegetables for Vicki. I got field peas, butter beans and okra. There was a lot more that I wanted but I had to take that, Peggy's fresh pesto and NC Carolina BBQ also.

The market is located at Dix Hill the site of the mental hospital our Dad worked at. They had closed the hospital in the last century and there was a big fight over the land as it is massive. Fortunately most of it was retained as open space and parks. There are some low key building housing various government functions.

For some reason I said when I got home I wanted to go bowling. Scott said lets do it now and off went t Buffalo Lanes Cary. The Buffalo's have owned bowling alleys for ever and they are from our hometown of Garner. And in fact I went to high school with the owner of the Cary alley.

Scott called our good friend Herford, who lived near buy, to walk over and join us. So the four of began an hour of cleaning the gutters. I found out that my knee needs to back to rehab as it was very difficult trying to bend way down to deliver the ball. I had bowled since the 1960's and I do not need to bowl again until the 2060's.

Back on the farm we washed the scooters and packed my bags.

I said my goodbyes and Scott dropped me at the airport for an uneventful flight home.

It was a great adventure and I am glad I got to share with Scott. He has been by two wheel idle every since he started racing I think when he was 3. It was kind of him to slow down and smell the honey suckle with me.

1433 miles of scooter bliss

These are the tracks Scott usually rides at Brushy Mountain