to Winchester, VA

We made it through the night and had a great breakfast at Weasie's Kitchen.  Allan shared at breakfast that he dreamed (more like a nightmare) that he was lifted up by bedbugs and carried off in the night...enough said.  We left breakfast at 8:30 with full bellies and two fresh hot biscuits to go along with peanut butter and jelly in the little packets.  They had the best biscuits that I have ever had. 

The Park and Skyline Drive has a toll pass.  For us on the motorcycle it was $10.  The pass is good for a week.

There were deer signs throughout the length of the park, nearly 100 miles. 

Allan spotted this one shortly after we entered the park and I quite surprised myself that I got a shot.  Once again didn't have time for the camera to focus.  I just pushed the shutter hoping for the shot.

These photos speak for themselves.  

We saw several old cars traveling north with us today in the park. Some were at the overlooks as we rode by and several were at the Big Meadow Visitor's Center with us.

Bill this may be older than the one you want but it is a beauty.

This Woodie caught my eye.  My Dad had a Woodie for a while when I was a teenager.  It was not nearly as old as this car.

We watched a nice short video and learned about the creation of Shenandoah National Park including the acquisition of the land from the mountain folks.  This statue is of a Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) worker.  They worked to create Skyline Drive.  
My Dad was a CCC worker in Maine.

I have lots more photos of the remarkable views from both parks and drives.  It is hard each night to make my selections of what to post.

Allan and I didn't know that Mathews Arm was missing but we are pleased to report that we now know where it is.

The Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive closely follow the Appalachian Trail.  At this point the Trail and the Drive cross paths.

We saw a couple of dead snakes on the road today and then we saw this overlook.  I didn't get a shot so Allan pulled over and I shuffled back on my well worn biker boots to get this picture of Rattlesnake Point Overlook.

There is one tunnel on Skyline Drive and this is the entrance traveling north.

We stopped at a picnic area to make and enjoy our biscuit PB and J's.  As we entered we saw this sign.  Wildlife, what wildlife, bears, where...

A little shout out to Maine's L.L. Bean and Harley Davidson.  

I got the water bottle last summer while working in Portland, Oregon.  Without all those years of work I wouldn't have opportunities like this current adventure.  Glad the world of work is behind me and the potential for continued adventures are limitless.

We had cold fresh water with our lunch.  It really hit the spot.

The wildflower of the day.  Any ideas?

All along the Blue Ridge Parkway we saw this sign and thought that maybe we should be more worried about those that are falling.

Today we saw multiple postings of both of these signs on the Skyline Drive.  Happy to report that all rocks that had fallen were on the side of the road and we didn't spot any falling rocks.

Happy to share that I got a picture of a "Hollow" sign.

The skies darkened and we made it to Front Royal, VA then traveled on to Winchester, VA.

It was a bit of a navigators challenge but Allan found the Harley dealership.

I now have a new pair of boots and they have a bit of bling.  Lynn I know you now have boot envy.

Leaving the dealership the skies were dark and threatening to rain. 
On the edge of town we opted to spend the night here.  We came across a sign to a visitor's center and went there for directions to a hotel.  Just as we arrived it started to rain.  We scurried in and waited out the storm.

We have fairly nice accommodations tonight compared with our last two nights lodgings.  There were a couple of bonuses here for us.  They have working coin laundry so we now have clean clothes that should last us all the way north.  (However, if the trip takes more than five more days take a wide birth when you see us.  We aren't planning on doing laundry again while we are on the road.)

Today was very special to us.  This was our second trip on the Skyline Drive.  39 years ago in August we traveled the route south camping while on our honeymoon.  In my wildest dream I would never have imagined that we would have driven it again so may years later and on a motorcycle no less.

Today we rode 144 miles and arrived here at the motel around 3:30.  We have traveled a total thus far of 1,514 miles in seven days.  Going forward we will be traveling on state highways and are planning to avoid Interstate travel.