Appalachia and DC
July 23
We left Atlanta this morning, after breakfast with Tim at a Waffle Houses. We headed north into the Appalachians, and about an hour later started cruising an epic motorcycling road that wound up into the mountains.
At 4000ft, we crossed the Appalachian Trail, and stopped at an outfitting post frequented by folks who hike the trail.
We really could not get pictures that did justice to this day, but it was by far the most fun riding we had had. Great scenery, very very green lush forests, cool weather, good roads, and little traffic. It just doesn’t get better. This picture of the GPS shows just how cool the road is:
We planned on camping tonight, but the only local campground was more for RVs, so we hit a hotel. One of these nights we gotta use all this camping gear we dragged along.
July 24
With rain in the forecast, we spent most of the day riding on bigger (straighter) highways. It drizzled on and off all day, with the temperatures in the 60’s. Stayed dry most of the time, but we did stop and get Sam a pair of fancy waterproof riding gloves. I hit Lowes and got some warm glove inserts from the garden section for $4.
At a gas stop, we ran into a fella on a Harley even more loaded that we were. He had his wife riding behind him, and a kennel on the back of the bike with two Jack Russells riding in it, all while pulling a huge trailer with camping gear. He told us to check out the Gemini capsules at the Air and Space museum in DC. He was on the crew that recovered the one on the left as we go into the Museum.
We finally pulled into a small hotel in the mountains around 7:00pm after covering only 300 wet miles.Â
July 25
We woke to a down-pour this morning. I tracked the storm on an internet weather site Chris Whyley told me about, and after about 90 minutes, the radar showed we had a small window to get out of it, so we took off. Had to ride in the drizzle for 45 minutes, but after that, the day was nice. With warm cloths, waterproof jackets and pants, and full helmets, we are perfectly dry and happy riding in the rain, as long as it is not so heavy we could not see well. It’s a very strange feeling, and I’m sure everyone in cars who saw us thought we were miserable.
We hopped off the highway and into the mountains again, riding up into the Shenandoah national park. There is a Blue Ridge Highway and a Sunrise Highway that travel across the mountain ridge. The afternoon riding was spectacular, and with the rain the previous night, the highway was perfectly clean making it even nicer.
We rolled into Washington DC around 4:00 today. Did a quick stop in to the NRA’s National Firearm Museum and then over to the hotel. Uschi got us reservations at an awesome hotel in Georgetown. It’s sure nice to have a couple days in a 4-star when most of our hotels stuggled to keep the one star they had. The bell-guys had a good laugh at us when they saw how much luggage we were carrying on the two bikes.Â
We walked down to the National Mall tonight, and visited the Wall. Another great experience, and a very moving place to see.
Glad to hear that things are going well with both of you. Tim is here and we played 18 holes in 90 degree + weather. Hope it cools down when you get this way.
Comment by Grandpa Sonnenberg — July 26, 2007 @ 5:41 amSee, I told you you could have taken Rufus and Polly. You could have had a kennel on each bike. Wish I were there, a rain storm actually sounds like fun — sure beats coastal fog. Love you guys!
Comment by uschi — July 26, 2007 @ 7:01 amI understand you are headed to my bro’s house in Shillington, PA for a short visit. If you get there, ask my niece about the shopping cart when she took me for a drive over the 4th. I’m not going to explain it, but the look on her face will tell all.
Comment by Uncle "C" — July 26, 2007 @ 10:16 pmOff road racing on August 10 in Bark River, Michigan—just a few miles out of Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula—
Comment by tim sanchez — July 26, 2007 @ 11:44 pmgreat trip and reporting— :yeha:
Comment by tim sanchez — July 26, 2007 @ 11:45 pmTim,
Comment by john — July 27, 2007 @ 6:08 amDang. We would we both love to make it to Bark River, but Sam has to be back in S. Cal on the 13th to start school. ( We’re going right through Escanaba on July 30th or so. ) 🙁 :
Thanks, and we’ll see you in Baja!
Dear Sam and John, Tim visited us for four days and left today. We enjoyed him very much. He brought his guitar and we noticed his singing voice has become very pleasant to listen to. He and Rich enjoyed playing several rounds of golf . (We have been entertained very nicely by Tim and you two!!!) Love you.
Comment by Marilyn Sonnenberg — July 27, 2007 @ 5:01 pmWe’re looking forward to seeing you both tomorrow! Sounds like an exciting trip. Oh, and “uncle c”, I think you forgot a part of the story…
Comment by Kristine — July 27, 2007 @ 6:40 pmHi guys:
Comment by wendy Drayton — July 29, 2007 @ 2:20 pmWhat an awsome trip, great photos, and wonderful notes. Thanks for sharing. This will be a trip you both will never forget.