Parkway ride

Woody Crenshaw, owner of the Floyd County Store -- home of the Friday Night Jamboree -- and a friend from England rode their bikes down to Maggie Valley, North Carolina, this week. I didn't have time to make the full trip with them but rode along on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Tuggles Gap on Virginia Rte. 8 into North Carolina for breakfast at Bluffs Lodge in Doughton Park, a ridge of about 75 miles.

After loading up on cholesterol and coffee, they headed south and I went back north to U.S. 21 and crossed over to Sparta, NC, to pick up U.S. 221 for a ride back to Floyd via Independence, Galex and Hillsville.

The four lanes of 221 were virtually empty from Independence to Galax but I went through some beautiful country along the way. The reserve light on my Sporty came on just north of Independence but I've learned from past experience that I have at least two gallons left in the tank when the light pops up so I stayed on the road to Floyd, arriving just in time for lunch with local blogger Fred First.

Did notice the leaves are starting to turn on parts of the Parkway. Colors should be out in full in about a week or so.