Night rider

With temperatures in high 80s Monday, I decided to ride to a meeting in Roanoke. We finished up just as the sun disappeared over the mountains Southwest of the city so I headed back up Bent Mountain at dusk.

I love night riding but it can be tricky in the mountains: Dark, winding roads and the ever-present deer pose hazards, as do the cars that pop out of side roads without warning.

The headlights of a following car fell back as I headed up the twisties of U.S. 221 on Bent Mountain. The road has several good turns that run for a couple of miles up the mountain and the Super Glide handled them with ease. Recent rains have washed the last of winter's gravel and abrasives from the road so traction was not a problem as I swooped the last of the turns and topped the mountain. The driving lights on my engine guard cut a bright swatch through the gathering darkness as I dropped into sixth gear and cruised at 55 for the 22 mile ride home.

No deer, no varmits, no wayward drivers...just a pleasant evening ride.