This is a report of a week long trip to the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains.
Left about noon after feeding the cats and chasing the dog. Breakfast at Dunkin Doughnuts. Saw Mill Parkway to I-287, Tappan Zee Bridge which has stunning views of Hudson River Valley from Bear Mountain to the Manhattan skyline, continued on I-287 ($0.40) to I-80.
Just before the Delaware River took small bridge ($1) to PA611-PA152 to Bethel and stopped for lunch at the diner in Bethel, full meals $7, 5am to 10pm. Took back road route through Kunkletown, watch out for gravel =8-} and on to Little Gap and then down to I-78 and I-81.
Rain began outside of Harrisburg. Stopped for the night at the Ironmasters hostel ($12) in Pine Grove Furnace on PA 233. Warm and dry and friendly, the manager came out to tell me that Largo the dog did not like helmets. Met some hikers who had sent their warm gear north earlier in the week when it was 100 degrees F and were now suffering the 40F temperatures.
The next day began misty. Continued south on PA233 through some nice forest, near streams and lakes. Attempted to cut over to I-81 on US30 but the traffic was crawling. Backtracked to PA997 and met no resistance. Headed down I-81 to US211 and up some nice sweepers to Luray Caverns. The weather in the caves is always the same. Good tour, enjoyed the Worlds Largest Organ which uses solenoids to strike stalagmites that have been tuned to notes. Continued up US211 to the Skyline Drive but the entrance station was in the bottom of a cloud. Descended to US340, which is nice except through Front Royal, to VA7 and turned right onto VA601 near Bluemont and went 1 mile to the Bear's Den Hostel, also in a cloud. Nice fireplace and shower. Hikers with tips on tick removal. Picked chore card for restocking the firewood.
The next day was wet. Good test of the GoreTex hiking suit, which was OK until I stopped and got a crotch full of cool water, the 'waterproof' gloves also got soaking wet, must upgrade, lucky it was not cold. Stopped for breakfast at the Wayside Inn in Middletown on US11. The weather channel predicted clearing, these were the systems that had spawned tornados out west. Headed back to Bluemont and took advantage of the well stocked woodpile. Woke early the next day (5:30am) to very clear skies and cool temperatures, perfect weather for finally getting on the Skyline Drive, plus non-weekend traffic.
After a couple days of rain a front came through and cleared the air nicely. Breakfasted ($7) at the Wayside Inn in Middletown and hit the Skyline drive ($3 good for one week) in Front Royal. Middle of the week traffic was light. The road surface is so good it is difficult to hold the speed down to 45 (posted 35) but there are lots of tame deer that just walk out into the road and clowns who stop in the middle of the road to admire them. The views were fantastic, no clouds, mountain ranges and valleys and mountain laurel and flame azaleas and wild flowers. One overlook had a view down the backbone of the Appalachian mountains that was stunning. Stopped at the visitor center and enjoyed the 'please touch exhibits' of animal skins and bones and horns. Continued a wonderful ride down the parkway, either passing in the passing zones, waiting for slow vehicles to pull into the overlooks or pulling in myself to allow a unobstructed approach to the curves.
The Panorama restaurant (RT211)(9-5) or Skylands are good places to stop for lunch. There are also small restaurants and gas stations at Big Meadows and a couple of other places but as always in the mountains don't risk running out of fuel. The gas prices were only a few cents more than in towns and much lower than NY.
Fell in behind a couple of cycles near the end of the Skyline Drive, noticed that the leader had wide crash bars with foot pegs. After a few miles, rounding a curve I saw the leader on the ground with people standing there helping him. He was around a blind curve so I pulled into the overlook and pointed my cycle at oncoming traffic and put on the flashers. While waiting for any traffic I got out the cell phone and attempted to dial 911. Fortunately the next vehicle to arrive was a phone company truck and I waved it down and asked the driver to call the parkway police. The rider and cycle had been moved out of the road so I walked down there found that a van was slowly turning into the overlook and blocked the lane. There was a another vehicle directly behind the van blocking the oncoming lane. The rider locked up a wheel and slid for about 100 feet. Fortunately he was wearing an full riding suit with armor and full face helmet and good boots and gloves. He did damage his shoulder and ribs and foot but had no road rash. There was some disagreement as the older person in the van was writing up a report claiming that he was driving and there was minimal damage and no one was hurt. The young person in the van rushed up after the accident saying he was sorry and that he had only been driving a short while. The rider said that he would let the old guy claim that his son was driving if his insurance company would replace his $1000 Aerostich suit, his Rolex, and repair his Harley. The police arrived and the old guy changed his story and stopped being dishonest. Helped the guy's riding partner start the bike and put some sand on the oil spill. Suggested that the rider not make any decisions while still in shock and get himself and the bike checked out. Rode more conservatively. It can happen on the nicest days. Watch for traffic turning into the overlooks.
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