Biggs Cross Country 2017: Day 26

Leaving Roanoke we jumped right back on the Blue Ridge parkway for the drive up to Shenandoah National Park. The Parkway ends and turns into Skyline Drive. Was it all part of the same project originally?

Skyline Drive, at least as far as Big Meadow, was a bit disappointing. It’s a great driving road but we don’t recall the trees being so tall creating a tunnel you can’t see out of! There were many scenic overlooks that were overgrown with trees and bushes blocking the view. Seems they could clear these up to restore the view – probably a budget issue! It was very hazy today so the view wasn’t that great. Its still very humid, on the 70’s once we got some elevation.

In the final section of the Blue Ridge Parkway we stopped at the James River crossing. Nice park with a short hike to a restored lock system. The river is barely moving.

At the end the Parkway, before going on Skyline Drive, we needed to fuel up so we drove into Waynesboro. Not a very inviting town, at least from that angle. Actually had a hard time finding diesel. When we did, the price was right!

Big Meadow Lodge is about halfway up Skyline Drive (it ends in Front Royal , VA). We arrived about 6:30, unloaded our stuff in the lodge and had a nice dinner in the main dining room. Our waitress wasn’t quite up to par, but OK, the meal was great.