Got up early with the intention of getting to the BRP high point by sunrise. As I saw the light heading up NC215, I knew I wasn't gonna make it. So I turned into the first overlook and looked around me.
Glow in front of me...
Full moon behind me...
Nice glow as I looked down the valley
Moon...
Predawn glow
I continued up to Jwilly's place since I told myself and others that I would. A ridge shades that location at sunrise, but still beautiful and will always be a meaningful place to me...
Orange Creamsickle. Courtesy of J. Williams.
I had intentions of continuing on to Newfound Gap before returning to the doublewide, but I was encountering fog/low hangin clouds so I wimped out. I also didn't have a certain riding buddy along to say hell yeah, ride all day! I figured I had used up some of my luck heading uphill solo in the dark, missing deer, black bear, and elk...all of which we have in these parts. I also had a short lapse of concentration after it was light heading to Jwilly's....ending up riding a curve half on the grass, half on the pavement. Wasn't any big deal, but I've had incidents that started out "...wasn't any big deal".
So I headed east and promptly found what sun does to a fogged up visor, so stopped for a bio break, changed shields and carried on the Lumberg tradition on a chilly ride.
Proof that I'm even shorter than I look...
boatanchor, 3rd class.