The Blue Ridge Parkway

 

The end of extended trips are brutal, at least for us. We get in a simple routine that at this point feels more natural than being at "home". We've done a bunch of these things over the years and the same feelings keep bubbling up every time...

But before we allowed ourselves to get too far down that mental pathway, we stopped on our way south to hit part of the Blue Ridge Trail and The Great Smokey Mountains National Park. 

The Parkway spans several states and meanders through the Appalachian Mountains. It's kind of a must for bikers coming through the area and even though we'd been here before on our BMW, it was Kristen's first time riding her own bike. Lots of curves, well groomed, and smooth pavement.

Oh, and rain. My gear is really just a windbreaker at this point...

This place is not the worst.