Ozarks 2025

 On our last evening, we ate at the Texas Roadhouse - where else would you eat? And after our goodbyes, we went our separate ways in the morning. My total mileage was 2,940.  Some thoughts on the trip: There is a "thing" which can best be described as the "Harley Wave." You make the wave by using the Boy Scout salute with your left hand, with a 45 degree downward angle. I've always viewed it as the exclusive province of Harley riders. As such, Harley riders typically would not give the wave to Hondas or other such contraptions. Now, Magellan rides a Honda. While we would make an exception for him because he's cool and has a Harley (sitting in his garage), my thought is that he uses his horn rather than a Harley wave. But that's just me This year, I received Harley waves from every manner of two/three wheeled vehicles: Honda, Kawasaki and the like. This includes Harley trikes and CanAn Spyders.  What is the appropriate response? They really should have a ...

Today is our last day traveling together. We will have dinner tonight, and go our separate ways in the morning. I've noticed a change in Magellan over the last year - he is kinder and gentler. He waves at people on the street, and often honks at them to say hello. And they turn around with quizzical looks on their faces asking themselves who is that guy on the motorcycle, and why is he honking at me.  There is an older woman staying in our hotel who reported that she has ridden the BRP and Skyline Drive on a bicycle over the last 13 days. That is approximately 600 miles, or 46 miles a day - up and down mountains. She was leaving this morning to ride her bike to DC. All I can say is that we rode our bikes the same distance, in three days. And our bikes weigh 1,000 pounds! I don't think I'll receive much sympathy or recognition however.  Our first obstacle after leaving Front Royal was a one lane road/construction. I bet we waited on the roadway 15 minutes.  Oh, the humanit...

  My motorcycle seat is still wet from two days of rain. It is made from alligator skin. How can it be wet? Gators live in water, and they don't get wet. It is one of life's mysteries.  Skyline Drive is a continuation of the Blue Ridge Parkway - it is effectively the same road. But Skyline has a 35 mph speed limit (compared to 45 mph on the BRP). It has fog lines on the roadway, a center stripe, and passing is permitted. They also charge a fee at either end, but there are two interim entrances where there is no fee station.  We saw much of the same scenery as with the BRP.  Buttercup found a lookout with a rock outcropping. He was in heaven.  There is a lodge and visitor center mid-way. Buttercup is a retail animal, and we could not get him out of the gift shop.  Skyline Drive was built by the CCC - a Roosevelt era/depression era jobs program that built much of the national parks, and is part of the national treasure which is the National Park Service. The ...

 I learned several things this morning. First, everything was wet after the rain yesterday. Second, creativity and a blow dryer make for dry boots. Third, wool socks dry much faster than polyester socks. Fourth, there is no such thing as waterproof gloves. All I can say is that I'm buying a hair dryer when I return home - but not for my head. We started on the BRP where we exited last night.  Trail's Cabin was very cool: Whatever you do, watch for bears! Mabry's Mill was also very cool. The north end of the Parkway was much better than I anticipated. Outside of Roanoke, we rode the spine of the mountain. These pics are from opposite sides of the road: And that is when the rains hit, but not nearly as bad as yesterday.  We finished the BRP, driving 242 miles. Tomorrow, it is the Shenandoah scenic drive.

 It was the best of days, and it was the worst of days. I began the morning with a renewed vigor for navigation. I have been in a fog the last few days, as I don't know the local geography. And with Magellan in command, I've had navigation vertigo. But today's journey was along a single road, and I felt my skills returning. It is pretty hard to mess up a drive along one road.  There was tremendous anticipation at driving the Blue Ridge Parkway: Just outside the entrance was a herd of elk. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a two lane, winding road where the speed limit is 45 mph. There is a lookout every few miles - each with a different panorama.  This is what the BRP looks going one way.  And this is what the BRP looks like going the other way.  That is my finger.  The language confusion continues. At lunch, the lady at the counter asked Buttercup what he wanted to eat, and he responded that he wanted a chili dog. I said, "I'll have one too." And so she made me tw...