The day started out as planned; back on the extraordinary Blue Ridge Parkway. The views were picture perfect as we wound around the peaks above the Appalachian mountains and valleys. We were in awe of the beauty we encountered at every "over look" and the virtually deserted road with its never-ending swerving pleasures.
But then came the decision to get off the Parkway (temporarily) to see if the Honda dealer in Boone, North Carolina (yes, named for Daniel Boone) might have a replacement bolt and washer to fix my helmet. It was necessary to hold the hinged visor in place (without which it would be somewhat difficult riding in rain). Despite relying on my GPS, the dealership proved to be a considerable distance (some 30 minutes through the town and 10 miles the other side). We arrived only to be told they had nothing that would even serve to work temporarily. Worse, I gave the one remaining bolt to the fellow there and didn't remember to get it back. So I now needed two bolts and washers. We figured we were so far off the Parkway that we would head for a freeway quite close by and take it to rejoin the Parkway some distance away. That took us to Mountain City, in Tennessee (again) where we noticed a motorcycle shop that found us the workable temporary fix for my helmet (so we bought 4 just in case).
At lunch we decided that rather than get back on the Parkway we would take a back road into Virginia to Roanoke. What a delightful choice (the back road that is, not Roanoke). Towns such as Check, Statesville, Fancy Gap, Dugspur, Blooming Laurel, dotted the picturesque countryside. The Parkway, while naturally mesmerizing, was missing this part of Americana.
White churches and white houses set in very green grass yards were abundant. We saw more people mowing lawns than you could imagine. Of course, there were an abundance of trailer homes with numerous car parts littering the yard, but that seemed just part of the economic reality rather than a lack of pride. Without exception all the people we met (older than average, "how y'all doin darlin'" waitresses; large, grease-stained overall dressed smokers outside the general store/coffee joint, or even seemingly apathetic grocery store teenage shelf stockers) were proud of their "purdy country", as they have a perfect right to be.
We travelled a total of 505 km (300 miles) but enjoyed every minute of it (dodging rain storms and staying dry helped - thunderstorms are forecast for this whole area for the next week, but we have had less than 6 hours of real rain over the 15 days on the road).
Of note: we have now travelled more than 10,000 kilometers (6500 miles). It has truly been everything we had hoped for and more.