Blue Ridge Parkway Ride (October 25, 2014)

 To the Blue Ridge Parkway...told it was peak color and frankly hate those times I have not made this trip (the very few there have been). This was my second time this year to make this ride..got up early for a 7:30 am start time. It was a rousing 41 degrees, had to stop a few times to warm the hands (did a good job on clothing but the gloves could have been a bit warmer). Rode up I-64 to Exit 99. Was told the traffic would be bad, but frankly was a very pleasant ride, and riding on the Parkway was not bad at all...busier than the last ride there, but still could cruise. Photo at left was the first stop there.  

One of the stops was of a Mountain Farm....not really a replica though cause while brought from other places are all original buildings. There were a number of places to see there.
Up on the Parkway I rode a total distance of 60 miles...30 out and 30 back. Made a lot of stops to see the lookouts and some of the sights.
Must have been a Porsche rally there, passed a large number of large groups of cars there (going the other way) which was pretty neat.
At any case, was fun to ride down those roads...felt sort of like flying at ground level. Great curves, good pavement (had been repaved since my last visit) and views not to be believed.

 This was another shot, one of many. Headed back out after a few hours and back on I-64. Lots of dead deer on the side of the road-apparently they have been breeding a lot, but still have a lot of problems with that car/truck thing.
Ran at a pretty good clip, keeping up with traffic meant not running at the speed limit. I was not in a hurry, but everyone else seemed to be. Not being in a mood to get run over I ran along with them. Few police to be seen and if the semis went flying by...figured I was pretty safe.  

Stopped at Michie Tavern in Charlottsville to eat there (building dates to the late 1700's). Like that place, but there was a good line (found it was homecoming at Virginia...they lost to North Carolina in the football game that day) so ate at MickyD's (also in Charlottesville) and gassed up the bike for the ride back to Richmond.
Beautiful day, temperature in the 70's (a little cooler in the mountains) and a beautiful ride which covered a total of 258 miles beginning to end (thanks to the trip meter).I was so glad I did this..have been on a lot of rides since my last post but this was one of the longest in some time. I have more photos on my Richmond and me page.