Cool, crisp October morning.

Still dark as I back the Harley out of the garage and head towards Floyd for an early-morning stop at the Floyd County Rescue Squad Station 1 for breakfast and generous helpings of ham, bacon, gravy biscuits, eggs and coffee from the buffet, accentuated by always welcome conversation.

Then to Christiansburg for a meeting of the New River Valley Harley Owners Group (HOG). After the meeting, they head for Smith Mountain Lake while I point the Harley back to Floyd to shoot some photos. It’s Arts and Crafts Fair Time.

Afterwards, the real fun begins. Head South on Virginia Rte. 8 to carve the twisties down Woolwine Mountain.  Then up U.S. 58 and Fancy Gap Mountain. Down a bottle of water at Mabry Mill and head back to Meadows of Dan to pick up Squirrel Spur Road and head down the mountain towards Mt. Airy scraping the pegs on both sides of the Harley as I lean into the curves.

In Mt. Airy, pick up North Carolina 89 and head northwest towards Galax and fight traffic on U.S. 221 to Hillsville and a stop for gas and lunch. Then out U.S. 52 and pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway to Black Ridge Road. Carve more turns before hitting U.S. 221 and a leisurely ride back into Floyd.

The setting sun cast long shadows as I turned off U.S. 221 for the final two mile ride to our house.

Long day.

Good day.

Doesn’t get much better.

(Note: The photos above are screen captures from video shot from a handlebar-mounted video camera — a GoPro Hero HD — that I’m using to create videos on some of the best roads for motorcycle riding in our part of the world)