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Design Ranch Moto Adventure: Day 9

Headed Home

Up & at ‘em. I am anxious to get home to my family, so I waste no time getting packed up and on the road.

The motorcycle gods are smiling down on me again and I’m blessed with another day of clear skies and open roads. I even manage to get through Atlanta without any traffic woes or wrong turns.

Somewhere along the way in Northern Georgia, the landscape starts to feel familiar and I feel as though I’ve already made it back to Virginia. Even though I’m still a few states away, it’s comforting.

Eventually, I do reach Virginia and as soon as I cross the border, I’ve literally hit the home stretch of my trip. My final fuel stop before heading home to Richmond is in South Hill, my other home. As I stroll into the gas station to fuel up, I recognize friendly faces and hear horns honking to greet me. It feels good to be back in familiar territory. Richmond is only 90 minutes away.

The next 100 miles of I-85 are a weekly occurrence, and they go by quick. Aside from a rapidly increasing soreness in my right shoulder, I’m feeling great and making good time. Unfortunately, every attempt to shake out the shoulder stiffness results in even less mobility and a lot more gritting of teeth.

By the time I reach my Richmond exit, I can barely move my arm to retrieve change for the toll. I have no clue what is going on with my shoulder, but I’m too close to home to care. Just take it easy and don’t get in accident after 9 days and 3,200 miles on the road.

A short cruise through town and I’m finally home and exchanging hugs with the family.  As I soak up the reunion, I think about how blessed I am to have the trip conclude with a safe homecoming. I reflect on all the people I was lucky enough to share time with during my adventure and post the following to Facebook:

Finally home, safe and sound.

Over the course of this trip, I heard one thing over and over. From friends and family in VA. From new and old buds in Texas. From new AirBNB/Couchsurfing host friends, and curious strangers at seemingly every fuel stop.

Everybody that knew about my little 3000+ mile motorcycle adventure passed along some variation of “safe travels” to me.

It may seem like an insignificant thing, but it meant the world to me. I held on to each and every one of those positive vibes and carried them all the way back to VA with me.

Thank you. I love you all, especially all my Texas friends that I don’t get to see nearly enough.

Until next time, here’s to clear skies and open roads.

 

It’s a big, awesome world out there. Go check it out.

Thanks for reading!