This was going to be another 200 mile day. Riding the dirt and gravel yesterday took a lot out of us and we “cheated” by taking some of the easy paved alternatives later in the ride. We’ll see what happens today. We’ll be heading right up along the spine of the Appalachians most of the way up the West Virginia-Virginia border.

Before we got off this morning a large group of motorcyclists stopped in at the Depot Lodge for a break. This was an eclectic bunch of riders and machines with quite a few trikes and CAN-AMs. Thankfully, they weren’t into loud pipes.

We started off full of energy and enthusiasm again today, riding with abandon. Riding these roads requires focus and concentration, but it is exhilarating

Only trouble is, the physical and mental effort required to ride safely takes its toll. And it was getting into the upper 80’s which added to the physical challenge.

I was getting beat, and I was behind on updating my web site, so I broke off from the group and took the paved alternatives the rest of the way to the hotel. The small paved roads are enjoyable in their own way – although they aren’t as small as the dirt roads you still feel part of the landscape, and they are easier to ride, and less dusty.

I made it to the Smoke Hole Resort around 4 PM but found there was no cell or internet service again, so my web updates would be delayed yet another day….