The downpour let up at the Shady Farms bar in Sperryville and due to the deficiency in local lodging

Flew out of work, the fleet flight of Friday before a holiday weekend. Everyone cracks a smile upon stepping out of the concrete and glass coffin of the corporate bed and breakfast accommodation florence work week. The motorcycle is quickly gassed and loaded, I leave Washington DC at three-thirty, vowing not to check the time for the rest of the adventure. Adventure, the American adventure bed and breakfast accommodation florence of the open road is what I seek. The road, my cameras, and escape.
Right turn off of 15th St. NW and I'm motoring past the Washington Monument and the White House. Harleys and clones are already lining the Mall for the annual Memorial remembrance that is Rolling Thunder. I'm soon over the bridge and on I-66 west. I plan on avoiding major highways when at all possible. Preferring scenic byways to drab highways. 66 is a necessary evil to flee the DC metro area as quickly as possible. At the start, 66 is a good quick run, for awhile anyway. Loads of Rolling Thunder riders are heading in 66 eastbound.
I keep the ubiquitous two fingers down to the side salute to fellow bikers out for extended stretches of time. In my experience, HD guys return the acknowledgement about 30-40% of the time. No big deal, some animosity exist though between different bike cultures. bed and breakfast accommodation florence Motor-ism two-wheel stereotypes. However with the Rolling Thunder guys there is a noticeable increase in response, perhaps due to no longer just one biker acknowledging another, but a patriotic sharing of support and remembrance for those left behind, POW-MIA.
Traffic worsens further out 66 and I come up on a full HD dresser. Screaming Eagle back patch worked in with POW-MIA covers his vest and is topped by a "Run for the Wall" patch. I keep back a pace and we adopt the natural offset positioning of multiple riders.
After some 66 backup, stop-and-go, we strike up a staccato conversation bed and breakfast accommodation florence in the pauses bed and breakfast accommodation florence of the traffic flow. Where you been, where you going, see the rain coming? I tell him I'm headed out to the mountains, Skyline Drive and West Virginia. He says he's just in from there recently, was in DC for Rolling Thunder for the day and will be coming back in on Sunday again. His license plate is obscured by luggage, so I'm unsure of his port of origin.
Later on we part ways and my thoughts turn. Of my parents friends only my step-dad was drafted for Vietnam. Luckily, for us, he only went as far as Ft. Hood, TX, and came back with some good stories about army life and venturing into Mexico (at least the ones he's shared with me). I think about all the life he's lived since then, all his experiences and joys. Thinking about what all those who didn't return gave up, lost, when they didn't come home. The loss felt by those who loved them, families that have a name on the Wall.
Rain is sprinkling before Manassas. Enough to cool you off but not enough to get you worried yet, at least for a bit. Whooooo. Then come the big drops. I head off the ramp to gear up with the rain paraphernalia under the gas station pavilion. Finally get it all on and get strapped back up and out pops the sun and the rain stops. Too funny. bed and breakfast accommodation florence Now I have wet clothes on under the raingear. Rain gear now keeping the wind out that would dry me. I motor on as more rain is promised on the horizon.
This brings up a point about rain. People always ask, "What do you do when it rains and your on the motorcycle". I reply simply, "I get wet". Duh. Rain riding has never bothered me. On the straight highways it's no big deal. Just give more cushion to the cars in front of you. Drive like grandma bed and breakfast accommodation florence on the exit ramps.
My turning point is finally reached. bed and breakfast accommodation florence Off of 66 west and onto 647, Crest Hill Rd. at The Plains, VA. Crest Hill Road is my first slice of motorcycle heaven to be had this weekend. I'm delighted to find that the squiggly line I traced out on the map when planning this trip has translated so well in reality. The road is still wet from the passing rain clouds, and I give a small rabbit and then a chipmunk a near death experience. My first of many animal crossings this weekend. The road is fantastic. A mixture bed and breakfast accommodation florence of hilltop road and tree lined canopies that create forest tunnels. Speed limit is 45mph, 55-60 feels comfortable on most parts. Keeping an eye out for a hilltop barn to photograph that I've seen in my minds eye, lit by the sun breaking through the clouds and backed by the mountain vista. No luck on any of the barns actual placement to fit the mental picture I have framed.
Crest Hill Road and Fodderstack Rd is a long stretch. I take shots of a church and other buildings along Zachary Taylor Highway. Fodderstack bed and breakfast accommodation florence gives more of the same as Crest Hill, just a narrower road. The asphalt is of my favorite variety, freshly laid. Washington, VA is a tiny town of historic bed and breakfasts. Local wineries appear to be an attraction here too. Right after Washington the rain returns while I'm in route to Sperryville. Then it really starts to come down, a full on summer thunderstorm. Visibility is down. Road and parking lots soon resemble rivers. Rain drops of the monster variety explode bed and breakfast accommodation florence on the pavement, and you know it hurts when they hit you.
I quick soaking circuit of Sperryville confirms there are no local hotels . I duck into a barn shaped restaurant to wait it out. My drenched gear takes on bar stool and I occupy another. bed and breakfast accommodation florence There's a few flying pigs about. The bartender get me a hefeweizen, and recommends the angus burger. Locally raised and grass fed, we exchange jokes about my passing the burgers relatives on the way in.
Somewhere along Crest Hill road I decided to keep the cell off for the weekend. In addition no tv, newspapers, bed and breakfast accommodation florence internet, or e-mail sound like a good idea. Of course I now am studiously avoid eye contact with the two beautiful plasma's above the bar.
The downpour let up at the Shady Farms bar in Sperryville and due to the deficiency in local lodging I quiz the bartender for options. Over the other side of the mountain, the opposite side of Skyline Dr via 211 is Luray with lots of motels, but I want to save the mountain for the morning. The waitress suggest Culpepper, there being a Holiday Inn etc.
Stepping outside the sun has broke through the clouds again. Enough for some shots of Shady Farms Restaurant and a bridge. Heading bed and breakfast accommodation florence down 522, the Sperryville Pike, I keep an eye out for photo ops to catch the next morning as I'll be rerouting back through. Following bed and breakfast accommodation florence the mantra of Dale Borgeson about tour riding in the US, I aim to avoid large chain establishments, whether they are restaurants or hotels, and explore bed and breakfast accommodation florence the mom-and-pop local variety businesses. I have a dive-ish roadside motel in mind, Culpepper comes through with the Sleepy Hollow Hotel.
Before check in I ride through downtown historic Culpepper. bed and breakfast accommodation florence It's a cool place. The Shady Farm bartender had recommended the Culpepper Thai restaurant. bed and breakfast accommodation florence I see it but don't visit, still full from the meal earlier. Cameron Street Coffee looks like a great place, located in an old warehouse. Unfortunately bed and breakfast accommodation florence their closed for the night.
Shower and changed, room 102 at the Sleepy bed and breakfast accommodation florence Hollow Hotel. I hop back on the bike, refreshed and dry and ride through the warm night air back downtown. The coffee at the Hazel River Inn comes with a sweet fudge confection on the side. The peach and blackberry cobbler with vanilla sauce is divine.
The reconfigured plan for this getaway is to shed. Shed worries about the job, career, housing, and relationships. My motorcycle is therapeutic. It's 600cc's of Zoloft on two wheels. The road lifts my spirits. This wasn't supposed to be a solo run, and there are stretches of road where I feel the emptiness behind me.
I found Brown Bag Special in the cellar pub of the same restaurant I was in. On my way to the door the noise of the sound check floated up the stairs and directed my feet downward. Brown Bag Special opened the set, appropriately enough, with "I drink alone". The ol' man, Big Money, would have loved it. Drink alone started off a Big Money Blues trifecta to include "The Breeze" and "Mustang Sally". Then they made the mistake a lot of bands make that have a great lead guitar player. They let him sing. The lead guitarist karaoke sucked his way through a Tom Petty hit. He was so off key in his singing it made you appreciate the guitar solo's all the more for the relief they provided. Thankfully the regular singer soon resumed his duties and the night went on. More good stuff from the band.
Morning breaks on the Sleepy Hollow Hotel, a hot shower and I'm back on the bike. A quick stop downtown to shoot the Hazel Inn, then it's back on the Sperryville Pike. More stops to capture some sights seen yesterday. Mr. Mrs. Pump. The open mouth caricatures are an accurate representation of the current gas cost and the pumps eating your wallet.
I keep telling my daughter that her first car, college car, will be a hybrid. She thinks they are ugly. The bike isn't so bad, averaging around 40mpg. At about 180 miles on the tripometer I start to look for a refill, although I've pushed it to 211 miles before.
A quick left in Sperryville on 211 and up into the mountain, Blue Ridge Mountains and Skyline Drive. Heading up the mountain I get the first bite of the twisties I've been craving. The fee at the gate to Skyline Drive is well worth the price. Great scenery and fantastic views. The only drawback is the 35mph speed limit that is well enforced by the park rangers.
I shoot some self-portraits at Pollock Knob overlook. They're funny in that with all the scrambling and hurrying to be the camera timer, then trying to effect a relaxed pose. I've also broke out my old friend this trip, the Lubitel 166 , a medium format, 120mm film, twin lens camera. I'm like Jay-Z with this camera, I have to get it in one take. There is no digital bed and breakfast accommodation florence review after the click for instant gratification. As a fellow photographer it's "Point, Push, and Pray". I'll be interested bed and breakfast accommodation florence to see the results. Not that I've left digital behind. Carrying both cameras, I'm an analog/digital double threat.
After the self-portraits and some de