Mr. Toads Wild Ride Part Three night at the Inn
OR
How I learn to Stop Worrying and Love the Inn
One of the things I love about riding a vintage or classic machine is that almost anywhere you go at some point on any extended or overnight trip you almost inevitably run into someone who is familiar with old bikes often other vintage BMW owners. Just after I had parked the bike and while unloading it after getting my room key a gentleman staying at the Inn approached me and complimented the bike. Seems he owned a 73 R75/5, two actually, one he had given his brother, also staying for the night. His had 175K on one and a bit less on the other. So we chatted it up a bit and several more times that evening as we ran into each other around the Inn. The next morning a woman who lived right across the street and a friend of the Inn keepers also approached me and informed me her husband (ex) had a 78 R100 himself, still running and they had spent many hours during their marriage riding and doing overnight trips on it. It really is like riding a conversation piece, I can’t think of a single trip where someone hasn’t recognized the bikes classic lines and started a conversation about it. Very Kool, IMHO.
Now back to the Inn and the evening
In between hanging around the front porch listening to the music and relaxing and waiting for the Inn’s restaurant to open, I wondered around looking at all the antiques, sitting in the garden petting the Inn’s cat, butterscotch and taking a few pictures of the houses and church across the street. A very pleasant, relaxing evening.
Here are some of those pictures, some taken that evening and some taken in the morning of the next day before departing around 9 AM
A picture of the hall outside my room
The hall way downstairs with all the old tools and rifles
The front porch decortations
Looking down the drive toward the main part of town
A closer look at the church
Then the dinner bell rang, Oh, yeah! I was so ready to eat, having not had anything all day..
A nice window set with old glass reflecting in the waning light
this gentleman joined me for dinner (but refused to share his wine!)
After dinner I wondered out to the garden to visit with the house cat once more and let my dinner digest some before going to bed…
The garden walk out the back door
Butterscotch, a Very contented Cat
The garden as seen from the Upper story window landing
Some of the other guest rooms were not occupied and the doors where left open so I peeked in
Then it was off to bed…
The Next Morning
The day started out rather gray and overcast, but without the threat of rain so all was good...
After coffee and while waiting for breakfast I took a short stroll along the road in front of the Inn
The church in morning light
Breakfast was ready so time to recharge….
After breakfast I took a few more shots of the Inn
This was in the hall way with all the other antiques. An old time weather prediction station. The right side detailed Indications" of “Doubtful” weather conditions while the left was simply labeled "Indications" of “Fair”. Being a Scientific type back then must have been a real challenge! I’d love to have something like this, very cool! "Indications of" gotta love it! Personally, I think I would have mad a great Mad Scientist back in those days! Ha Ha!
Finally though it was time to roll, so I packed up, settled my bill and headed out toward Beckley Wv my original destination about 2 hours away by back roads. I decided to take Rt. 63 to Rt. 3 to 12 and then Rt. 19 into Beckley where the mining museum was.
Spent the next two hours on roads like this…
following several different rivers in the process.
End of part three, next up the final ride and what happened 200 miles from home!
RM