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JB and I left Murphy, NC on Thursday morning bright and early. We took a Tennessee route up to VA 58 and worked our way over toward the Parkway. This hill in the background is somewhere along 58.

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We made it to Willville Campground just before dark and set up camp in between the rain storms.

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That first cup of free coffee on Friday morning, after a night of constant rain storms challenged the integrity of our tents.

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Friday morning, while waiting for the other 4 guys to show up, we took the Mabry Mill tour and met the Ranger Love. I think this is JB posing with the actual Ed Mabry!

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If you look real close in this photo you can see Ranger Love approaching! ALERT! ALERT! JB, Ranger at 7 o'clock!
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The other guys showed up and this is our first pit stop on Sat. morning.
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DSKYSD and Machew are waiting for the women!

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I think we must have changed out the rain suits at least 5 times Saturday. This was a short deluge as we were gassing up after lunch.
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Is that a giant kudzu cactus!? The Beaks all lined up on the parkway.

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I wish more of you fellows could have made it. Despite the wet weather, most of the riding was fantastic and Willville Campsite was a very cordial and laidback camping place. I'd recommend it for anyone biking in that area along the Parkway.

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We had a good time!

Phil,

I'm glad you and JB were able to join us. It was a really fun weekend, and I'm ready to do it again. Plus, you actually got a photo of the real-life Ranger Love! However, it's a shame you missed her campfire presentation - all that red hair and smart too!

mac

Nice job on the trip report. I posted my pictures over on the other Willville thread.

You beat me by 3 minutes Phil!

So good to see you and JB again. I'll probably have some more questions for you about your Helen2Wheels and camping setup.

DSKYZD

We had afternoon tea at Mabry Mill followed by early supper at Tuggles Gap and then dinner somewhere.

Saturday we had first breakfast at Willville, 2nd breakfast at Hillsville, 1100's at New Castle, luncheon at Covington, afternoon tea - we skipped -, early supper at Tuggles Gap. Dinner we skipped, also.

Sunday we had 1st breakfast at Willville and then lumbered onto our bikes for the heavy ride home.

Looks like it was a good trip. I wish my schedule had worked out to join you guys. I hope to get down there later this summer.

Tom

I guess nobody got any pictures of the Urals, huh? There was a Ural convention at Willville over the weekend as well.



It would have been much more interesting to have those things around if we hadn't had to put up with the owners' constant sales pitches. The wives in the side cars didn't say much though.

The one guy with the Russian officer's cap was a nice touch.

Guys - most definitely cool. Wish I coulda been there. I'm still in New York getting ready to leave tomorrow afternoon back to Virginia.

Who had the beer for me?

I don't know about Michael but I had two Saturday, which is one over my usual, so it might have been me! I know I sure slept good! When I wasn't leaving the tent to pee!

Thanks boxer...nice gaggle of beaks...and one hellova big cactus..

DJ

It's called kudzu DJ. The scourge of the South! Take a nap near a kudzu vine and you might wake up overgrown!

Quote: " guess nobody got any pictures of the Urals, huh?"

I thought this was a Blue Ridge ride?

You ijit! Ural is a bike.