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Hwy 209 leads all the way from Jim Thorpe to the Susquehanna River. It is a good two lane country road, and takes in numerous small towns. It was with great anticipation that I set out on my trip, that Wednesday afternoon. The morning storm, which had pelted my car with marble-sized hail stones, had passed, and I assumed the rest of the day would be fine. Big mistake!! and by the time I reached I-81 I was pretty tired of driving this road in the on again, off again rain.
Headed for Hershey where I planned to check my email, etc. at the library. Tried to follow the instructions from my satnav, but somehow I ended up in the 'Park'. Was shown the way out, but still had a good chance to see what it is all about. I do so not like those type of places. Avoid them at all cost. I was glad that I had decided to spend the night at the truck stop at exit 77, and not in Hershey.
The next day it was straight down I-81 towards Shenandoah NP. At Front Royal I pulled off the road, into a motel car park to check my coupon book and see if any of them refered to one of the many motels in this town. Imagine my surprise that I had pulled into the motel which gave the best deal with the coupon. After some shopping and checking out the town, I settled down in a basic, comfortable room and bed.... with (iffy) wifi!!
Skyline Drive was a great disappointments. I drove the first 65 miles and then reverted back to I-81. Like the Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive is slow, very scenic, and if you like to stop at the turnouts for photos and take in the view, then that makes it slower still.
For me it was fog and rain... and then rain and fog... very little to see and enjoy.
As good as it got
This is the third time I have attempted the SD / BRP, and each time I have been thwarthed by the weather. As I drove down I-81, I kept listening to the weather on the radio, and looking across to the mountains. The clouds were very low, shrouding the tops of the mountains. I doubt that I would have had much scenery to enjoy.
On the other hand... a wild turkey crossed my path and many deer were by the roadside, including some young ones.
Continued down I-81 that day and the next, through Harisonburg, past the accident and onto Abingdon, where once again I chanced upon a weekend festival. This time I did not stop. I could see all the goings on, the one thing I could not see was a parking spot.
Sometime before I reached the exit at Abingdon, an 18 wheeler pulled alongside of me, blasting his horn. Not having diverted from my cruise controlled driving, I ignored it, and he dropped back. Soon he was there again, honking. I thought I better look and see what he wanted, perhaps there was something wrong with the back of my car. But no! There was a notepad held up which I could see through his passenger window on which was written... MELB. VIC. I gave him the thumbs up, and he continued ahead of me. (On the back window of my car is a sticker in the shape of Australia with the flag super-imposed upon it.) When I exited at Abingdon I lost him. So if anyone sees Navajo trailer #54813, (maybe in a rest area) pass on my details. LOL
I called the hostel where I had planned to spend the night... south of Galax near the BRP. The hostel sounded really great. When I spoke to the 88 year old owner, he informed me that unfortunately he has had to close for the time being... as he is recovering from a coronary. I was so disappointed. When he heard where I was heading - route 58 - this thoughtful gent did his best to warn me, and advise strongly against my driving that road.
I thanked him... he meant well.
Route 58, which had been suggested to me as an interesting road, was all that and more. Heading east from I-81 it passes through the small settlement of Damascus before it heads into the Mt Rogers NRA.
At first it follows a lovely stream, and then it heads up, sometimes through private property, and somethimes through SP/NRA.
(One of the few photos for which I was able to pull off the road.)
It is a winding road, as most mountain roads are, but it is a good road, and a road that anyone should be able to drive. It is not particularly narrow, but it is slow. It was such a pleasure after the disappointment earlier on SD. Really enjoyed the drive. No chance of falling asleep here.
So scenic and interesting. Not a cruise control road... at least not until you get to, and past Independence. On this fine afternoon, folk were sitting on their verandahs, mowing their lawns and walking their dogs. It was quite an active area despite being relatively remote.
Well before I got to Independence and the divided road it started to get darker and darker, and the radio started sending out weather warnings. There was movement in the storm which was heading for Hillsville... that was the way I was heading.
The plan had been to take 89 to Mount Airy NC, but by the time I got to Galax it was not just raining... it was pelting down. So much so, that I pulled off the road for a good half hour. The wipers could not keep up with it, and with the amount of water on the road I was not prepared to let some speeding idiot lose control and hit me. It ended up being I-77 down to Mt Airy (where there is a truck stop which welcomes RVs).
The ride from 58 down I-77 is fantastic... straight down the hill! I think I counted four run-away truck ramps. That gives you an indication of the grade. And by now the rain had eased, almost stopped, and it really was a great view over the valley to the east. Wow!! I believe it is called 'a ski run'. Not a place to risk taking a photo whilst driving.
The travel plaza at Mt Airy is one of the few I have stayed at which is not owned by one of the two big fellas. It was a nice change. Not only was the menu different - still great food, great prices - but they offered free wifi, which was available throughout the plaza.
From here it would be an (almost) speed run down to Florida.
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