The roads toward Hiawassee run the gamut from 4 lane mountain roads, providing significant elevation changes as well as a variety of fast, undulating sweepers, to two-lane rural type curvy roads. Very enjoyable.

Good news: The weather has cleared and it's now warmer. It looks like it will stay that way too.

There's a certain excitement as you approach moderately-sized motorcycle rallies. As bikes funnel in and converge, you find yourself riding amongst more and more bikes. First you pick up a few. While leaving a gas station, several go by and you tag along. Not intentionally, just that you are going in the same direction.

At subsequent intersections more add to the fray. Pretty soon, you're running the last leg into camp as part of a large group of bikes. Some are coming, some are going. You feel a palpable sense of happening, of growing excitement.

It's approximately 5pm as I roll in at rally grounds. It's been an interesting afternoon and I'm glad to be here.

As I slowly enter the campground, the 3 riders that I met yesterday at the BRP gas station wave to me. They've finished setting up and are just socializing. I roll up, exchange brief greetings, and then head to registration.

Well, I'm here. Feels good. Nice crowd. There seems to be about 700 riders on the grounds.

As I take my helmet off by the registration area, a couple walks slowly by and say hello. They mention that I look happy to be here. "I do?"

"Yes," she answers, and mentions that as I took my helmet off I had this big grin on my face. Hmm. . . I guess I am!

They're serving chili inside and I'm hungry. One of the volunteers manning the counter is Lee K, my tent neighbor from the Falling Leaf rally last year. Lee's an older rider who's been around. He rode a Moto Guzzi to Falling Leaf. It's good to see him again.

I remember I had shared some of my post-rally touring plans with him and he had been very helpful and just plain generous. Being from Arkansas, he gave me a good briefing of what I should scope out during my return loop through the Ozarks. You know, you don't soon forget generosity of spirit.

As the night wears on, I chat with several people, some from on-line lists, some not. I meet some fellow-listers for the first time in person while others, unfortunately, I miss. And then, out of nowhere, Michael walks up to me. He's the young GS rider I met on the BRP yesterday, the one that's on an extended ride.

He made it and he looks glad to be here. He's signed up for the off-road GS ride on Sat and is looking forward to it. Being on a long solo trip, it must feel good to him to be temporarily surrounded by so many other kindred spirits.

We share some words. I wish him a great day on Sat and then we part. I will not see him again during this rally. I wish him safe travels.

Darkness is coming down quickly and I still have to get back to Asheville which is a good two-hour trip. The ride back turns out to be fine, though riding fast sweepers through mountain roads at night can be quite stimulating.

As I ride in to Asheville, I realize that I don't remember the exit number that will take me straight to the motel. However, I'm sure that I remember which exit it is from the BRP.

Of course, I could just stop and call the motel for the exit number. But I suspect that guys in general don't do that. We just like to roam around, confident that our highly developed navigational skills will find the way.

And so it is that I end up getting on the BRP for a short segment in the black of night. There is no traffic to speak of and I find the experience quite unique. Contrary to daytime, riding a narrow, twisty, ribbon of a road at night in the pitch black makes 45 mph seem just about right. Unfortunately, I don't find the exit and so, after more searching, end up calling the motel. :)

A quick stop to pick up some fruit for breakfast and I'm ready to turn in.

The weather forecast for tomorrow looks great. I'm off to bed early.

Tomorrow is going to be a good day…

Bruno
Montreal, Canada