May 27, 2008 - Shenandoah Valley

Captain’s Blog

Skyline Drive

Well, last nights stay in the Walmart parking lot proved to be not the smartest move on our part. We didn’t sleep muchbecuse of all the traffic noise. We felt like we had put out bed in the middle of 495. Of course you must be asking - why we didn’t move????? Good question. We asked ourselves that very same question and – had no answer – just dumb I guess.

Two years ago we travelled the greater then 400 mile Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina so we decided to complete the route and travel the 105 mile Skyline Drive that runs through Virginia.

We drove the first 55 miles of the Skyway with many stops and ovelooks along the way.The ride was beautiful and the scenery the same. It took us over three hours to travel that first 55 miles. We secured a spot in the Big Meadow National Campground, had lunch and took a much needed nap.

We decided it was time for another hike to another waterfall. Dark Hollow Falls is a series of “frothing”cascading so a must see for us. The trail to the falls is a 1.5 mile round trip hike. The hike down was fairly strenous since it is all downhill over rocky and very steep terrain. Bothe Ron and I felt we were up to the challenge beause we had hike up and back to Clingman’s Dome at a much higher elevation.

The falls were very beautiful and did cascade as promised. So it was worth the trip down – not sure sure about the trip back.

SEE Video:

SEE Video:

Again, the hike down was strenuous but OK. We did realize we would have to hike back UP – not as easy. Steep is a relative term I guess becsue it was a very strenous uphill walk but after sone heavy duty sweating on my part – not Ron’s we made it back up the to the trail head.

The good news is that neither one of us was out of breath and our legs did not hurt (except my right knee – nothing new) Our losing weight (Ron 32 pounds and me 15 was a positive for us both).

Back at our campsite we enjoyed the many deer that were grazing around our RV and the crazy littl bird who sat on the arm of our side mirror and thought he was mating with another bird while looking at himself in the mirror.

SEE Video:


We’ve been lucky and have had great weather with the temps in the 80’s but the weather prediction is fo the temp to drop into the 40’s tonight.