TNRabbit Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 I took a trip from Spotsylvania, VA, to Marion, VA, on Aug 6th to go to court for a speeding ticket I'd received on my way to visit family back over the July 4th holiday (91 in a 70--got it reduce & paid a lower fine). On the way back, it was hot & traffic on I-85 was sucking ballz (as it always does), so I decided I'd hit the Blue Ridge Parkway to relieve the heat & slab traffic. I'd done portions of it before but never the entire thing & I didn't have to be at work the next day so thought, "what the hell!" I knew it would tak longer, but underestimated EXACTLY how much longer...Got on the parkway just north of Roanoke about 5:30 p.m. & got off at I-64 22 miles west of Charlottesville about 10:30 that night....ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS DRIVE! Beautiful vistas, amazing twisties, astounding sunset~The best part, I didn't see a single automobile the first 90 miles! Saw a couple of motorcycles, but that was it. I was surreal. I never saw a single cop the entire 107 miles. 45 MPH speed limit, but I was happily cruising along at 54 MPH.No bear this time, but saw TONS of deer, especially after dusk. Fog crept in around 9 p.m. & it was a little spooky~Around the time the fog rolled in, I hit a piece of the parkway where they were repaving & only had dirt/gravel base for about 2 miles. Glad I wasn't flying when I hit that~The pictures truly do not do it justice. I highly recommend everyone do this at least once in your life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjadoc Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 very nice, made a good day out of a bad day :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Polarbear Posted August 10, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted August 10, 2014 I know you said the pics don't do it justice, but they're still enticing. Very nice. Fog is definitely not the best conditions to ride in, but it sure makes for a mystical feeling, doesn't it? It absorbs the noise, I like it. Thanks for the pics. BTW, it's on my bucket list… C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmythecop Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 you know, I bitch that there is no where to ride near me, but that looks just as pretty as the Eifel and it is an hour from my house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer gig Posted August 10, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted August 10, 2014 Thanks for the pics. I'm ridding the entire 465 miles from Cherokee NC to Roanoke VA, Sept 22. How is the last 100 miles of Skyline drive in Shenandoah? i will be turning around to go back Asheville, so trying to decided if worth the extra 200 miles? Thx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Dutchy Posted August 10, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted August 10, 2014 In 2012, Gradus led me up the BRP to get me on my way for my TMAC adventure (on his 6th gen). As we approached Little Switzerland, the rain and fog came in. I had 2 choices; drop down and catch the Interstate toward TN or go on the BRP. I didnot cross the Atlantic to ride interstate, so up I went. Yeah it was pishing down and a bit foggy. But the roads were empty and had a ball. A week later Gradus and I drove back from TMAC, clear sun, it was great. Even at 70MPH.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNRabbit Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 Thanks for the pics. I'm ridding the entire 465 miles from Cherokee NC to Roanoke VA, Sept 22. How is the last 100 miles of Skyline drive in Shenandoah? i will be turning around to go back Asheville, so trying to decided if worth the extra 200 miles? Thx Personally? I don't care for the Shenendoah portion....it drops to 35 mph & there's a lot more traffic & police presence. Scenery is beautiful, but not worth it to me..... you know, I bitch that there is no where to ride near me, but that looks just as pretty as the Eifel and it is an hour from my house. You should come ride out to West Virginia with me sometime...some REALLY fun roads! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer zupatun Posted August 11, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted August 11, 2014 Thanks for the pics. I'm ridding the entire 465 miles from Cherokee NC to Roanoke VA, Sept 22. How is the last 100 miles of Skyline drive in Shenandoah? i will be turning around to go back Asheville, so trying to decided if worth the extra 200 miles? Thx Personally? I don't care for the Shenendoah portion....it drops to 35 mph & there's a lot more traffic & police presence. Scenery is beautiful, but not worth it to me..... you know, I bitch that there is no where to ride near me, but that looks just as pretty as the Eifel and it is an hour from my house. You should come ride out to West Virginia with me sometime...some REALLY fun roads! good summary of that part...lots more tourists as well...becasue of proximity to DC...but the park is prett yand the hiking opportunities are nice as well. Some day it is worth doing--but in a car just as much as a bike...pull off, do a hike, back to car, rinse repeat... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VietHorse Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 I myself with Wrestler and Rolling_Again tried to ride the BRP in a morning and we could not make it as planned, due to heavy foggy. We gotta head back to Cherokee on that day. I had great two days to explore all BRP after that. Awesome place. Unforgettable period of time in life. I was wishing of Wrestler and RollingAgain being there with me: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoothsailin Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Although nearly 30 years have passed since the first time I rode some of sections of the BRP in VA on two wheels, so far I have never become bored by re-exploring this amazing beautiful 569-mile stretch of uninterrupted pavement as it meanders & flows along the ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I've been planning to take off from work this Wed. thru Fri. and thanks to this thread and a currently favorable weather forecast I'm now considering using some of the time off to refresh my long-term memories of riding along the BRP yet again. Sure wish I could shake hands with, and express my appreciation to the former leaders and politicians who had the foresight to preserve the land and put depression era citizens to work building this remarkable road long before I was born. I sure hope my descendants will come to appreciate and enjoy the BRP for many years into the future as much as I have enjoyed it during my lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilbily Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Just ran the whole thing in 3 days a few weeks ago. Can't wait to go do it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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