Tuesday, 8 September 2015

5th to 7th September....Bristol,TN to Mt Jackson,VA & Skyline Drive National Park...

After the fireflies last night I saw a marmot or groundhog not sure which but I only saw it once so I guess it was a marmot but then again this could be the same day again !!!!!
On the road again (cue song) and just a mile or so from our campsite at the very neat town of Bristol we move into Virginia....Bristol and the surrounding areas/towns are very "manicured" everyone seems to take great care with their gardens and frontages...
273 miles today mainly interstate 81....Willie's Roadhouse on the radio and settled down to one of our favourite road trip songs Arlo Guthrie and city of New Orleans...so many good road trip songs today...WOLD, Route 66, Jolean, Desperado to name a few...
We noticed tobacco plants growing in the fields that we passed bringing back memories of the very funny Bob Newhart and his excellent "sketch" Introducing Tobacco To Civilisation...for those of you too young to have heard this I'm sure it can be found on U-Tube...check it out..:)
Comfort stop at rest area on I-81....this bridge built in 1878 is the oldest iron bridge in Virginia...
There we are parked amongst the "big boys".....back on the road and 10 miles from our exit we all come to a grinding halt for just over an hour due to an accident blocking both lanes not far ahead of us, luckily no one injured....we happen to be stopped near a group of Chevy Camero owners on their way home from a rally....it turns into quite a gathering with our trailer providing shade (temps high 80's, low 90's) chairs appeared as did snacks and sodas...good camaraderie and chat...
Arrived at our campsite in the pretty Shenandoah Valley later than planned but at least our day not ruined like the folks in the accident...nice campsite, full and buzzing due to holiday weekend, lovely to see families enjoying the beautiful weather and the great outdoors...
Sunday 6th Sept and day one of the Skyline Drive which really is an extension of The Blue Ridge Parkway which we drove in 2010...the Skyline Drive is part of the National Parks system and it's  time to renew our annual membership, $80 and worth every cent....The scenic drive is 105 miles long and follows the crest of The Blue Ridge Mountains mainly at 3,300 ft elevation.... time to sing The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, On The Trail of The Lonesome Pine !!
Taken from one of the many viewpoints on the scenic drive....
Is this the Lonesome Pine ??
Back on the trails this one on the north side of the ridge and starting to get autumnal colours although the temperature is heading to high 90's....this was just a short hike although some elevation change for a leg stretch !!
On route to the Skyline Drive we pass through the very pretty little town of New Market near one of the many battlefield sites, in fact we missed a big reenactment this morning...
Not showing up very well but a "group"of Harley riders waiting at the lights...what is the collective name for them ???
The oldest stone house in new Market...
Day 2 of our Skyline Drive and a good hike to Dark Hollows Falls...a 2 mile round trip with a 500 foot elevation change...very steep and very hot....when we get back home the AC unit is registering 105 for outside temperature...even giving some latitude it still has to be nudging 100...but not complaining it will soon be winter !!


Back home via a lovely avenue of trees...
And a covered bridge.....
Back at the campsite most folks have left after the holiday weekend ready for school/work tomorrow...we almost have the place to ourselves, I guess age has it's compensations :)
Tomorrow we are back on the road north to Pennsylvania so for now it's until the next time from Camp Harris...

2 comments:

  1. Yes, I'm old enough to remember Bob Newhart - didn't he also do one about the potato? How about " an harassment of Harleys"? Weather looks great and Bristol looks a little different from its namesake here. Im off to Exeter tomorrow for work and staying over to see Clare on Saturday - Maxine will probably go shopping without me here - now thats different. Its BJ's 70th on Monday - did you know? Take care A& M

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  2. I think so but another great one is the Driving Instructor...Yorkieman did have a CD of them all I think it's still in his car, time for a re-run me thinks..
    We like "harassment of Harleys' :)
    Thanks re heads up about BJ's 70th...we didn't know and will take appropriate action...
    Hope you have/had a good trip to the West Country and that Maxine had some great retail therapy :) xx

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