Day 15 Sunday 17th April 2011
The weather was still blue sky and sunny as we looked out from our Motel 6 room but it was cold. We loaded up the bikes and had our complimentary coffee from the Motel 6 reception and we set off back along route 33 to Elkton (still an empty parking lot at the motel that turned away two days before) where we rejoined Skyline Drive for some more spectacular scenery and wildlife.
Just beneath Waynesboro the Skyline finished and the Blue Ridge Parkway began. Quite a noticeable difference between the two drives. The Skyline more trees and mountains and the Blue Ridge more open spaces along the route. By the time we got to Roanoke we needed to get off the Parkway and get some more fuel. We decided that we were all Blue Ridged out and looked at the map for an alternative, more inhabited route and we came upon route 221 which we duly tried to find – unsuccessfully until we stopped at a gas station and two friendly bikers led the way through some back roads onto our chosen way.
The 221 turned out to be an excellent choice and, as we headed further South, we noticed and dramatic increase in the number of churches along the wayside. “Church of Jesus”, “Episcopal, “Baptist”, “Church of the Living God”, “Church of Repentant Sinners” – you had them all - we were gradually being sucked into the edge of the Bible Belt and once over the North Carolina State line it all intensified again. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Christians but there is a limit !
We had done the best part of 367 miles by the time we hit the Best Western in East King Street, Boone, North Carolina and we were ready to stop. Check in and a shower soon put the World to rights and we made our way to the nearby shopping centre and found us a nice little Chinese restaurant.
Full to the brim we puffed up the hill to the hotel where we dropped onto the beds and caught up with our emails.
I also tried out mapping our progress on the bikes only on google maps so I hope that this link works - the journey so far - just click....
Round the World - map so far
The map of your route so far is really good. Wave to my sister as you go past Nashville.
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