Today on the Blue Ridge Mountains

[Member 10617]

Beautiful day today in western Virginia, though a bit hot. So it was an excellent day to go up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here is a photo. Traffic, as the photo indicates, was very light -- few cars but many motocycles.

The only annoyance was some jerk in a Mercedes who came flying up behind me and kept flashing his lights to get by until we finally got to a passing lane. I don't know why anyone would want to speed down such a road.

I guess it is because of the economy or because of high gas prices, but the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Skyline Drive have experienced a drop-off of visitors. So, if you are in the neighborhood, this is a great time to visit.

 

[NutmegCT]

Ed - that is a *great* picture.

Say, what's the "black box" on the lower right?

I enjoyed the Skyline Drive myself once - back in the early 1960s. May be time to do it again in my own TR3.

Tom

 

[Member 10617]

Hi, Tom,

Ha, ha... no black box. That's the reflection of my camera in my rear-view mirror.

I hope you get the chance to repeat your visit(s) to the parkway soon.

The Blue Ridge Parkway and the Skyline Drive (two separate sections of the parkway that runs along the Blue Ridge Mountains, for those who don't know) is 574 miles in length. There are a couple of inns and restaurants along the way, although a couple of the smaller restaurants have closed because of lack of traffic. The nice thing about the drive is that you are never very far from towns and cities down in the valleys - for gas, motels, restaurants, etc.
The speed limit is 45, a bit too fast for this winding road but apparently not fast enough for people in high-powered cars!

 

[Brooklands]

I did a few sections there shortly after we acquired our 2009 Mini Cooper Clubman. It was great to drive as the first time I was there I was a backseat passenger in Dad's Car. A few photos of the Blue Ridge appear in the last 10 of my album at https://www.flickr.com/photos/brooklands/sets/72157623656096076/

 

[Member 10617]

Dave,

Yes, indeed, Mabry Mill is an excellent stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway.... and there's food there!


Here is another photo I took on the Blue Parkway a year or so ago (posted here back then). It was taken at one of the lodges near Roanoke, Va.

 

[poolboy]

It's down right uncomfortable over here in Sothwest Mississippi right now (except right after dawn) if you have to drive slower than 60mph.

 

[mallard]

Looks like a great drive, I'm jealous. I love the picture of your car between the two trucks. These are some small cars.

 

[NutmegCT]

Ed - that's quite a parking lot picture. I wonder if folks in the 1950s ever imagined the "family car" could become so large.

Tom

 

[Member 10617]

.... And the thing about it is that those two SUVs are probably NOT the largest cars on the road these days!

Poolboy: It's been in the 90s around here (with high humidity) the last few days.... That's why I headed for the mountains. Makes me miss the "dry heat" of Arizona...

 

[mallard]

I enjoyed the 110 degree dry heat today in my garage until 3:00PM before I had to call it quits. Our monsoon season is just around the corner, with it's dust storms, and maybe some rain.

 

[bobhustead]

At least somebody parked in the lines can't ding our cars with their doors.
Bob

 

[Member 10617]

Keith,

I understand that the monsoon season is comng early to Arizona!

Bob,

If these SUV's get any larger, we won't have to drive around them on the highway; we'll be able to drive under them!

 

[tomshobby]

Shirley and I made the drive last summer and loved it. It is on our list of drives to do again.

 

[KVH]

Looks like a great ride in a great car. There should be a special parking spot waiting for your arrival wherever you go. And not always between two big trucks.

 

[Member 10617]

The odd thing about my rides on the Blue Ridge Parkway (and we live only 15 miles from it) is that I have NEVER encountered another 40s, 50s, or 60s British sports car up there. In this whole area, I know of only one other TR3 and one '51 MG-TD (slowly and sadly rusting away in a barn). They seem to be vanishing.

Too bad...

 

[angelfj1]

If you had been a day earlier and further south (Grandfather Mountain NC) you would have encountered almost 100 TR's at the TRA 2012 National, which was held in Little Switzerland, NC. Dozens of us were on the parkway between Thursday and Sunday! Photos to come.

 

[Member 10617]

Oh, no.... Just my luck!

I would have loved to have seen the TRA 2012 National! Is this held at Little Switzerland, NC, each year at this time? Is there a website? Looking forward to the photos.

 

[JerryVV]

6 of us ran the Blue Ridge from Galex to the end in late April on our way to the Mitty in Atlanta. We got detoured at Mt Mitchel due to ice on the road. Had to get back on in Asheville, NC.

What part of the BR do you normally run?

 

[NutmegCT]

One of my favorite pictures: John Herrera (Twosheds) waiting for his TR ignition to dry out. Parked in the rain, somewhere on the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway back in 1993.

Tom

 

[JerryVV]

Rest in peace Twosheds