Day 10 – The Parkways End and the Journey Home Begins

We had some rain overnight – I’m still dry! The tent and motorcycle got a little dirty from sandy and stuff splashing up on them but all is well. Everything can be washed!

Today I completed the Blue Ridge Parkway. I rode all 465 miles of it sometime during the trip except the 2 areas that were detoured. I also completed the Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive (105 miles) today. After completing Skyline Drive I turn left (west) and started towards home.

I have very mixed feelings about this milestone. First, I am anxious to be home again with Cathy (my wife). Remember how I mentioned before about what a wonderful wife she is? Second, it just always feels good to be home and to sleep in your own bed. However, it is still difficult to leave the beautiful country and roads that I have been experiencing during this trip. I will always have the photos and memories to bring me back here.

It was 10 years ago that the family come to the Ashville N.C. area for a Honda Hoot Motorcycle rally that first showed me the beauty of the area and created the desire to return to more fully enjoy it. At that time “we” had a Honda Gold Wing with a double –wide sidecar. We put the motorcycle/sidecar on a trailer and drove down for the rally with the entire family. The kids don’t remember that much about it because they tended to fall a sleep in the sidecar when we were driving in the mountains! Those were the days!

Today I headed west through West Virginia. The roads and scenery are still nice (soon it will flat and straighten out again). One of the places I stopped was Seneca Rock which had a neat rock formation - see photo.

I have now logged 4,250 miles! Tonight I’m staying at the Cheat Canyon Campground near Kingwood W.V. The price is right - $5 to pitch a tent! Tomorrow I continue west into Ohio and towards Indiana. I have no special route planed – nothing in particular to see the remainder of the way home. I’m going to try to stay off the freeway as much as possible just because it not that enjoyable of a ride for me.

Onward and homeward!