Spencer's first log

We started thinking about a trip to Canada early in the year. My old map of concentric circles from Rome showed we could do Nova Scotia in two weeks at a leisurely 250 mile per day pace. So we began to plan.

Early in the spring all hell broke loose with employees...I'll spare the details, but we thought ALL trips in the future would have to be cancelled. Heartbreaking, sickening, and sad.

I decided the best way to make it happen would be to start with new tires, service, and a few farkles. Porky demanded that we go. We started packing earlier than usual (two days prior), made arrangements at work and home, and got away around 8:30 Sunday morning.

I had a general idea of routes, distances, and time frames but had not actually plotted our course. Recovering old maps and the log book from our previous New England trip with the McElanneys brought back memories. I realized we had chosen a pretty efficient route then and would probably do close to the same this time. Our only firm date was to be in Portland on the 7th. Porky will do the rest of the planning and I was to execute the plan...to the uninitiated, we make things look easy.

Lunch at Kosta's outside Silva (2-1/2 hours from home) was the usual fare. Virginia said she didn't need anything else today...we will see.

I felt good about the bike. Always seems a bit heavy at first but the GS is made to travel. New Sargent seat feels good and puts me an inch closer to the ground; passenger, navigator, wife can now see over my head. We meandered a bit and stopped in Hot Springs where a bottle of water, a hike on the AT (50' feet at most) and look at the map put us into Tennessee.

We decided Roanke was too far for the day so we got a room in Wytheville. I pondered if one had a lisp, they would cancel the th and pronounce it Whiteville. Actually they pronounce it "with ville". A brief walk along the highway (threatening skies) got us back by dark.

I'm sure I will say it several times in this journal but this is the country, mode of travel, and life companion I dearly love.