Blue Ridge Pathway

 

The plan today is to drive the Blue Ridge pathway, one of America’s most beautiful roads. It runs from Asheville to Roanoke and is totally devoid of buildings, trucks and petrol stations. Having said that it does run sort of parallel to the existing main road.

 



Unfortunately we didn’t get close enough yesterday to really enjoy it. The road to Asheville was about 120 miles and took the best part of three hours, four by the time we’d stopped for an excellent breakfast. That meant we weren’t on the Blue Ridge Pathway until midday and we still had 180 miles to go to Roanoke.

 


When we came to leave Smokey Hollow ham had trouble starting his car. The starter motor was struggling to turnover after the cold night. Nigel helped to start it using an old trick of putting his hand over the carburettor manifolds until he was ready for it the fire. When he released his hands the car started!!!! Happy days.

 




Once we finally got on the Blue Ridge Pathway the views and road was absolutely stunning. The traffic light, no lorries and stunning views. However by the time we had covered about 50 miles it was patently obvious that we wouldn’t reach Roanoke if we didn’t move over to the main road which we duly did. We then transferred onto the Interstate so as to reach Roanoke before sundown. Rule 1, ‘don’t travel at night’.

 


Ham’s Lagonda was running fine until it started struggling uphill. It recovered and then shortly afterwards was once again in trouble. Finally he pulled over to find the engine dangerously hot. Had he damaged it beyond repair? There certainly was considerable jeopardy at that particular moment. He and Paddy waited at the service station for Chris to arrive. The engine was losing masses of water from the water gaskets, which were successfully tightened up, the radiator filled and everything started reasonably well, not perfect but the car was back up and running.

 

We pulled into the Liberty Trust Hotel in time for a delicious dinner in the hotel next door. The cars might now be struggling but at least the drivers and the crews can eat well!

 

The evening finished in a bar next to the hotel with a woman dancing with her rather large dog. As they say ‘only in America’

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