Rode out early Saturday morning from NAVWPNSTA Yorktown, VA and met my friend Sam in Orange, VA (a small town north of Charlottesville, VA). Sam rode down from Manassas, VA.

We had been expecting rain for our ride. It was not raining when I headed out on W I-64 toward Richmond ... but, within about 30 minutes the rain started. We met up at Waugh Enterprises Harley Davidson in Orange.

"Hoss" Waugh is a nice guy and we had a cup of coffee and a hot dog while knocking around he dealership for a bit ... he has a nice little collection of bikes and memorabilia ... including a first year 1971 Super Glide and a 35th anniversary 2006 Super Glide.

We had originally planned on riding down the Blue Ridge Parkway ... but, the weather called for rain the rest of the afternoon between Orange and Roanoke, where the bike fest was being held at the Civic Center. So, we decided to just take the freeway and get there at best speed. We planned to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway on the return ride, instead.

We took Va Rte 15 South to Charlottesville and then I-64 West to I-81 South. As we headed west on 64, strong gusts buffeted us ... and about 10 miles west of town, in low visibility and fog we narrowly avoided hitting a bumper that had fallen off a car in the middle of the road ...! As we proceeded South on I-81, the rain got heavier and heavier ... with strong gusts ... visibility got so bad Sam couldn't see and motioned me to pull off the road.

We pulled off at Lexington and pulled into the parking lot at a Waffle House at the first exit ... we got off and sought shelter under the awning ... and, as we stood there the rain and wind picked up even more! We decided to go in and have a cup of coffee ... just in the nickel of time ... it started hailing with the wind blowing sideways!

After a half hour or forty minutes the rain let up a little ... so, we decided to press on ... within about another 30 min, the front passed and we rode about the last 40 minutes in clear weather ... and when we rolled into Roanoke it was a pretty, sunny Saturday afternoon.

We checked into the hotel and headed over to the Civic Center to take in the Fest ....

We stopped over and spent most of the morning at the Fest and took off riding the Parkway from Roanoke to Otter Creek ... then took 130 to 29 to Charlottesville. We parted ways then ... Sam heading back to homebase via 29 and me taking I-64E ....

A few photos ...

 

 

A 71 Electra Glide ...







... a 1935 45" Flat Head ....

 

Downtown Roanoke ...



St. Andrew's Church ...



Apple Orchard Mountain scenic overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway ...



Sam ... by his '07 Street Glide and my '05 Super Glide (or whatever it is now) ...



Our bikes by Otter Lake ...



... a beautiful ride today ... the weather was great ....

R/
'Chop

 

Great pics. Looks like you had a great time.

 

what a blast! great pics man, i have always wanted to get out that way!!!

 

I live 20 minutes east of Lexingotn. I would have gone but had to work Saturday but it rained so heavy it washed out my driveway which I had to repair on Sunday. This is the first time in 16 years the water broke the banks of our creek.

 

chop i saw your bike out front the civic center on sat. i went with 4 friends rode up on friday come home sun. rode the parkway, the ride was by far the best part. the show was better last year.

 

Got to ask, did you wear rain gear? It stopped raining around 6PM in the Richmond area. Had planned to ride down there with a few friends, but it was already raining pretty good in the am. None of us actually went down this year. Yeah it was sure nice out there yesterday.

 

I drove down I-81 today that road can kill you on a bike the pot holes are huge, I went through Ronoake this morning weather was good