Fall Trip 2019

"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

A view from one of the many overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway

     Its that time of the year again: the fall trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway to Brevard NC to spend a few days with my buddies Gary and Curtis. They both work, while I'm retired, so the trip is planned around their busy schedules. This year Curtis was doing a presentation at James Madison University in Harrisonburg VA. He would be finished by 1 PM Wednesday, so I arranged to meet him at that time in Harrisonburg.

The Chili's in Eldersburg MD. GREAT place for lunch!

     I decided to leave on Tuesday and ride to Front Royal VA and spend the night there. I have a route to Front Royal that includes no interstates, and features a ride through the Maryland horse country north of Baltimore. I have found that I am in Eldersburg MD generally by lunch time. There I stop for lunch at a Chili's. Then MD 26 to US 15 near Frederick MD, and then pickup US 340 which goes right into Front Royal. I stay at a Super 8 there, and then get on the Skyline Drive the next morning.

My bike sitting in the drizzle in Front Royal VA while I sat in a gazebo and read.

     The weather was cloudy and threatening rain the entire trip, but although I ran into isolated pockets of sprinkles along the way it never got heavy enough to put on rain pants. When I reached Front Royal I stopped at a small park in town that offered a gazebo with a picnic table where I could sit for a while and read. At the motel I ran into a pair of motorcyclists from Mississippi and we struck up a conversation. That evening we went across the road to a "burger joint" and had dinner together. The first example, of many along the way, of the fun it is to talk to and meet folks when you travel. This really adds to the enjoyment of traveling.

This is the third overlook on Skyline Drive heading south from the northern entrance. I stop here every trip. 

     Wednesday morning dawned bright and clear, with crystal blue skies. Using my senior pass I got up on Skyline Drive, speed limit 35 mph, to enjoy the 105 mile ride down to mile marker 66 where I would pick up US 33 over to Harrisonburg. The run down US 33 off of the Skyline Drive offers some interesting "twisties" on the way down off of the mountain. Once in Harrisonburg I came across another Chili's and had lunch there.

Curtis standing with his "new" bike in the parking lot at another Chili's in Harrisonburg VA.

     Curtis got done his commitment and met me at Chili's around 1PM. Then it was back up US 33 to the Skyline Drive, and then south. Reaching the end of the Drive we continued straight on to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We had about 120 miles to go to get off in Roanoke VA. Now the speed limit was 45 mph. With few Park Rangers I have found I can run at 55-60 mph with no problem, dramatically adding to the enjoyment of the ride. We stopped once on the way down for a break, arriving at another Super 8 in Roanoke just before dark. There was a Mexican restaurant right across the street, and we walked over and had a great meal, along with a couple of cervasas'. Tomorrow night we would meet up with Gary down in Brevard NC.

Curtis checking his phone, AS USUAL!