Hello all, it has been a week since my last post. Once again I am at the mercy of wifi, or lack thereof, wherever we are at. I am seriously going to consider Verizon's Jetpack to ensure we can get online anytime, anywhere there is a cell signal. If anyone has any comments on that service please leave a post.
We finally left Pennsylvania on Monday September 23 and made it to Front Royal, VA about 4 PM so the adventure has actually begun in earnest. It was 268 miles from Harmony, PA to Front Royal, VA. We only stayed the one night at the closest campground to the entrance to the Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park. It was a wretched place but for one night it served the purpose.
We began our journey about 10 AM on Tuesday September 24. We hooked up the trailer and headed to The Skyline Drive. It is the thoroughfare through the park and it meanders 109 miles north to south. Construction of the park was completed in 1935 by the CCC, Civilian Conservation Corps, during the heights of the Great Depression at cost of $50,000 a mile. There are 75 breathtaking scenic overlooks throughout the park and we stopped at many of them. The views are amazing. Elevation at the highest overlook is 3595 feet with the Shenandoah Vally below and the Massanutten Mountians to the west. Sadly pollution obscures the view even on the clearest of days of which today was. The sunshine was brilliant with not a wisp of a breeze but you could see a haze that makes it look like you are in the clouds. The temperature a warm sixty degrees.
The speed limit is 35 mph so driving nonstop would take about three hours and we didn't leave the park until about 5 PM so we were there seven hours minus a detour to get fuel. There is one area to get gas in the park but not diesel. We had half a tank at mile marker 30 so I decided to leave the park at the Thornton Gap Entrance station to go get fuel in Luray. There are only two ways to get in or out of the park besides the northern and southern entrances so you have to make sure you are fueled up.
We returned to the park and drove through the Mary's Rock tunnel where we stopped for a photo op. The clearance is 12'7" and there was fellow who didn't think I was going to make it through. He asked how high my trailer was and I told him I didn't know. He was reading the plaque describing the construction of the tunnel and I asked him what the plaque read. I said whatever that says I am under that. He laughed and we went on to have a nice conversation about several topics.
The tranquility and cleanliness of the park is amazing as well as the scenery of course. We didn't venture off the roadway but there are numerous places to pick up hiking trails to see wildlife in their natural surroundings. We stopped at two of the several gift shops for a souvenir or two and got right back on the road. Even though we were towing the trailer it was a calm and fairly easy drive. We saw a lot of motorcycles so it must be a popular ride for you bikers out there. The road is so smooth and well kept.
Eventually we came to the southern entrance/ exit and we had to find a campground. One word about Shenandoah NP: you will not have any type of cell signal until you are well down the mountain. We didn't have any reservations for a place to stay so we had to hightail it to the interstate where we saw a sign for a KOA. We pulled in and here we are: in Staunton, VA for a few days until we decide where our next destination is.
For those of you wondering about the cat: she is a mess in the truck. She is very cantankerous and screams until she tires herself out sometimes three or four hours later. Anyone know where to get kitty Valiums?
Ps: I took a bunch of pictures with my new camera but for some reason I can't upload them to the blog. Hopefully I can figure it out because that is why I bought it.
Miles this leg: 432.5
Total miles: 716.5
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