Topic: Luray, VA and Skyline Drive (Read 7749 times)

Puzzled · « **on:** August 13, 2017, 12:09:22 PM »

Since our Sturgis plans fell apart we quickly threw a camping trip together to Luray, VA. We had no idea what was in Luray other than it wasn't very far from Skyline drive. Over a few days we racked up 500 miles which isn't terrible considering the 105 miles of Skyline drive is posted at 35 mph.

Luray KOA

Puzzled · « **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:11:12 PM »

The premium sites have a concrete patio alongside the camper and a paver brick patio with fire ring and Adirondacks.

Puzzled · « **Reply #2 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:12:10 PM »

Mamma would stay here all day if i'd let her.....

Puzzled · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:12:48 PM »

A very well kept campground.

Puzzled · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:13:28 PM »

Not a big park which we like.

Puzzled · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:14:09 PM »

Table and chairs as part of the premium site.

Puzzled · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:14:37 PM »

All set up.

Puzzled · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:15:32 PM »

It is nice to be able to park on concrete instead of gravel.

Puzzled · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:15:57 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:16:29 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #10 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:17:22 PM »

It was early enough in the day when we arrived so we ventured out to take a look.......

Puzzled · « **Reply #11 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:17:47 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #12 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:18:23 PM »

Some sort of old water plant.

Puzzled · « **Reply #13 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:18:47 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:19:13 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #15 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:19:35 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:20:00 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #17 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:20:41 PM »

The camper wouldn't fit through here....

Puzzled · « **Reply #18 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:21:35 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #19 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:23:04 PM »

I narrowed our next camper down to two and this was one of them a Jayco Siesmic 4113. A nice camper however we like the Heartland 427 better.

Puzzled · « **Reply #20 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:24:35 PM »

A very well equipped camper that someone could pick up for a great deal at $81k, MSRP is somewhere around $135k.

Puzzled · « **Reply #21 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:25:40 PM »

Making our way back to the campgrounds.

The end of day one.

Puzzled · « **Reply #22 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:26:38 PM »

Day 2, off to ride the lower 75 miles of Skyline Drive.

Puzzled · « **Reply #23 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:27:00 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #24 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:27:28 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #25 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:27:58 PM »

Awesome views.

Puzzled · « **Reply #26 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:28:23 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #27 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:28:58 PM »

75 miles of this....

Puzzled · « **Reply #28 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:29:41 PM »

The pictures don't do the view justice.

Puzzled · « **Reply #29 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:30:03 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #30 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:31:27 PM »

Highest point on Skyline. Higher than anything in Pennsylvania however only about half as high as our trip last year to Tennessee.

Puzzled · « **Reply #31 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:32:01 PM »

Stopping for lunch.

Puzzled · « **Reply #32 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:33:08 PM »

We stopped at one of the restaurants along Skyline Drive and we were pleasantly surprised at how good the food was.

Puzzled · « **Reply #33 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:34:16 PM »

Nice place for a rest stop type stop....

Puzzled · « **Reply #34 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:34:43 PM »

Back on the road...

Puzzled · « **Reply #35 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:35:08 PM »

Selfie stick time....

Puzzled · « **Reply #36 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:35:32 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #37 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:35:53 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #38 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:36:37 PM »

Top of the world mom.......

Puzzled · « **Reply #39 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:37:03 PM »

Awweee

Puzzled · « **Reply #40 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:37:30 PM »

Sexy mamma....

Puzzled · « **Reply #41 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:37:55 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #42 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:38:55 PM »

Keep in mind I hear all the time that you can't ride a 30" wheel bike....

Puzzled · « **Reply #43 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:39:17 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #44 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:39:41 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #45 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:40:03 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #46 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:40:34 PM »

More of the same, great view...

Puzzled · « **Reply #47 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:40:54 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #48 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:41:20 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #49 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:41:45 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #50 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:42:10 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #51 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:43:28 PM »

A lot of these pictures are taken while moving. Mamma is pretty good with the I-thingy on the selfie stick....

Puzzled · « **Reply #52 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:43:57 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #53 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:45:11 PM »

She takes more pics of me....

I stopped taking pictures when I met Gina, she does a much better job than I did.

Puzzled · « **Reply #54 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:45:38 PM »

selfie...

Puzzled · « **Reply #55 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:46:02 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #56 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:46:47 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #57 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:47:30 PM »

The bottom 75 miles completed...

Puzzled · « **Reply #58 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:48:17 PM »

The Blue Ridge Parkway will have to be another trip...

Puzzled · « **Reply #59 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:49:14 PM »

Back at the campground our first attempt at making campfire doughnuts...

Puzzled · « **Reply #60 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:49:40 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #61 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:50:07 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #62 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:50:35 PM »

Success...

Puzzled · « **Reply #63 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:51:16 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #64 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:52:01 PM »

winding down the second night by the campfire with an adult beverage....

Puzzled · « **Reply #65 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:56:54 PM »

Back out to ride the upper 30 miles of Skyline Drive.

Puzzled · « **Reply #66 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:57:15 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #67 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:57:38 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #68 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:58:07 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #69 on:** August 13, 2017, 12:59:17 PM »

Fast forward through a bunch of scenery pictures...

Puzzled · « **Reply #70 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:00:10 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #71 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:00:45 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #72 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:01:17 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #73 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:01:49 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #74 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:02:30 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #75 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:03:08 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #76 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:03:42 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #77 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:04:14 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #78 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:04:44 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #79 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:05:11 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #80 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:05:51 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #81 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:06:26 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #82 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:06:54 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #83 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:08:02 PM »

All 105 miles of Skyline Drive complete. We'd like to ride it again in the fall when the leaves change.

Puzzled · « **Reply #84 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:10:19 PM »

Back at the campgrounds we're giving the doughnuts another try. Knowing the oil temp will help us so we grabbed a thermometer from the local grocery store. I will bring the digital no touch thermometer next time!

Puzzled · « **Reply #85 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:11:01 PM »

Puzzled · « **Reply #86 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:12:12 PM »

Ideal oil temp was between 325* and 350*

Puzzled · « **Reply #87 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:13:25 PM »

The following night we tried cookies. They turned out ok however I know what we need to do to make them better!

Puzzled · « **Reply #88 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:14:14 PM »

If they were covered the tops wold bake quicker.

Puzzled · « **Reply #89 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:14:53 PM »

Not bad, a little gooey on top....

Puzzled · « **Reply #90 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:16:16 PM »

This picture was for my sons Scoutmaster... I had my bucket of water alongside the fire...

Puzzled · « **Reply #91 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:18:49 PM »

Monday it rained so we took the truck to Luray Caverns. Pretty neat place, incredible that is all underground and the history that goes along with it.

Puzzled · « **Reply #92 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:19:23 PM »

The pictures couldn't capture what we were seeing.

Puzzled · « **Reply #93 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:21:01 PM »

I have dozens of cavern pictures however they are like scenery pictures in that they all start to look the same after awhile.

Puzzled · « **Reply #94 on:** August 13, 2017, 01:24:06 PM »

We had a great time in the area. I would go back as the riding was great. We spent one day hitting old shops, farmers and antique markets. We'd like to kayak the next time we go. A fall trip will make it to our schedule at some point.

Fired00d · « **Reply #95 on:** August 13, 2017, 05:27:14 PM »

Damn Mike... wish I knew you were going to be there... I'm not far... matter fact if you are a good rock thrower (

) and threw a rock due east you might have been able to get my attention.

Thanks for sharing the pictures... with this resource right in my backyard I have to be reminded how nice it is to ride as I don't appreciate it as I should.

If you do come back to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway (or return to ride Skyline again) let me know.

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

FLSTFI Dave · « **Reply #96 on:** August 13, 2017, 09:20:32 PM »

Very nice, thank you for the pictures. I have done the Blue Ridge a few times, guess I'll have to do Skyline.

aclass · « **Reply #97 on:** August 17, 2017, 05:13:15 PM »

Welcome to the valley Puzzled, you were awfully close by especially when you were in Shenadoah. I'm sure you were on route 33 at some point, we live 5 miles from the swift run entrance.
Riding the Drive is nice but the speed limit can make it pretty rough sometimes, I probably do more pedaling up there than I do motoring.
Thanks for sharing

Puzzled · « **Reply #98 on:** August 20, 2017, 06:12:22 PM »

Great area for riding, the roads are very motorcycle friendly! We will go back just for the riding.

I'll give a shout out the next time we head down.

SIKBIRD · « **Reply #99 on:** August 20, 2017, 07:18:43 PM »

Thanks for the pics and ride report...I've done the southern half of the BRP a few times but running the entire length and skyline is on my bucket list. I was in DC in late June for work and driving back home was real torture knowing how close I was to skyline. I was tempted so many times to hop off the interstate and run some of it. Even though I was in a cage, it still would have been awesome. Oh well, I'll be back up there again soon and will make sure I do it next time.

Jock · « **Reply #100 on:** August 23, 2017, 09:04:56 PM »

Well Done! Thanks for posting the experience!

Hope to see ya in the Valley!

fenderbunny · « **Reply #101 on:** August 25, 2017, 12:34:28 PM »

That is a sweet ride!

Author Topic: Luray, VA and Skyline Drive (Read 7749 times)