Blue Ridge Parkway Trip - Day 5

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Traveled from milepost 248.1 to 279.1

Still have that swollen eye. Took some Benadryl last night, but I don't think it really helped. It doesn't itch, just hurts a bit, but I guess the fluids just pooled right in my eye overnight since it looked as bad this morning as it did yesterday, if not worse.
 
Anyway, the day started rainy. We had breakfast at BJ's Pizza and Subs just next to the hotel. Soon after that we headed towards the parkway again. Due to the construction we had to skip about 20 miles. They guys started riding from milepost 248.1. Karen and I went back to route 18 to take a picture of a jail/wedding chapel, I thought it looked a bit funny. Then we headed down the parkway and stopped at the Northwest Trading Post. It was a nice little store with clean facilities. I bought some fudge and pecan tarts. Jeff, Joe and Mark caught up with us at the Trading Post also.

At front entrance of BJ's Pizza & Subs, Sparta

Starting point of Day 5

At the starting point. This is how Joe, Mark & Jeff feel about the rain

Off they go again in the pouring rain

Jail & Wedding chapel on N.C. Rt. 18 near BRP

We decided to stop at mile marker 279.9 at Cascades parking overlook and see what the cyclists wanted to do. The weather hadn't gotten any better, cold rain and wind and lots of fog. Visibility was pretty bad. The guys arrived there and Jeff and Mark decided that they've had enough. Joe still wanted to keep going till the end of today's planned ride destination, at milepost 293.5. So Jeff and Mark and I drove to Boone NC and found a very nice hotel for us for the next 2 nights. We are staying at the Comfort Suites. After settling in and a warm shower for the guys, Jeff, Mark and I went and had lunch at Troy's Diner , which is more like a 50's style burger place.

Our hotel room at Comfort Suites, Boone, N.C.

Front lobby, Comfort Suites, Boone, N.C.

Troy's Diner, Boone, N.C.

Soon after Joe and Karen arrived. After some rest we met for drinks at the hotel. They have a complimentary cocktail hour every afternoon. Then we went and had dinner at the Coyote Kitchen  in Boone. Some weird looking paintings on the walls, and they were on sale too. Dinner was good and I think everybody was quite full, except Jeff, Joe and Mark who went back to Troy's for milkshakes.Tomorrow is a rest day, we have to see what we are going to do since we haven't decided yet.

The three musketeers; Joe, Jeff and Mark, and what they thought about today

Paintings for sale @ the Coyote Kitchen

my dinner @ Coyote Kitchen, soup, sandwich & salad