We did have a brief conversation about where each of us live. His English was broken at best. He must have seen me praying before I ate as he said “God be with you!” as he just left.
I hope this comes out It’s Les Paul and Mary Ford singing the old ballad Vaya Con Dios yes I’m old enough to remember this
I rode up Interstate 75 from Fort Myers to Lake City this afternoon, about 300 miles. As I was leaving the Waffle House, I programmed my Waze gps app for my destination in Lake City. It said I’d arrive by 4:00pm. Great, I thought, well before dark and the rain that’s expected after 5:00. Holiday traffic was so heavy on I75, and there were so many miles long traffic jams, that I didn’t get in to my destination till 7:00, after riding an hour and a half after dark and through intermittent rain showers. But I did make it here safely. Yesterday and today were the two longest days on my Honda this trip. Yesterday I was riding for about 7 1/2 hours total, about 290 miles. Today was about 300 miles, and 7 hours riding time. (I usually can’t ride or drive that long in a day, but I have a prescription for Adderall that’s prescribed to help me stay awake when I can’t nap and I take it sparingly, only when absolutely necessary. “Better living through chemistry!”) I’ve traveled 2,000 miles so far. I have another 1,000 miles to get home to Virginia. God is good, and His Providence is perfect. There have been SO very many answered prayers this trip.
Today’s the first day I’ve had of riding in heavy rain. It ain’t fun. I still have 160 miles to get to my hotel in Macon. Rain is forecast all the way. Ugh. No more camping this trip, thankfully. Leaving Lake City Florida this morning:
I pulled in to my hotel in Macon Georgia at 7:00pm, very cold, wet, and extremely exhausted. I pumped up the room thermostat to 80• and took a very long steaming hot shower. Now I’ll go move my bike from the front entrance. Hope they didn’t tow it…
I've enjoyed all your commentary, Brian. May Mary cover you with her Mantle (without blocking your vision) during this final leg. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
I left Macon Georgia this morning in bright sunshine but a cool 40• Roads were dry. Beautiful, glorious day for a fall motorcycle ride. I got in to FatimaPilgrim’s near Cleveland Georgia before 4:00. I’m “roughing it” in his guest house. He said to help myself to anything in the kitchen. I brought powdered Maxwell House Cafe Vienna for camping so I brought that in and made a big hot cup with the fresh milk in his fridge. Then I saw Bailey’s Apple Pie liqueur beside the fridge so thought I better add some to the Cafe Vienna in hot milk. I think I’m on to something. This “roughing it” ain’t so bad!
There were snow flurries this morning at FatimaPilgrim’s near Cleveland Georgia. He and his gracious wife and their boys had me in for a delightful dinner and conversation last night. When I finally pulled out on the Silverwing it was a bright day, not a cloud in the sky, and a balmy 39•. Highs for today’s leg of my trip were forecast in the 40s. I was fairly well prepared for cold weather riding. I met another old friend from podiatry school and his wife in Dahlonega Georgia for lunch. We hadn’t seen each other in 30 years, so lots of catching up to do. I finally hit the road and journeyed up to Black Mountain Georgia, just northeast of Asheville. I have my Waze gps app set to avoid freeways since I’m pulling this trailer. As I came into Asheville this evening at dusk, it was getting pretty cold and my hands and feet were getting numb. The next turn popped up on the Waze app - turn right onto the blue Ridge Parkway for the quickest non freeway route. No way in hades was I going back on the Blue Ridge Parkway at dusk, after hitting a deer on the Blue Ridge Parkway at dusk, on my way south to Florida a week ago! (No damage fortunately.) So I reprogrammed my Waze app and pulled into my hotel in Black Mountain NC at 6:15. A quick glance at my weather app showed why it felt so cold the last hour of riding. It was 31• when I pulled in. That’s cold to be riding for several hours on a motorcycle, even with the “proper” gear. I have two more days of riding, then I’ll be home to Strasburg VA Thursday evening; approximately 2600 miles down, 400 to go. The views from my guest house porch this morning:
I will be quite relieved when you report that you are safely home. Its clearly been a wonderful trip but winter is moving upon us! Even in the South. Prayers ongoing.
