Technology. So helpful most of the time. And right now, technology is why you aren’t receiving this note on Friday evening, when I’m writing it.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is stunningly beautiful. Even for a Journalism major (me), words can’t describe the majesty of this ride. So I won’t even try.

The Parkway goes through some very remote areas, which means little (if any) cellular coverage, and sparse wi-fi opportunities. So, technology has conspired to get you news of the Harley Hillbilly Holiday, Day 3 — delayed until Day 4.

We are in Cabin 18 at the Rocky Knob Cabins in Rocky Knob, Virginia. It’s near milepost 175 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

These cabins were built for the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The CCC built the Blue Ridge Parkway about 75 years ago, pretty much a jobs program with a spectacular result.

But I digress.

This morning, our day starts with a hearty, thought not exactly healthy, breakfast at the Little Switzerland Inn.  I have taken a culinary vow of Southern-ness for the remainder of the trip, and today’s breakfast provides an excellent start. Would someone please call my cardiologist?

With full tummies, we head North on the Parkway. Unlike yesterday, we are traveling under sunny skies — in short-sleeve shirts — all day.

Next stop: Blowing Rock, North Carolina, an artsy town of 2,000, named for the Blowing Rock (yes, THE Blowing Rock).  This rock is a 250 million-year-old rock formation with Chickasaw Indian legend. For more, click here.

The big news of the day was my shattered dream, left in a thousand pieces at a lonely exit from the Parkway. My ambition on this trip had been to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway end-to-end, all 469 miles of it — maximum speed 45 mph.

So here we are, enjoying a lovely day full of Parkway pleasures, when we see a sign announcing, “Parkway closed. Detour ahead.”

F#%*ck!  We lost 25 miles of the Parkway, detouring through Sparta, North Carolina. We did see dozens of Christmas tree farms on the unplanned route, and the detour has its own road rhythms, but it isnt the Blue Ridge Parkway. I now have one more reason to come back and do this ride again — so I can complete the Parkway. Anyone want to come along?  Schedule TBD.

After the detour returns us to the Parkway, the roads are much more gentle. We are now in Virginia.  There are tons of Scenic Overlooks along the Parkway. Brilliant design. The overlook below is High Piney Spur, elevation 2,805 ft.

At the end of a 181-mile ride, we arrive at our destination, the Rocky Knob Cabins, just North of Mabry Mill, famous for milling grist in the 19th century. Mr. Mabry is a well-known guy around here.

A mile from the cabin, we dine at the Woodward Inn.

What will tomorrow bring?