[BK]

Originally Posted by sstarch1

Hahahaha...no thats a river....

Funny, my first thought in looking at the map was "holy crap, that black road looks awesome!"

Thanks for the post. I intend to give this a try, too.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by BK

Funny, my first thought in looking at the map was "holy crap, that black road looks awesome!"

I had the same initial reaction...that would've been something!

[tman]

Sounds awesome. So when you doing the run in your own car? Let me know, I'll join ya.

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by BK

Funny, my first thought in looking at the map was "holy crap, that black road looks awesome!"

Thanks for the post. I intend to give this a try, too.

Isn't that the South Fork of the Shenendoah River? Wicked in a canoe if it is.


Oops, my bad...that's the North Fork of the Shenendoah.

[sstarch1]

Hey guys,

I will probably do the run again in early May after i get my car back....probably the first weekend i can.

Here is a googlemaps link to the route i plan on doing this weekend....

The google maps link is pretty intense, give it time to load.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...4,0.32135&om=1

[iatacs19]

What about Skyline Drive? Has anyone driven there? How is it?

[sstarch1]

I know its $15 for entrance on the the road and park.

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by sstarch1

I know its $15 for entrance on the the road and park.

And a 45 mph speed limit.

[BK]

Originally Posted by sstarch1

I know its $15 for entrance on the the road and park.

Unless you get there early. Take it from a photographer (okay, a former photographer) -- we get there way before the sun comes up. The gates are open and nobody is manning the booths at that hour. I don't know when they start collecting the fee, maybe 6am or 7am or so?

I should say, I don't advocate stiffing them on the entrance fee, I'm just passing the info along. If you don't pay when you drive in, you are supposed to pay when you exit. I have an annual pass for NPS and US F&W, so even when there is a guy at the booth, I don't pay. But I always get there so early, I really don't need the pass.

Speed limit on Skyline Drive is 35 mph, and rarely do the rangers patrol it for speeders. However, it is twisty enough and there are enough hazards that you won't go much more than 15 over at any given point. Watch out for deer at dawn and dusk, as they can be all over the road at those hours. And of course, watch for hikers and slow drivers.

IMO, you are better off finding another rural mountain road rather than Skyline Drive because on nice days, particularly on the weekends, Shenandoah gets packed beginning around 10:30 or 11:00am. You won't have much fun driving with so many people crowding the road. On the other hand, the roads in that general area can be just as fun, and are almost always traffic-free.

[Raider]

Ahhh, the dreaded 211 ride...i've crashed my bike here before, i love this road...the closest thing we have to a fun drive in VA...

[WxSquid]

Originally Posted by BK

Unless you get there early. Take it from a photographer (okay, a former photographer) -- we get there way before the sun comes up. The gates are open and nobody is manning the booths at that hour. I don't know when they start collecting the fee, maybe 6am or 7am or so?

I should say, I don't advocate stiffing them on the entrance fee, I'm just passing the info along. If you don't pay when you drive in, you are supposed to pay when you exit. I have an annual pass for NPS and US F&W, so even when there is a guy at the booth, I don't pay. But I always get there so early, I really don't need the pass.

Speed limit on Skyline Drive is 35 mph, and rarely do the rangers patrol it for speeders. However, it is twisty enough and there are enough hazards that you won't go much more than 15 over at any given point. Watch out for deer at dawn and dusk, as they can be all over the road at those hours. And of course, watch for hikers and slow drivers.

IMO, you are better off finding another rural mountain road rather than Skyline Drive because on nice days, particularly on the weekends, Shenandoah gets packed beginning around 10:30 or 11:00am. You won't have much fun driving with so many people crowding the road. On the other hand, the roads in that general area can be just as fun, and are almost always traffic-free.

My observations from my many trips in the MCS...

1) Yep, Skyline (north of I-64) is 35 and heavily patrolled - plus a federal ticket. It was also the only place to nail me for no front VA plate.

2) South of 64 is 55+ (+ meaning as much as you feel lucky) and I never saw a cop/ranger from I-64 to US 60. Now, US 60 back to I-81/64 had enough downhill hairpins to fade my JCW brakes!

3) The Hampton Roads MINI Club has a route called the Devil's Backbone that is in the SW corner, where US 58 met I-81. We'd head over on a Fri/Sat night, spend the night, and then boogie the back roads. Very fun...

Summer was no good, but after the leaves change and start to fall, it was wide open and sight lines were better....

Still trying to find a decent drive on this side of DC....

DK

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by WxSquid

Still trying to find a decent drive on this side of DC....

DK

For your "needle in a haystack" drive, what's US13 (?) down the Eastern Shore like?

[KrnNamja83]

Hampton Road in Fairfax VA is a pretty fun drive, two lane, one in each direction, with lots of bends and twisties, its the one leading to Fountainhead Park off of 123. Nice stretch going down hill where you can probably hit over 100, I always get scared at 80 because there is a short bridge crossing at the end of the hill, followed by an uphill left turn, with little visibility for oncoming traffic. Only thing is the road is kinda short, maybe 5 miles? But thats the road I use often for "spirited" driving, plus the park is pretty secluded and quiet too, nice for taking pictures. Probably will be a really good place for a meet or something since they have a huge parking/picnic area that is rarely if ever used.

[WxSquid]

Originally Posted by SoYank

For your "needle in a haystack" drive, what's US13 (?) down the Eastern Shore like?

Actualy, I've done that a lot. Very boring for me... and the VVA Money Making Machine patrols that.

US 60 between I-81 in VA to Beckly, WV is an awesome drive....

[PocketRocket]

Originally Posted by WxSquid

... WV is an awesome drive....

so, I heard, Im still looking fwd to Edspilots WV drive tour invitation though, and hope no clown will poison the idea

[iatacs19]

I live in Fairfax and I hate the cops, I see them stopping soccer moms for going 45mph in a 35mph. And other ludicrous stuff these cops do...

Anyway, that's why I would just be scared to do anything car related in Fairfax county...

But, the meet idea sounds cool, anyone up for organizing it?

(I am praying my car gets here by end of April)

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by iatacs19

I live in Fairfax and I hate the cops, I see them stopping soccer moms for going 45mph in a 35mph. And other ludicrous stuff these cops do...

Anyway, that's why I would just be scared to do anything car related in Fairfax county...

But, the meet idea sounds cool, anyone up for organizing it?

(I am praying my car gets here by end of April)

I live in Fairfax too, and the cops aren't that bad...most of them anyway.

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by KrnNamja83

Hampton Road in Fairfax VA is a pretty fun drive, two lane, one in each direction, with lots of bends and twisties, its the one leading to Fountainhead Park off of 123. Nice stretch going down hill where you can probably hit over 100, I always get scared at 80 because there is a short bridge crossing at the end of the hill, followed by an uphill left turn, with little visibility for oncoming traffic. Only thing is the road is kinda short, maybe 5 miles? But thats the road I use often for "spirited" driving, plus the park is pretty secluded and quiet too, nice for taking pictures. Probably will be a really good place for a meet or something since they have a huge parking/picnic area that is rarely if ever used.

Hampton and Henderson are nice roads, all Clifton roads are. You just gotta watch out for deer...and occasionally other cars weaving in your lanes.

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by WxSquid

Actualy, I've done that a lot. Very boring for me... and the VVA Money Making Machine patrols that.

US 60 between I-81 in VA to Beckly, WV is an awesome drive....

Ooh, yeah! Been on that one many a time but with a '70 Valiant and a '72 Toyota that almost needed a push up the hills. I also liked US 58 east of Jonesville, VA until they skirted the road around the mountain.

[sstarch1]

So of course, after i take the time to screen capture from Google earth, and then draw the route in Photoshop, Google Maps comes out with the exact features i needed.

So here is the link.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...eb333d63&msa=0

[BK]

Man, you've started in Haymarket. Just getting out to Haymarket is quite a hike!

Seriously, though, thanks for the work. I'd like to give it a try. Probably not for a while, though. Does the map on Google expire at any point, or can I just bookmark this page?

[sstarch1]

Originally Posted by BK

Man, you've started in Haymarket. Just getting out to Haymarket is quite a hike!

Seriously, though, thanks for the work. I'd like to give it a try. Probably not for a while, though. Does the map on Google expire at any point, or can I just bookmark this page?

It only took me about 45 minutes or so to get out there from 395....


And the map should stay there for a long time, its one of "my maps"