I had a great day... it was a relatively easy ride about 140 miles up I-64 from SN1's house to just east of Charlottesville where I picked up the Blue Ridge Parkway. From there on in the ride got magnificent, and you may feel free to add other various and sundry superlatives. It really is brilliant... a snaky, well maintained two lane black top road with a speed limit of 45 mph. But that's OK... there are some places on the road when 45 mph would be too fast, as in "not prudent." We tended to observe the limit, most of the time. I caught myself doing 55 a couple o' few times and backed off, mainly due to a conversation I had with a biker in one of the scenic overlooks. He told me there are a lot o' cops on the road and they will NOT hesitate to write you up. His proof? A ticket for doing 52 in a 45. Words to the wise, and all that.
The only fly in my ointment today was the weather. The temps were fine, hovering between 72 and 68 degrees depending on elevation. It didn't rain on me and there was no wind to speak of. But it was overcast and very hazy, which took a lot away from the gorgeous views. I hit the Parkway about noon so there was very little chance the haze was going to burn off, and it didn't. There were a few times when I was driving along IN the cloud deck, seeing as how it was about 2500 ~ 3000 feet in some places. Those periods were very brief, thank The Deity At Hand.
But all told? A brilliant day. I'm over-nighting in Roanoke, VA and we shall continue on tomorrow as we began today.
A few pics...
The only fly in my ointment today was the weather. The temps were fine, hovering between 72 and 68 degrees depending on elevation. It didn't rain on me and there was no wind to speak of. But it was overcast and very hazy, which took a lot away from the gorgeous views. I hit the Parkway about noon so there was very little chance the haze was going to burn off, and it didn't. There were a few times when I was driving along IN the cloud deck, seeing as how it was about 2500 ~ 3000 feet in some places. Those periods were very brief, thank The Deity At Hand.
But all told? A brilliant day. I'm over-nighting in Roanoke, VA and we shall continue on tomorrow as we began today.
A few pics...
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| The first overlook on the Parkway, heading south. |
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| Another vista. Note the haze. |
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| Why do they call it "Pine Tree?" |
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| Never mind. |
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| The view from the bar at Peaks of Otter Lodge, where I had lunch. |
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| A better view. Lousy beer menu, though. |
Very nice.
ReplyDeleteA lousy beer menu is better than no beer menu.
Just sayin'...
(Not to wax all philosophical or nuthin'.)
What you say is true, philosophical or not.
DeleteFunny story: the beer menu had a selection of "Virginia Craft Beers" from a Wolf-something brewery. I said "Cool! I'll have one of those." The waiter takes my order, comes back about three minutes later and sez "We don't carry those beers any longer." "So whattaya got?" sez I. "BuMilCoors and Sammy Adams," sez he. Boston Brewing Company to the rescue.
Nice choice on the route.
ReplyDeleteThank ya, Ma'am.
DeleteSome years ago the Old Bat and I did the Skyline Drive from somewhere around Harper's Ferry down to Waynsboro. I was disappointed not to find any mention of the Trail of the Lonesome Pine.
ReplyDeleteI met people yesterday who compared the Blue Ridge to Skyline. This IS beautiful country.
DeleteBuck, if u can do the entire route of the Blue Ridge, the Nodth Carolina portion is just beyond breathtaking. We got caught in that kind of haze at the summit of some peak-or-other and it was a very dicey ride down, everyone hugging the bumbler of the vehicle in front. Even so, it was worth it,
ReplyDeleteDid you drive the whole length from NC to VA, Kris? The Virginia bits were magnificent; it's hard to believe it could get any better.
DeleteWe were only in the NC bit...and it remains some of the most magnificent scenery ever.
DeleteI'm trying to think of anywhere here in the Far West that compares, not necessarily for scenery, but for an extended distance like that
ReplyDeleteAll of the roads here were built to get to the other side of the mountain
Right off the top of my head... Highway 1 from Monterey to Morro Bay is every bit as magnificent (speaking about scenery) but it's only about 125 miles. The Going to the Sun road in Glacier Nat'l Park is quite a bit shorter at 53 miles but it's beautiful, too. I might could think of others but it's late and I'm tired.
DeleteNice pix.
ReplyDeleteThank ya, Sir.
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