Tuesday, June 26: Mount Pisgah: The Promised Land

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

When I pulled out my Designer Whey protein powder to make breakfast, I discovered some little critters had chewed a hole in the plastic bad I put the powder in, plus an outer plastic bag. Fortunately, I am a guy, so I brought duct tape. I transferred the powder to some plastic cups, parched the holes with duct tape, made my breakfast and returned the remaining powder to the patched bags—good as new. Of course, there are going to be some very strong mice around Orchard Gap.

Unfortunately, a light rain continued as I headed south on the Parkway into North Carolina. Several people said it was supposed to let up, but the fog and rain continued. Although my cell phone is mostly protected by my windscreen, it seemed to be getting wet, so I found a safe place and pulled to the sided of the road to put my cellphone in my pocket. Within a minute, another motorcyclist pulled up beside me and asked if I was OK. I gave him a thumbs up, and he was on his way. Once again, I was grateful for the fraternity of bikers.

There used to be a restaurant at Doughton Park, but it has since closed. There were, however, a few workers and a park ranger in the parking lot. I asked the ranger where I could get warm and dry. He suggested a restaurant in Laurel Springs, just off the parkway a couple of miles away.

“They should be opening just about now,” he said, checking his watch. I was the first customer of the day at the Station’s Inn Bar and Grill—“Proudly serving the best people on two wheels.” The owner said that when his wife got in, she would be making her special broccoli and cheddar soup. It is excellent. I am enjoying it now, as I write this entry.

And—finally—the rain has stopped. I’ll be getting back on the road.

The afternoon was much better. The rain stopped, and the sun came out. I stopped at my favorite waterfall along the parkway, enjoyed the Lynn Cove Viaduct—a bizarre bridge suspended on the side of Grandfather Mountain, When I got to Little Switzerland (where I will be spending two weeks at the Wildacres Writers Conference) I calculated my gas mileage and decided to go into Spruce Pine for gas. The nearest gas station is in front of a giant Wal-Mart with a Subway sandwich shop. I enjoyed the sandwich, but not the intensive dose of civilization.

When I got back to my motorcycle I didn’t have the key. Uh oh. I retraced my steps, and when I got to the Subway I asked if anyone had found a lost key. A young man’s face lit up and he dashed to a backroom and brought my key with great delight. I was even more delighted than he, and I thanked him profusely

THe View from the Pisgah Inn dining room is spectacular.

I rolled into the Mount Pisgah area about 6 p.m.. I set up camp in one of the few campsites not already taken. The text messaging was working fine, and Brandon and I agreed to meet for breakfast, since he was working an 11-to-7 shift. I had a delicious dinner up at the lodge as I watched dusk fall over the mountains. The view from the dining room is more wonderful than I remembered.

I bought a hooded sweatshirt at the gift shop, which I appreciated late at night when it got cold in my tent.