Thunder-ration

Once again, we slept in until 7:30 & good sleeps too! A very light breakie here at the Day's Inn, but we take fruit too, for the ride and after loading up, Don & I take off for the BRP. It's George's time to drive & he will head for Roanoke & our hotel for the eve..a Holiday INN! Will he park on the Blue Ridge or go to the hotel? Up to the Parkway at MM 200 & off we go, northbound for MM 121. It's a beautiful day, but storms are predicted for the afternoon-40% chance. (Sunny & 75 at the moment-9:15) We stop for a few pics, some historical markers & a pretty long break at the Mabry Mill, where we have a picnic by the mill pond & a few ducks. Be sure & get more water & back on the road, hoping to meet up with George about 55-60 miles up the BRP. But first, we stop at an overlook-of which there are many-and Don finds a woman in need of help. it's Juanita, from Floyd, VA & her car is dead & wants us to call, but we don't have any service. We go on to the next area, where Don finds some Park workers & calls the number she gave us & they will go up & check on her. OK, a good deed! Off we go and here comes George at about 64 miles & now we're together & the car is at the Hotel. It's been thundering a lot & we've apparently missed some rain, but it's getting darker & more thunder. As we approach the massive 11 mile downhill into Roanoke, it starts to rain, so we stop & put on our rain gear, but it gets much harder & we stop to try & get out of it, but the lightning is really bad. About 45 minutes later, it lets up & off we go downhill, with our brakes on, being very cautious, but finally ,shaking and all, we get into town & take the route over to the huge 5-story hotel. We get a few rags to clean the bikes, check in & hit the showers. Today's stats: 86 miles & 7400' for me & Kirkwood. George gets 44 miles & 4920' of climb & we're pretty wet after all that, and I think there was some hail too, but not while we were riding. Off to supper, after some good Ole' boys jump start our car-we left the lights on!- and we pick a great spot! Montano's International Restaurant, and talk about beer choices! let's have a local micro-brew! The food is FAB! Spaghetti, with clams(me), spaghetti with meatballs (Don), George had the shrimp Montano & a great waiter, Chip. Back to the room to blog, check the weather & plan for tomorrow. (Can't even get dem Stillers on TV.) It's 9:30 & we're still up! Kirkwood will be gone real soon.