On my way home, I was on the Blue Ridge Parkway northbound, and we were on edge as
@BillB warned, in the process of repaving, with signs saying "Not recommended for motorcycles and bicycles" and stretches of 20 mph to stay with the bank of the road. Past that, thinking "home free", there was one turn sweeping right hand down hill with the mountain on the right and drop off on the left leading to a yellow diamond "35" sign left over a bridge and upward curve left hand. I don't know what was the surface of the bridge, but it had the appearance of a bad case of acne. I saw no loose stone, but as soon as I was on it, leaned over to take the left hand turn, the front wheel started hopping markedly away understeer toward the railing and fear-for-my-life upset. As it was, I wasn't going overly fast, and got it straight enough just long enough to get just slow enough to continue the turn, reach the other side of the short bridge and normal pavement.
Another interesting bit -- not long after that, the fuel light came on and my backseat driver ever helpful says, "Turn off here." About the third one of those, I do, and end up on Virginia Rt 56 to Vesuvius, and wow, talk about twisties -- a number in first gear -- and - how do you know when the brakes have had too much ?. Rode on 11 north to a Shell station to refill, and returned to Rt 56. Once turning off 11, I saw two different signs saying, "GPS routing not recommended". The ride up was easier on the brakes, anyway -- still first gear much of the time.
Once home, my wife washed the bike, and I noticed crusty edges around the brake pads, and my wheels were black, as became the driveway when the water hit it.
