Wednesday Evening - June 17

Got up this morning at 6 am and got my handy-dandy little one burner cook stove out and heated water and fixed my oatmeal/flaxseed breakfast and made coffee (I taped my french press together. It leaks but I can get a cup of good coffee). Looked at my maps and realized that I was going to have to do the Dragon Tail again. One good thing is that I left earlier than the other bikers so I didn't have any of those hot-shot sport bikers on my tail pushing me, so I took it nice and easy. Bought myself a bumper sticker for my aluminum boxes that says, "I did the Dragon Tail." Should have gotten two!

I am now in Gates City, Virginia, just north of Johnson City, Tennessee. I had hoped to make it to Kentucky but it started pouring rain, and when it rains here it gets right with it! I stood under a business awning for an hour waiting for it to quit. Some guys in the business came out and told me there was a Days Inn around the corner, so I gave in and here I sit. I won't lose any time because I will just go into Kentucky until I find a gas station and get my receipt for that State and then head up through West Virginia to Maryland. I don't mind riding in "regular" rain, but when it pours like it has the last couple of times, I have gotten rained off the road because I can't see - and that could be a problem! The forecast for the entire East Coast for the next week is for rain. One good thing is that it seldom rains for more than an hour, and then I can be back on the road again.

Hadn't really budgeted for all these motel stays, but sure am appreciating sleeping in a real bed. Am enjoying reading the texts from many of you. Thanks for reading the blog. Dee