The beautiful weekend weather brought Spring Fever and, with it, the need for speed on two wheels.

A warning light on my Harley-Davidson Switchback brought an early end to Saturday’s ride but a check of electrical connections and some tests showed just an apparent loose wire so, with a the battery tender on it overnight, Sunday was a clear and beautiful day to climb back on and ride.

I’m one of those who often set out to ride with no particular route in mind.  I headed South on U.S. 221, through Floyd, on to Hillsville.  At the intersection with U.S. 52, a left turn meant a tip down to Fancy Gap and then on down the mountain to Mt. Airy, North Carolina.

Lots of other bikes on the road.  My left arm was sore from waving by the time I turned on to the Business Route of U.S. 52 and headed into downtown Mt. Airy.  At the intersection with State Route 103, another decision.  Straight ahead or turn.

A left turn sent us Eastbound out of Mt. Airy and towards the Virginia state line again and onward to the intersection with Route 8 south of Stuart.

Again, a decision:  South of Route 8 to Winston-Salem or North towards the Stuart?

Another left turn towards Stuart and a pleasant ride into the Patrick County seat.  Then yet another left turn onto U.S. 58 and a spirited ride up the twists and turns up to the top of Lovers Leap and on to Meadows of Dan.

At the Blue Ridge Parkway, a right turn this time and a northbound heading towards Mabry Mill, Rocky Knob and Tuggles Gap.

Then Northbound Rte. 8 again to Floyd and North on 221 to Floyd, arriving just before 5 p.m., where Amy awaited for a trip — on four wheels — to Christiansburg to pick up a new Shark vacuum cleaner.

Pulled the Harley into the garage and realized that I had I rode over 160 miles, stopping only at intersections and without shutting down the bike until I arrived home.

Longtime readers know I grew up as the product of a motorcycle couple.  My dad and mother were avid Harley riders and participated in thrill shows in Florida in the 1940s.

The open road on two wheels is part of my heritage.

It felt good.  An accident in 2012 kept me off the road for two years.  No more.

Spring Fever has arrived.  The road awaits. Life is good.

Riding Squirrel Spur between Meadows of Dan and Ararat, Virginia.

A nighttime run from Hillsville to Floyd about three years ago.

An ode to life on two wheels and the variety of people motorcycling attracts