OK. So I know this is going to sound weird, but here goes. The first day was a nightmare again. Remember, last year for the first day and a half we tried to get my bike to start? It turned out to be thousands of little tiny ants and their eggs in my starter switch. This year I heard strange noises, stopped to check it out, and discovered that I had no rear brake.

I got directions to a bike dealership that was thankfully only 20 miles away up Lee Hwy (US 11) in Wytheville, VA This is where I was going to turn off I-81 on to I-77 anyway. Found the shop, explained the problem to the mechanic, and he went to work right away.

Imagine my shock when he said the brakes are OK, I had lost the rear axle nut and was ‘lucky’ the back wheel had stayed on at all! The brake disk had wobbled and pushed the brake calipers back. He found a nut and fixed it. Total cost $24.54. Total cost in worry and fear? Not able to compute. Wait till I talk to the last one to change my rear tire!

It is working fine. I had some rain along the way on I-77, and I had my usual panic attack in the two long tunnels just above Bluefield (we can discuss this later), but I arrived safely in Charleston, WV to spend the night. Andy and I will meet tomorrow just above Akron, OH at noon (just 210 miles for me).

The pix are start and finish–driveway to motel parking lot. I was in no mood to take pix at the dealership in Wytheville, VA.

God is good; He must have something else He wants me to accomplish in the future because I still have a future!