Fog

Heavy fog on U.S. 221 at Bent Mountain Thursday as I headed towards Roanoke for a dinner ride with the Roanoke Valley Harley Owners Group. Kept the Sporty in second all the way down the mountain and emerged from the fog bank with the windshield smeared with water.

This was my first dinner ride with RVHOG. We were headed for The Homeplace family style restaurant in Catawba. I turned left onto Virginia 419 and headed for Virginia 311 on the other side of Salem for the seven mile run up Catawba Mountain.  Hit a little fog near the top of that 2,000 foot hill but the road stayed drive and I was able to maintain a steady 55 through the twisties.

I had wondered how many would choose to ride in the iffy weather and who would leave their bikes in the garage and drive cagers (cars or trucks). Got my answer when I pulled into the parking lot: Just me. Everybody else rode on four wheels.

The Homeplace serves family style, all-you-can eat, with friend chicken, roast beef, barbecue (on Thursdays) and country ham. We pigged out, topped it off with cherry cobler, and retired to the front porch to talk motorcycles.

Decided to avoid Bent Mountain and the fog on the way home so I turned right off 419 on the way home and took U.S. 11 through Salem, then through Elliston and Shawsville before heading up Christiansburg mountain. Clear all the way.

Stayed dry on Virginia 8 out of Christiansburg until I hit the Floyd County line. Then mist and fog. The bike was soaked by the time I pulled into the garage shortly before 10 p.m.