Phreakingeek is an awesome guy that embodies the spirit of generosity and knowledge that makes the adv community amazing. He installed some of extra grips he had and so much more, working on my bike until well after dark and then let me camp in his back yard.
After coffee in the morning I headed for Shenandoah National Park / Skyline Drive.
I got on the Skyline Drive at 211 and went south. I had actually done this stretch of the park this spring and it had rained the whole first day soaking me to the bone, the next morning I learned that clothes don’t dry when hung in a cloud… I still loved every minuet and this time was even better. It was a bit cold but thanks to my new heated grips I kept all my fingers.
I don’t know where they get their clouds around here, but these are top notch clouds!
The park is 105 miles long and has 75 overlooks that’s an average of an overlook every 1.5 miles. I only did about 80 miles and I think that 75 includes ones you have to walk to see which I only did one of and there was a handful or so that I skipped. Still, there was a lot of pullouts that day.
As the afternoon wore on I noticed the sun was approaching the horizon rather quickly I spoke with a ranger that told me there were campsites for $20 or they gave wild camping permits out at visitor centers and entrances, but I needed to know where I would sleep for those. OK sounds good. I head south and see the campsite; closed. Guess I’m not sleeping there even if I did want to spend $20 on a patch of dirt and a gross bathroom. So, I make my way to the southern entrance at around 5:30 and ask the guard for a permit.
I should be finding someplace to sleep, but look at those sun rays, how can I not take a picture.
“Sorry, it’s too late for a wild camping permit, it’s getting dark soon”, “Too dangerous for people trying find a spot and set up camp”.
Well shit. He was right about one thing the mountains small as they are seemed intent on reaching up and stealing the daylight.
The guard was able to tell me that the Blue Ridge Parkway started half a mile down the road and since that is owned by the National Forest Service it doesn’t require a permit.