Shenandoah National Park - Skyline Drive
Moderator: Modern Buddy Staff
- BootScootin'FireFighter
- Member
- Posts: 2043
- Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:11 am
- Location: (Metro DC) Alexandria, Virginia
- Contact:
Shenandoah National Park - Skyline Drive
My wife and I tackled all 105 miles of Skyline Drive yesterday. The weather was perfect, but a little bit chilly up along the ridge. We started out early, hitting the road around 6:30, with the first stop in Manassas for food and hot coffee at Panera. We pushed southwest through Bealton, Culpeper (mountains now in sight), Madison, Ruckersville, and finally into Charlottesville along the Seminole Trail. Charlottesville is a beautiful small city in central Virginia, home to Monticello (Thomas Jefferson estate) and Univ. of Virginia. It is a very pedestrian, bicycle, and scooter friendly city with a multitude of Mom & Pop restaurants, coffee shops, and cafes. We had a lunch stop downtown @ Revolution Soup, which is primarily local produce and meat. Lunch was awesome, and we hit the road again heading west about 20 minutes to the south entrance at Rockfish Gap. Along the drive, there are 75 overlooks and several rest area. By that time it was 1pm, so we really felt a push for time since the park was closing at 5 and we wanted to make the entire trip. We stopped at a few overlooks, and the visitors center halfway at Big Meadows. We saw countless deer, several eagles, and even a black bear up close! I caught a quick glimpse and had to turn around to see it again and get a picture. First time seeing a bear in the wild. We made it out shortly after 5 and it was a dark ride home, with the first half of the trip back to town on dark highways. I can't say enough about hi-visibility reflective decals, vests, and being seen. There were no lights except from vehicles, and without all that, there would be some major pucker factor. Other drivers kept a safe distance for the most part and we kept up with the pace.
By the end of the day, it was 333 miles total. I'll have to make it an annual ride.
By the end of the day, it was 333 miles total. I'll have to make it an annual ride.
- AWinn6889
- Member
- Posts: 894
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 2:47 pm
- Location: Burnt Hills, NY
- Contact:
- viney266
- Member
- Posts: 2270
- Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 8:49 pm
- Location: westminster md
- Contact:
GREAT pics, and an awesome ride I'm sure. I've done it many times (all the way to the bottom of blue ridge on a motorcycle, but what a PERFECT road for a scoot.
Sadly, I had to work all day, the weather was fantastic. Glad to see you two got to enjoy it. I love the "cute" pic of your wife posing with her scooter...and sweet that you got the bear pic. Niceride!
Sadly, I had to work all day, the weather was fantastic. Glad to see you two got to enjoy it. I love the "cute" pic of your wife posing with her scooter...and sweet that you got the bear pic. Niceride!
Speed is only a matter of money...How fast do you want to go?
- snownomi
- Member
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:14 am
- Location: Orem, Utah
Thanks for the pictures.
<a href="http://www.fuelly.com/driver/Snownomi/stella-150-4t" target="_blank"><img src="http://mefi.us/images/fuelly/sig-us/106290.png" width="500" height="63" alt="Fuelly" title="Share and compare MPG at Fuelly" border="0"/></a>
<a href="http://www.fuelly.com/driver/Snownomi/stella-150-4t" target="_blank"><img src="http://mefi.us/images/fuelly/sig-us/106290.png" width="500" height="63" alt="Fuelly" title="Share and compare MPG at Fuelly" border="0"/></a>
- hcstrider
- Member
- Posts: 308
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2007 5:07 pm
- Location: Ellicott City, MD
Beautiful pictures! Skyline Drive is one of my favorite rides because the speed limit is only 35 MPH, tons of twisties, beautiful scenery and lots of opportunities to see a bear. I try to ride Skyline Drive 2 or 3 times a year. I usually camp out near the Luray entrance, ride for a little bit and have lunch at either Big Meadows or Skyland. Wow, 333 miles is a long ride, my typical Skyline Drive rides are more on the order of 100 miles.
Oh, BTW, my Modern Buddy profile picture was taken at the Elk Wallow rest stop.
Oh, BTW, my Modern Buddy profile picture was taken at the Elk Wallow rest stop.
Wayne
The safest rule, no ifs or buts
Just drive like everyone else is nuts! (Burma Shave)
The safest rule, no ifs or buts
Just drive like everyone else is nuts! (Burma Shave)
- DCUNITED4LIFE
- Member
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:55 pm
- Location: Richmond Old Dominion
- BootScootin'FireFighter
- Member
- Posts: 2043
- Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:11 am
- Location: (Metro DC) Alexandria, Virginia
- Contact:
It's a blast, a long day though if you do the whole stretch and back. Are you with the Seven Hills SC? I'll most likely be in Stanardsville in 3 weeks for the camping rally.DCUNITED4LIFE wrote:Sweet Ride! I'm doing skyline on my bicycle in May...now you got me thinking I should get the Blur out there too!