Sunday 31st May
Bob and Jude were not going to go out today and as Jude has told me how dirty my bike is and I should clean it. It was also overdue it next service so I decided I would get some oil and at least give it an oil change, Bob had a spare oil filter that he let me use. So after the service it got its well needed clean.
Shortly after finishing the bike the rest of their guests started to arrive. They have all trailered their road and trail bikes here from Idaho. So once the bikes were unloaded it was not long before the food and drink was flowing.

Monday 1st June
Clean bike = yes RAIN.
We all set off for a ride but the planned ride to Cherohala Skyway was cancelled as it's very bleak and cold when it's raining due to its altitude, so we went in the other direction, we had not gone far before we had to stop to put water proofs on but Tom had left his wife's rain gear behind so we had to wait while he went back to get them but by the time he had got back the rain had just about stopped. The roads soon dried up and the rest of the ride was dry, we stopped off for a spot of lunch in Highland before we started to head back. Halfway back Marcia and I pealed off firstly to stop and take some pics and then to ride a dirt road up to the top of a mountain where there is a lookout tower, but I took a wrong turn and we never did find it. We are both really enjoying staying here with Bob, Jude and all their friends and there are just so many good roads to ride and places to see. Also Bob has arranged a trail ride on Thursday that we are keen to join in on.

Tuesday 2nd June
Weather was kind to us again today it threatened to rain a few times but we all stayed dry. We also got to ride the Cherohala Skyway its at about 5000ft and is an uninterrupted twisty road with very little traffic on it. We got sent on ahead as I ride at a slightly faster pace, we saw no more than 10 vehicles on the 45 mile stretch and they were all on the other side of the road. Once we had all re grouped we headed off for lunch at the Rib Country for some BBQ before heading back. We got back just in time as the rain hit and boy did it hit. Another good night of good company, food and drink was had. Marcia and I have been planning where to go next and what we can fit in before we run out of time, we have a big list that keeps on getting bigger not smaller, also my visa extension is going to take 2.5 months from the time of my application until we find out wether or not I can stay any longer.

Wednesday 3rd June
The weather was much the same as yesterday as we all headed off for the Blue Ridge Park Skyway. This road runs across the top of the blue ridge mountains for about 500 miles, we only did about 50miles of it as it was very cold at 6000ft and yesterday they had hailstone, we stopped off for a spot of lunch Pisgah Inn. While there you could see the clouds closing in and when we left we all dressed for the worse but as we descended we had to stop to strip off as the sun had come back out, it wasn't long though before we hit the edge of the storm and had to put them on again. We were just on the edge of the storm most of the way back so it was not to bad. All in all another great days riding fantastic roads of Western North Carolina. Bob,Tom,Dave and John have all been prepping their Kim Enduro bikes or as they call them over here Dual Sport as we are all going out for a day of trail riding I'm not sure how many are going as there are some more of Bob's friends joining us in the morning.

Thursday 4th June
Went out for a trail ride with Bob, Tom, Dave and Dean. Dean and I were at the same disadvantage as we were on bikes with road tyres and a lot heavier than the KTM's. It was a great ride we had good weather all day and Bob took us to some fantastic trails. It was hard work trying to keep up with Bob and Tom on their KTM's as it was very slippery in places but the BMW coped well with the trails especially the dry hard packed gravel, Tom was quite surprised to find me hot on his tail.
It's our last night here with Bob and Jude, I can't believe we have been here 10 days and it really is time to move on. It's been good to have a break from the motels and it's been good to have the company of other people especially Bob and Jude and we can't thank them enough for their generosity and hospitality. Also through them we have met so many interesting people and ridden and seen so much that we would not have seen had it not been for them. Western North Carolina is a fantastic place with so many good roads and trails to ride and we have only scratched the surface. Wherever we have been on any day of the week this area is swarming with bikers of all types.

http://youtu.be/TFuiForrcVM