Our only duty, to take care of their dog while they were away.
I has been a good preview of retirement for me, and I mostly like it a lot.
Because my wife wanted to have her car up here, it ruled out hauling a scooter in my truck, and the weather was rainy on the few days it would have worked for me to ride it up, so I ended up arranging to borrow two rides while here.
First, my daughter-in-law's Honda Grom for a few days, then swapping it for friend Gregg's (Bueller) Vespa GTS250.
The Grom is fun but I look like a circus bear while riding it, plus it is slow and has a severe vibration in the bars and seat. The Vespa felt like a Cadillac in comparison, plus it is so familiar because of my experiences with my Vespa GTs.
I have had a few nice rides up to today, a long ride down to Landrum, SC to see a friend's farm and several rides to Weaverville, Marshall and Hot Springs.
But today was the best ride yet, a big loop to Cashiers and back.
It started down 191 to get out of town, then turning off onto the Blue Ridge Parkway heading southwest. I got off onto 215, also known as Parkway Road, a road much like the BRP with big sweeping turns as it ran down from approximately 5,500 feet.
I rode 215 to 1326, Macedonia Church Road to Blue Ridge Road to 64 into Cashiers. All the roads were fun and lightly traveled.
After a quick stop for a late breakfast at Bucks Coffee Cafe, I headed north on 107, a busy road that led to 281, Canada Road that led to 1756, Charlie's Creek Road back to 215.
I stayed on that past the Parkway, down to Canton. It was popular with motorcycles as I saw many on this stretch.
After Canton the roads became more ordinary as I passed I-40 to a four lane part of 63, then got off to head to a bridge that took me to 251 where I rode along the French Broad River back to West Asheville.
The more time I spend in the mountains around Asheville, the more I know that it has some of the best riding roads anywhere.
Bill
On the Blue Ridge Parkway.
On the Blue Ridge Parkway.
On Charlie's Creek Road.
On Charlie's Creek Road.
