Around noon we left our home in Bainbridge, PA to embark with the goal to conquer the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469 mile recreational drive spanning from Waynesboro, VA to Cherokee, NC. The parkway spans five mountain ranges.
After some fumbling around getting aquatinted to where we were going and Loki's behavior of not taking no for an answer. Damned if he will be sitting in the back! He claimed his stake at laying in the back and middle console area. We made it to interstate 81 and crushed miles, until heavy rainfall, as we in pushed through getting to the Northern entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway, with mile marker 0.
We stopped the car at the iconic entrance point sign, I jumped out for a picture in the rain with a smile on my face, excited for the incoming curves along the mountains crest.
We were quickly greeted by heavy fog and rain, with spurts of sun shining through. The first visitors center was closed on Saturdays, but we were able to grab a national park map which we used as reference as we made our way Southbound.
The speeds were 45mph, with massive drop offs, lack of guard rails in cautious weather. This of which made the preparation of replacing the front brakes and rotors/fluids before the trip justified. The views were awe inspiring as clouds can be seen hugging adjacent mountains from the endless overlooks of the surrounding areas.
The driving aspect of the road is unmatched, and "Americas Favorite Drive", coined for good reason. A thing missing from this fast moving world, a small engine with manual transmission succeeds in worlds of engagement as it handles the curves with poise.
Passing through a tunnel and ripping through 2nd into third the little boxer pumping is as fun as it can get within legal speeds. Passed the lowest and highest points in Virgina. Shortly after passing the tallest point we were greeted by a lake over watched by a peak, indicating it's name.
We arrived the first campground, reserved weeks prior, and had a game plan for setting up (being dark and all). Since we were "late" arrivals according to the NPS as they indicated on our paperwork. We set up our spot with ease, as experienced road trippers, ate dry food dinner of chicken fajitas which was a fantastic quick dinner from a long day of travel.
We hung out for a bit before calling it a night. A sleepless night for myself as Loki was having trouble adjusting to sleeping in a tent, the cicada sounding it's 100 mile call right above our tent, campgrounders being loud, and those driving along the Parkway made themselves known.
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