July 14, 2013 - A Day to Remember

You know, even our view at the Waynesboro Walmart was nice...

Went to a 8:45 service called "The Awakening - First Cup" at the First Baptist Church in town, and sure enough, people were there with their cups of coffee, some a little groggy, but ready for worship!  

This early, more contemporary service was held in their fellowship hall.  Never heard of the songs before but I liked them! Especially the words to "I Refuse" and "Lay Me Down".  The sermon was entitled Heaven Help Us - really awesome talk basically asking, when you are shown the needs of the church - what is your first reaction?  And how much of a sacrifice is doing only what you like to do? That really hit home. And yes, it's important to use your gifts for God, but the greatest challenges will bring surprising rewards!   

Then Greg embarked on his toughest challenge so far - biking upwards into the mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway!   It was the first mountain ride of the trip.

While he went south, I took the jeep, meandered a bit... 

...then went north onto Skyline Drive.  I found out I was driving on Scott Mountain...nice name...

 

Ahhh...blissful moment...

Spoke to Greg.  He had to ride in a drain runoff area on the side of the road because of the cars and when he went to get back onto the road, the back tire didn't make it and he fell. Banged up a bit but continued on!  

After taking numerous pictures, that were kinda all the same, I decided to head south and see if I could catch up with Greg and hang for a while...

Stopped at the visitors center, got some waters and munchies and some cool stickers!!  

Just as I'm pulling up, I see Greg taking some photos of what I thought were hawks flying around. 






Then he gets in the car and we look up and see this...!!

It was so still we thought it was fake!!  But then it moved...

It had a weird looking head, not like what I've seen on a hawk.  Almost like a vulture!

So we just sat there amazed - this thing was huge! 

Then in my rear view mirror I see another bicyclist with the heavy packs like Greg has, heading up the mountain to where we are.  Greg had seen him earlier along the route. 

Enrique is also riding the TransAmerica route, all the way to Oregon.  He's tenting it across the country.  While the two of them talk shop, I took some more pics!  

We wish Enrique well on his journey...maybe we'll meet up with him again.

I think I took this shot of Greg leaving through my side view mirror 'cause it seems backwards...







And off he goes...

This is where we spotted the vulture or whatever it is...on this craggy tree...

 

So I hang here for a while, taking some more pictures...

I see "the Bird" again and catch a pic of him flying...

...and follow to where he lands!!  

It was so exciting to see him up close!  

Then back down the mountain I go...

I head back to the RV, pack up, and prepare to ride to our next destination.  Did some reading on how to down shift when going up the hills.  If I just keep it in regular drive, I can't get past 35mph, which isn't so much fun when cars AND trucks are whizzing by me at 70.  So I did the down shifting and it worked!  No, I didn't go 70....but I did go 60!  I'm always grateful when I can take expressways instead of little roads!  Less nerve-wracking! 

"Jill", the GPS pulls another fast one...has me go past the exit that clearly shows the way to the next campground, and sends me 3 miles further, only to turn around and go back! Then right on the expressway, way before the proper exit, she states that I have arrived! 

What a riot.

Interesting place for our newest stop.  It's really a huge truck stop, complete with a store for parts, service center, showers, laundry, restaurant - all geared to taking care of the truckers.  I think the campground, up higher, in the back, was an after-thought!

Settled in, unhooked the jeep and rode off to find Greg.  Encountered some cows.  

I think this one wanted a little space of her own!

Drove through some sleepy little towns...kinda reminded me of Sharptown, Maryland where my grandparents lived many years ago.
  

Maybe I romanced it a bit in my mind, but I absolutely loved it there...the peacefulness and slow pace of it all...aunts and uncles and cousins would make their way down there in the summer and stay for a spell. There were big ol houses with porches, Nana and Pop had a tree in the back yard big enough to shade the entire family from the heat of the sun, fields of grapes, fresh green beans from the garden, the crooked sidewalks as you'd make your way into town, the sawdust on the floor at the grocery, the soda pop shop, Nana had a sewing machine you had to pedal with your feet to make it work,  And they had THE best bannister ever, to slide down, which I'm sure my brother and every single cousin will agree with me on!  Being with everyone, telling stories, laughing and singing all together was just about the closest thing to heaven for me when I was a kid.

I finally arrive in Vesuvius...

Greg had the most amazing ride - the best ever for him.  It was challenging but great!  He did about 39 miles, at times rode 38 plus mph and rode to an elevation of 3379 feet!


And...a black bear crossed his path - less than 200 feet in front of him!!  The bear stopped, looked at Greg, and then lumbered off into the woods!  Thank God!!

 As he unpacks his bike...

...I wander over to the tracks...

We get in the jeep, I start the car and head "home".  I see this store I had passed on the way to meet him called Gertie's and remembered Kathy's suggestion for the name of the RV...

...so I slam on the brakes and pull over to take a pic.  Before I pull back onto the road, I notice something slightly familiar laying in the road.  I had taken Greg's set of keys and started the jeep.  But had left mine on the back bumper.  If I hadn't stopped at Gertie's, they could've fallen off anywhere and we would never have found them!  

Miracles abound again!