End of the Blue Ridge

I'm happy to say that I completed both the entire length of The Skyline Drive (105 miles)and The Blue Ridge Parkway (469 miles)!

Today was another picture perfect day with clear blue and sunny skies and we got back on the Parkway at mile 300 where we left off yesterday. As it turns out we had not 140 but 169 miles left to complete our trek. Amazingly, the terrain and the foliage changed quite a bit on this section. The wide open spaces that we saw yesterday gave way to the most radical changes in the height of the mountains and the twists and turns in the roads both up and down were much sharper. As you can imagine, this made us work pretty hard for most of the day and I am feeling it again tonight but it is a really satisfying feeling. We passed out of the park at about 4 and made or way south and west through the Cherokee National Forest to Chattanooga where we are spending the night.

I was thinking today as I was riding how lucky I am to know what my passions are, 2 wheeled vehicles rank right up there along with a yearning for exploring new and different places. This trip is another of those times when I can combine my love of riding with my sense of adventure. I know some people just don't get riding on switch back roads on a motorcycle for hours and hundreds of miles at a time but then you have to experience literally riding through the scent of balsam at the top of a mountain to begin to understand. You have such intense sensory experiences that you could never get in a car. I love my life and am grateful to have the opportunities that I have to do these things.

Tomorrow the road will change to an interstate highway as we head for New Orleans. Since it is about 525 miles and the weather will be in the 90's, we will probably take our time and spend another night on the road. Sign in and the start of the Rock Rhythm and Blues Tour starts on Thursday.

Memorial Day

Joe-D-Day Marine Veteran

This morning we found an unexpected treasure. while reading about the Roanoke area, I discovered that the National D-Day Memorial is located in Bedford Va. just about 30 miles away from,  our hotel so, especially since it is Memorial Day, a side trip was in order. The Memorial is located in Bedford as that town had the largest per capita number of soldiers killed during the D-Day invasion. It is a magnificent memorial to that day and to have visited on Memorial Day was a special and moving experience. They have managed to depict a lot of what we read about Operation overlord into the displays including a simulated beach landing with artillery blasts It is really quite impressive and you should put this stop on your to-do list.

Scaling the cliffs

 

After that visit it was back to the Blueridge for a little more mountain riding, The Parkway changes as you go south, there are more expansive views and home begin to pop up on the sides of the  mountains. Since there are no services on the parkway, you need to get off and visit a nearby town for gas, food etc.  This afternoon we stopped at a little Virginia town named Floyd, gassed up and chose the Blueridge Restaurant for lunch. If you are ever there, you have to stop and ask that LaDonna wait on you. this young lady had us laughing from the time we got our water until we paid the bill. her quick wit delivered with a southern drawl was priceless. Oh,  and they are famous for their deserts. I had the "Black bottom Pie" and it was so sweet that the first bite hurt my teeth. I did man-up though and managed to finish it.

We finished out the day at Mile 300 on the Parkway, In Boone N.C. Tomorrow we'll finish the last 140 miles or so of the parkway and head towards New Orleans.

As it is Memorial Day, I want to take a moment to recognize my son, Brian who has served our country now for nearly 14 years, and Kate, his "Army wife" who serves by holding it all together when Brian leaves on deployments and is gone to the field with a strength of will and determination. Their service continues the legacy of those we honor on Memorial Day, those who gave the supreme sacrifice and the families left to carry on. 

We are blessed to have both of you, we are honored by your service and I love you dearly.

Skyline to Blue Ridge

O'Canada and Skip

This morning we were greeted by a positively beautiful morning. We rode the short distance to Front Royal and hooked up with our Rte 66 pal, Skip. Skip is a retired lawyer who lives in Michigan. Skyline drive begins just south of Front Royal. Skyline is part of Shenandoah National Park and runs 105 miles to where it meets the Blue Ridge Parkway. I'm not sure how to describe this ride except to quote my friend Lois "How many times in one day can you look up and go AH". It is another absolutely beautiful part of this country that everybody should experience. I have lived in the Adirondacks, rode through the Rockies and the Sierra Nevadas and this is among the most beautiful places I have seen. It is also a test of skill on a motorcycle as it climbs and drops as much as 3500 feet at a time, and none of it is straight.  My arms and shoulders feel those corners tonight! If you are like me, a guy  that is scared of heights, there are places, like when you are riding the top of a ridge and can see nothing but down on either side it can be a test of will as well. 

Skyline drive ends where The Blue Ridge begins but they are really different. Skyline is in a National Park so it has a more "finished" look and feel.

The roads are nicer, There are more stone barriers on the sides of the road and there are camp and comfort areas. The Blue Ridge is nice but to a lesser degree. It is interesting to find that a lot of the "Scenic Vista Stops" have no view because the trees have grown up and obscured the views. That is not to say that there are not spectacular views because there are, sometimes you just have to stop on the side of the road to see them.

I expected to see a lot of motorcycles and we did, What I was surprised at was the number of bicycles that were on the roads, particularly on Skyline-maybe that has to go on my list of things to do? 

Tonight we are staying in Roanoke and will get back on the Blue Ridge tomorrow. The plan is to go 150-200 miles tomorrow, leaving a hundred or so for Tuesday. I'm really hoping to do the entire distance as long as we are here.

 

Nice first day

O'Canada arrived in Mexico at about 11:30 Saturday morning and we left about noon. I am quickly reminded about how much and why I really like riding the Harley. The same Rte 81 corridor that we travel so often to go to North Carolina is such a different experience from the seat of a bike. It looks so different and of course you get all of the smells etc. Nice ride, excepting the surprise shower in southern Pa. That drenched us before we got a chance to stop and get our rain gear out. It cleared quickly though and we made it to Winchester, Va. By 7:30.
We are only 20 or so miles from the trailhead to the Skyline Drive and the weather looks great for the day.

Saturday

Well it's Saturday and today will be the start of another motorcycle adventure. The bike is all packed up and I am just waiting for my friend O'Canada to arrive. Today we will hope to make it to someplace close to Front Royal, Virginia where we are meeting Skip, another friend from Rte 66, who is from Michigan. Tomorrow we'll ride the Skyline Drive and probably start the Blueridge Parkway.
Really excited for this trip, another opportunity to explore this great country enjoy some great music and share it with all of you.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend but don't forget what it is all about. Spend a little time remembering and honoring our Military past and present. They honor us each and every day.