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.