Day 2 - the Sklyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkway

So we got up and got out of Front Royal, VA and proceeded to drive the famous Skyline Drive and it was a perfect day.  The road is super from the get go and in a few minutes we were riding up the mountains.  

Nice curves!

Great day for riding.  

Even the parking has curves.  

John and his motorcycle, yet to be named.  

John got this ladies phone number.  

John looking all suave. 

Red Velvet and "no name" taking a break.  

We had lunch at this place, decent lunch and lots of people watching.  

The guy sitting by himself is a 55 year old dude hiking the Appalacian Trail.  He started in January and hopes to be done in August.  At this point, he had hiked 900 miles and looked it!  Cool and interesting guy.  

Nice spot to relax.  

Ran into these hardcore ADV riders from PA and VA.  Cool dudes with lots of questions about Red Velvet and my trip to Alaska.  

The babbling brook near our campsite.  

I soaked my feet and the water felt great.  

We stopped at Otter Creek Campground ant got a spot for $16.   Nice site and we set up out tents but there is no cell or wireless service, we were gonna rough it.  My trusty tent.

John new tent, expertly assembled in 1 hour and 2 hours taking it down.  

 We then decided to find somewhere to eat and 20 miles or so later we arrived at the Pink Cadilac Diner, near Rock Bridge, VA.  

Nice place and good food.  

We headed back to the campground to finally chill.  

We sat around, drank a six pack of Miller Lite and told scary stories.  I explained to John that we were in bear territory and what to do if one tries to get to him in the tent.  I told him to use a knife and get out of the tent the opposite side of the tent by cutting his way out and bear spray was in my side case of Red Velvet.  

The fire was nice and it was about 72F when we went to bed. 

I got nice and cozy in my tent.  About 3 AM I heard some growling or something.  Then I heard a shout or something.  I was about 50/50 that something got John but the Miller Lite told me to stay in my tent.    I did not hear any ruckus so either John did not put up a fight or I was hearing things.  

So I woke up this morning freezing in my tent and used everything in the there to try to stay warm.  Morning rolled around and I would guess it was in the Forties temperature wise.  Oh and when John woke up he asked if I heard him shouting or something, turns out he had a dream about the fire burning a hole in his tent and then some animal came in with him and nestled next to him.   It was just a dream!  Onward we ride today, further south, now on the Blueridge Parkway.