Rough start to day. After some decent hotel coffee, Virginia dew covered everything and I think I need to start carrying a towel as per Mr. Adams… I suspected my tires were low on air and after loading up, set out in search of a gas station. A seemingly humble goal, it took over an hour to sort out after the exxon in town’s fancy auto-pressurizing deal cost me 3 buck in quarters and 15 psi in air. Couldn’t find any place else after riding through and around town until I hit upon a tire joint. The guy used and then gave me a little rubber valve stem extender that is now part of my core kit. He actually said while we were trying to figure it out “where there’s a wheel, there’s a way.” Love this guy and both of his teeth. I gave him a fiver for his first after-work beer.

Then, back to the BRP.

brp3

Some roadside attractions.

cabin

And finally after a nice pancake and sausage breakfast at Marby Mill, over to the NC side of the parkway. It’s even prettier here but my gopro battery gave up the ghost.

panorama1

Finally got off the BRP to head to Asheville and it was a slog. On day three of riding all day and starting to feel it but pushed on to Asheville which is to NC as Austin is to TX. Had a couple tasty local brews and a bison burger that was more cylindrical than burger shaped but I wolfed it down in about 6 and half minutes. Nice town. They celebrate weird here at the top of the smoky mountains.

Tomorrow is 2 hours or so to Deal’s Gap and the Tail of the Dragon. Then on to Chattanooga.