Get Your Kicks on Route 66

Well we didn't go there in recent history. I did travel a lot of it when I was in Uncle's flying club in the early 60's when I was 19 to 23 years old. Now add 43 to the last number and we get our kicks by riding the Blue Ridge Parkway , or brp, to view the Catawba Rhododendron's and Mountain Laurel.

Note that I said "Riding" and not driving because the best way to enjoy the parkway is on a motorcycle, YMMV, the sights and smells are fantastic.

The weather was excellent and the ride was uneventful except for the dingbat that lost control of her car about 3 miles from our house and had the road blocked for about 45 minutes while they pulled her car from the ditch on the north bound side. She had been heading south. It looked like she went off the road to the right into the soft shoulder and over-corrected.

Suzette and I were on our GL1800 and our friend Lindsay joined us on his GL1800 for our overnight tour. We rode the parkway to about MM 177 and stayed the night at a small motel, Blue Ridge Motel, then had dinner at a local restaurant. Nothing to brag about.

Along the way we did see a few deer and wild turkey's along with the Rhodo's and Mountain Laurel. The Rhodo's were in bloom on the northern section, north of Roanoke, but hadn't bloomed yet in the Rocky Knob/Meadows of Dan area where the line the road.

We got an early start for our return trip with breakfast at a different local spot. Good eggs, bacon, coffee, etc. for cheap.

We made a pit stop at Explore Park and skipped lunch at Peaks Of Otter and Otter Creek. We decided to get off the parkway at the junction of 814, near mm 15, to take us near Sherando Lake camping area and into Waynesboro so we could pick up US340 North. We finally stopped in Grottoes for a sub at the Wood Fired Grill. Good food and service. We followed 340 to US211, with a shortcut via Stanley with a stop in Sperryville for ice cream.

Rhododendrons along the parkway

Rhododendrons up close

We didn't have to ride to see these in our backyard

Mabry Mill

May Camping followup

Forgot to mention the new lcd digital tuner tv we purchased for the camper. When we installed it at home and checked it out on cable it looked fine and over the air in the camper we could get a couple of channels.

When we got set up at Lake Anna I ran the tv thru the auto channel find thing and noticed there were a LOT of stations. More than expected and more than I remembered from the old tv. Once we got to using it we found channels like 6, 6-1, 6-2, 6 xtra, 35, 35-1. Interesting I thought.

It looks like the -n are the HD channels or some additional content. Oh this new technology.

May Camping Day 4

Our final day and it is miserable. Raining, cold, just plain blick. After breakfast we catch a break and unload the kayaks so we can load the bikes and reload the kayaks. To bad we couldn't use the kayaks, C'est la vie. We decide on grilled ham and cheese for lunch and once we have that cleaned up the weather breaks again and we get hooked up and head for the dump station. Once that little chore is taken care of we hit the road for home. We take a slightly different route which is about 8 miles longer but the roads are better and the time is almost the same.

It is raining when we get home so we just park the trailer and go into the house. We will disconnect and unload the camper when the weather breaks again.

All in all a good trip.

May Camping Day 3

Up at the crack of, well we did get up. Breakfast of sausage, eggs, pancakes. After the dishes are done we decide that we need to work off that breakfast so off to do some more of the trails. We are on our way shortly after 8AM. We ride the paved road to the Park Office and find the trail head. The trail is rather flat as it follows the park road before turning into the woods. Then it is like old home week. Tree roots, muddy areas since it rained last night, as well as some elevation changes and switch backs. We are really enjoying ourselves and then we break out onto the power line. Not bad until we see the uphill ahead which is proceeded by a significant down hill up hill section just to burn the thighs a little. I manage to get on the small front chain ring and am able to make the first up hill section and I wait for Suzette before taking off for the next down hill up hill section. After we top that section the trail turns back into the woods. Now it looks like the old muddy, bloody and tired of days gone by. Stream crossings, mud holes from horse traffic, more tree roots, blow downs. We're having a good time now. After we reach the area where we think there was an old gold mine the trail turns back to the power line. We don't want to do that so we decide to authorize ourselves to go on the sections that has a sign, "Authorized .... beyond this point" which takes by the head rangers house and a maintenance area and out to the park road.

We follow the road until we see the trail we started on so we head back into the woods. We end up on Pigeon Run Trail which is really great until, you guessed it, it joins the power line. Now this is steep. The down is much easier than the up by now. We suffer thru and the trail turns back into the woods for another .7 miles until it joins the hard road which we follow back to the campsite.

It is now lunch time and we devour some snack mix before making lunch. I'm down for a nap and Suzette is doing some stitching.

Map of Lake Anna State Park

Campsite with our home made sun shade and an awning mat.
Logan is resting also.

Since we are well rested it is time to eat again. This time we decide to cook our steaks over a wood fire. Since some previous campers left a good supply of oak all we need is some kindling and we are in business. Steak, potatoes, pea's. We need to bulk up after the mornings ride.

The beach and concession area as viewed from Railroad Ford trail.

We took the truck to the beach area along with Logan. He really enjoyed snapping at the wavelets and drinking lake water. After taking in the sunset we returned to camp we rebuilt the fire and enjoyed relaxing before the damp of the evening set in.

May Camping Day 2

It was quite windy this morning so we decided to ride our mountain bikes. It was like old times in Vermont but without Rich and Linda. Up and down through the woods over tree roots, mud holes, dodging horse droppings. We could feel that it had been over 11 years since we have done that type of riding. We rode for about 2 hours and were beat.

We rested and then had lunch and took a ride to the lake to see if we wanted to kayak. We didn't like the wind and wave action so we returned to the camper for more rest and relaxation.

We put up the sun shade that Suzette had made and it worked well.

About 4 pm the storm that had been forcast arrived. We had taken down the sunshade, picked up the awning rug, rolled up the awning and generally made ready for a blow. We had a couple of gusts but nothing major.

May Camping Day 1

The trip to Lake Anna was uneventful and took a little over an hour. Since we did not have a reservation the ranger attempted to get us registered using their new computer system. After about 40 minutes and two phone calls they suggested that we find a site and get set up and he would bring the paperwork around.

We decided on site 38 and I attempted to back in. This is a back to right and I was to far to the left. It took me about 3 attempts before I got the camper where we wanted. Glad I had the yellow tape on the bumper to let folks know that I am a rookie. I offered to let Suzette back it in but she declined.

about 3:30 I got the bikes from the truck and we biked to the ranger station since we had not seen the ranger yet. Well he was still having problems with the software. I told him that it was no problem as long as we got the paperwork before we checked out. He said he really wanted to get thru things today since there was another customer and he had problems with them also.

About 5 the ranger stopped by with the paperwork. We sure hope they get things worked out before the weekend.

We cooked a chicken dinner, chicken in foil, with rice and broccoli done on the stove. We had been looking for a recipe where you cook the chicken, rice, broccoli in a foil pouch with some cream of mushroom soup. We could not find the recipe at home or on the internet so we just cooked the chicken with some onions and used cream of chicken soup.

After supper we took a ride to the boat launch and picnic area to watch the sunset. Logan enjoyed his walk and wanted to chase a goose and the little wavelets.

Returning to camp we decided to build a fire in and just relax.

Our Campsite

Sunset over the lake

May Camping

Well the grass is mowed, the yard sale is over and we have a new TV for the camper. So it must be time for a few days away. We leave for Lake Anna State Park for a few days of biking and paddling. If I can connect using our cell phone I'll post our daily activities. If not then ...