I returned Friday from a quick trip to Myrtle Beach. I traveled with a good friend Russ. He rides a 2000 Valkyrie Interstate. We left St Louis, MO. on Sunday morning in the middle of a thunderstorm. The forecast was for all day storms, but we ran out of them just south of St Louis. That was the last of the rain until the day we returned. We rode south on I55 to Memphis and picked up US72 to Huntsville, AL. US72 is a nice ride. The scenery is not spectacular , but it is still a good ride. We stayed the night in a motel, Best Western, I think it was.

We take turns with the motels. It seems to me that Russ always ends up with a good motel and cheap prices. When it is my turn we seem to be in the middle of nowhere with nothing around but rundown motels with high prices. I did luck out down in Naples, FL on our last trip. I got probably the best room we have ever had the good fortune to obtain. It had two large TVs, a computer, two rooms with couches and chairs, hot tubs (two), swimming pools and only cost $69. They were out of the cheap rooms I asked for and substituted this one.

We woke up early Monday morning, had to stay ahead of the rain, and headed southeast on US431 to Gadsden, AL where we picked up US278. We ran that to Rockmart, GA and picked up SR113 over to SR20 to avoid the traffic in Atlanta. Well not to sure that was a good idea. SR20 has about a thousand stoplights before we got into Athens, GA. After leaving Athens we took US78 to US378 on into Colubia, SC. It was my turn for the motel. I opted for an Economy Inn instead of the Days Inn....my mistake. Cost was $50 and turned out it was temporary housing for homeless people. Nothing against homeless people, but there are some characters there. Shortly after we checked into the room it started storming. We walked (ran) to the local Hardees where we met at least one of the dumbest people in GA. I'm not sure why they let her handle money or even food.

Tuesday morning brought us cool partly cloudy weather. We ran US378 to US501 and on to Myrtle beach. We stopped at 501 Honda where they had some vendors set up for the big Myrtle Beach Rally. I decided to get my bike pinstriped. It took about 3 hours so we had plenty of time to take in the displays and chat with other riders. We did not have reservations so Russ ran across the street to a Microtel and once again got a really nice room at discount rates. After Ray Herro finished pinstriping the bike we took a ride to the beach area. The whole thing was a little too crowded for me. Not as bad as Sturgis, but bikes everywhere. A lot of profiling. One loop and we decided we had seen about all there was to see without actually getting involved in the insanity. Back to the local fast food joint for supper then to the motel.

Wednesday morning and we were heading towards Virgina to pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway. We took US501 into NC where we picked up SR38 to US52 on over to the Parkway. This was the first time I have ever been on the Parkway that it did not rain. It made up for it with the cool temperatures. Before we got to Asheville, NC I had my electric vest plugged in to keep warm. I hated to wear it. Russ does not have one...lol. We had one detour on the Parkway due to the road being closed, but were able to get back on without getting lost. When we got off in Ashville, SC I passed up the first motel, hoping to improve my record. It worked. We stayed at a Best Western complete with coffee maker and ironing board. It was only a dollar more than my Economy Inn adventure. Asheville must hold some sort of record for resturants. There must have been one of every kind in the area where we stayed. We settled for Outback and ate a $25 supper. I had been having problems with my brake lights so Thursday morning when we got up I went out, took off my seat and disconnected my spoiler/brakelight flasher and my brake light problems went away.

The Blueridge Parkway was closed just west of Asheville so we headed south and picked up US64 to US441, a few backroads later we were in Helen, GA. There was supposed to be a Valkyrie get together over the weekend, but I guess we werre a little aarly as we did not see any Valkyries. We had a Wendy's double cheese and a Frosty before heading towards home. We ran north up to US78 and took it over to Dalton, GA and picked up I75 over into TN where we jumped on I24 and headed west. Just before Paduca, KY I picked up the weather report on the weather radio. The news was not good. Severe storms with hig winds and hail were being reported in Paduca so we decided to call it a day. It was already dark so we were ready to stop. Russ's turn at the motel again. Another Best Western, another good choice.

Well Friday morning and it is still raining. We are only about 4 hours from home so we decide to hang around the motel for a bit after breakfast. There was a good movie on cable, but right in the middle of it they started talking spanish. I guess I will never know if they hung that guy. The rain had slacked up some so we put on our rain gear and left the motel about 11AM. About 15 miles up the road it quit raining. We ran in the dry until Mt Vernon, IL where it made up for it. Lot of rain and wind all the way on into St Louis. Just before we crossed the Mississippi River traffic came to a standstill. Some unfortunate had wrecked his pickup on the bridge and traffic was stopped. We sat in the rain on our bikes while I listened to the truckers on the CB talking about the idiots on the bikes getting soaked.

All good things must come to an end and sure enough the traffic started moving and after we crossed the river I waved Russ a goodbye and headed off the final 50 miles to my home here in Troy, MO.

All said, it was a good trip. I guess I should have taken more pictures, but we seem to do our sightseeing as we move. I did take a few pics on the Parkway. Most of the trip could not be expressed with pictures. The smell of the honeysuckle and other wild flowers as we traveled across the two lane roads, the wildlife that suddenly appears and disappears and the sounds, or lack of, on the secluded parts of the ride. These things you just have to experience for yourself.

Well, now I'm ready for the western states in July.