Greg writes:

July 6, 2006
Some days are best defined by the use of time-worn cliches. Take "the hurrier I go, the behinder I get". That's a good one for Thursday, July 6th, as we tried valiantly to leave Boone and head towards Philly.

Our bags were packed literally 2 weeks ago, ready for the trip. Of course, as Lady Alice observed, all that really meant is that as we were rushing around trying to pack the bike, we couldn't remember what was in the *$#*#* bags!

The plan was for Dennis Booth to come up on Wednesday evening, stay with us overnight, then Thursday I was supposned to pack the bike from 8-10 a.m., go to a production meeting at 10, home by noon, out the driveway by 12:15... no chuch luck.

Dennis made it just fine, very organized and looking forward to his first long ride. The skies opened up about time he arrived, but he didn't get wet.

A local freelance gig called with an emergency that I just _had_ to come check out first thing Thursday morning... at 8. Okay, I'll do that, run home, then the meeting... no. Left the gig at 10:00, rushed to meeting, and it took until 2:15... arrived home at 2:30, quickly changed into riding clothes, ignored the debris field of clothes I left behind (they'll be there when I get back), and frantically finished packing the bike. Matt Alice and Dennis were good natured about it, as were Moe and Christine, who we were supposed to meet on I-81, BUT... heck of a way to start a vacation.

We rolled out of the driveway about 2:45, me grumbling and looking for puppies to kick (it's a joke, save the nasty e-mails). It occurred to me that in my haste that morning, I had forgotten to eat either breakfast or lunch. Bad idea.

Usually the troubles of the day will melt away as you ride. You drop a care or two in the first mile, a second set along the 3rd mile, and they're all gone about mile 10. No such luck. We were through Tennessee and into Virginia, along some really beautiful roads, before I was able to relax. Biblically, Saul had his epiphany on the road to Damascus. It took me until I was actually IN Damascus before I could relax. It also took a good ol' fashioned greasy corn dog, no mustard even, to get rid of the frantics. That partially hydrogenated oil hit my arteries like a teddy bear and a blanket to a toddler, soothing them and me back into the rhythm of the road.

Cherokee National Forest, with the river rushing beside the road, became beautiful once again. All the great curves and old houses became gentle swaying rockers and great history rather than slow-*** roads and abandoned eyesores.

We met up with Moe and Christine about exit 29 on I-81 in Virginia, and headed up 81. If there is an interstate that is pretty, it's I-81 up through Virginia. You can tell how old the working farms are which dot the countryside by counting the chimneys. I think I saw a "fiver" off in the trees. "Hearty" is the word that comes to mind when thinking of the folks who settled this region. What is an easy ride for us today is made possible because a swath of their impossibly hilly farmland was wrestled into shape.

We made it to Staunton Virginia last night, and stayed at Best Western. We got rooms "trackside", which literally means "beside the railroad tracks". As in, "don't open the windows and lean out" close to the tracks. 3 trains last night!

Wooo hooo! We're going up the Skyline Drive today, stop by Luray Caverns, and Harper's Ferry. Leisurely even. We're supposed to roll out in 15 minutes, at 8:30. I'll be ready by 9...

Around lunchtime, we dropped off Skyline onto 211, rode into Luray, and took the guided tour of Luray Caverns after lunch in the Stalactite Cafe. The views underground were amazing and humbling. When you look at the columns, flows, stalactites and stalagmites, and realize that of the 75 feet or so of formed structure, only about 1/2 inch was formed during your lifetime, it puts things into perspective.

Back onto Skyline Drive for the last 32 miles, then 340 east to Harper's Ferry.

After a couple of passes by the town, we were directed to Hilltop House, an 1878 structure that has been many things in its rich history, including site of The Niagra Movement, a precursor to the Civil Rights Movement. The six of us stayed in a "Family Room", which had 2 double beds and 3 singles. The buffet for dinner was great, the beds weren't too lumpy, and the floors were full of character and sloping planks. After a great sunset, Dennis, Moe and I relaxed on the veranda with the last of my stash of Cuban cigars. Good day. Very good day.

July 8, 2006
Harper's Ferry, the scene of John Brown's 1859 raid and seizure of the Armory, is a step back in time. The "Lower Town", where the Armory was situated, has been preserved, complete with cobblestone streets. We had breakfast at the hotel, and headed down the hill through some impossibly old neighborhoods to "Lower Town". We walked the grounds and listened to the movies and the guides until 11:30. After soaking up history until we were saturated, we left Harper's Ferry. It's a place with a tragic past (the town changed hands 8 times during the Civil War), and it's a town where I'd like to go back and spend 2 or 3 days. We then headed up 340 to Frederick, jumped on the interstate and headed around Baltimore to Philadelphia. All the beauty of I-81 is completely missing on I-95. No redeeming qualities. At all.

Someone might want to mention to these folks that if they're going to take up tolls to pay for the roads, perhaps they'd wantto put some of that money into actually fixing the potholes!

We arrived at Bill's safe and sound. Dennis is still with us, and will be going at least as far as Winchester VA on Sunday. We're trying to talk him into Athens Ohio at least...

Bill, by the way, lives in this really cool house in a quiet neighborhood. His mother is a whirling dervish of hospitable energy, and Bill cooks quite the feast. I highly recommend the experience. It was great to see everyone again, meet the new folks, and feel the energy starting to build. Tomorrow... the road

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Bill writes from home
July 8, 2006
It's Saturday and the Eastern group has come together at Bill's house in Lansdowne for a barbecue and to get acquainted with the new guys. The riders that made it here are Bill & Mikes Sapsis, Mike Maynard, Greg Williams, Alice Neff, Matt Williams, Adam Fitchett, Moe & Christine Conn and Dennis Gil-Booth. (he's the first member of our Eleventy-One Club and will be riding with us tomorrow.) Chase car drivers Rob Hamilton and Scott Miller were on hand as were Sarah Gowan, the LRLR webwrangler, Joe Norton from BC/EFA and Lori Rubinstein and John McGraw from the Behind the Scenes program. Several friends, neighbors and SRI staff rounded out the party. Cris Dopher couldn't make it to the party but will be meeting us at the Art Museum tomorrow morning.

We did receive some bad news. Pat Barnes can't join us due to some last minute work conflicts and Scott Henkels had an accident on the way here. He hit a deer in upstate New York. He called in to tell us that with the exception of some road rash he's OK. He's not sure about the bike, though and won't know if he can meet up with us in Ohio until sometime during the day tomorrow. We're all very relieved he's OK and hope that he can still meet up with us.

Both Joe and Lori thanked the group and told us how important our little band is to their programs. The weather cooperated and we all had a very nice day. Now it's time to finish packing and get some sleep. We meet at the Art Museum for photos and then we're on our way.

Be well
Bill