Strasburg to Galax September 9th

Left the Strasburg Hotel and its Ulyses  C Grant adorned walls. Officially Virginia is known as the Commonwealth of Virginia- It was also the first British Colony in the US preceding the Pilgrim Fathers settlement in Plymouth by 14 years. It was named by Sir Walter Raleigh after Queen Elizabeth (Virgin Queen) which I believe is a bit of irony because old Walter (he of Tobacco and potato fame) was reputed to have been one of her many lovers!!
Another hot day, but fortunately the skyline drive is mainly through wooded trees with the frequent viewpoints being open to the sun. I had to go back on myself to get back to Front Royal but the 10 miles soon passed and I was soon at the entrance to the ride. I was surprised when the rangers asked me to pay 15 dollars, I tried to get the 5 dollar discount for Seniors, but she noticed my English accent and informed me that this only applied to US citizens. The 15 dollars was worth it as for 105 miles I was on perfectly quiet, well maintained and sun free roads. It twisted up and around the ridge line with frequent view points and the occasional watering holes. Below is the first of these, which I didn't stop at but had to take the picture for my friend Richard Daulton.

 The ride was lovely but not spectacular, I did enjoy stopping for a quick drink and a sticky bun at one of the rest stops where I got chatting to a couple of cyclist who had biked up to the highest point where i met them. They told me how Frome was doing in the Vuelta and then proceeded to tell me that they were football fans and followed Chelsea, but more importantly they told me that Man Utd  v Man City was on NBC Sport on Saturday morning. As I write I have the TV in my hotel room on awaiting the broadcast. It is a very old TV so I am not confident it has all the channels and that I'll catch the match. The 105 mile ride took some time as the speed limit was 35 MPH and at the viewpoints I was always in engaged in conversation by curious Americans who wanted to know where I was from and where I was going to - when I mentioned South America there was always a look of concern on their faces. It started to make me laugh after a while. There are very few foreign number plates in the US so I often get waved at, I'm assuming its a friendly greeting and not a judgement on my driving.

By the time I got off the Skyline it was 1.30pm and SS was telling me I had 180 miles to go. So I bit the bullet and joined the Highway. Fortunately there were no tolls and reasonably light traffic. It was however 40 degrees and no shade. The hot weather makes me stop more frequently than I would back home as the sweat and the thirst limits me to about 70 miles. Unfortunately tea never appears on the menu, so its an ice cream and soft drink - though coke is wearing thin and yesterday I found myself buying water!!! By 4.30 I arrived in Galax which again is another run down town but a little larger than Strasburg. While walking down Main Street I passed many down an outs, one even had the gaul to make comment about my trousers coming from the 1980's - I told him they were making a comeback and they'd reach the US eventually!!
After a bite to eat I went back to my very basic Motel room and instantly fell asleep fully clothed  - I woke up at 4.30am. I am still adjusting to US time ad my body clock is not quite there. I hope to catch the footy soon but if not will try Radio 5 Live. My plan today is to drive to the Cherokee Indian Campground in the Smokey Mountains and eventually pull out my tent, so I must remember to fill up my stove with petrol, though I might try and find some plastic tubing to syphon off some from my tank.
I found myself singing my Uncle John's favourite song yesterday as I passed through the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia on the trail of the lonesome pine. It made me smile and think of him as I remembered him best, laughing at the antics of Laurel and Hardy. Happy Days.

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