Thursday, July 8, 2010

July 4th Ride to the Blueridge Parkway

Great ride to the Blueridge Parkway and New River Gorge.
1400 miles total.
(Click on any photo to see it larger.)

Through the tunnel at Cumberland Gap.


Veterans Overlook on US 11W near Bean Station, TN.


Bristol, TN and Bristol, VA - check the street sign.

Heading to Shady Valley, TN on US 421 - "The Snake".



Shady Valley Country Store
Snack and fuel - I chose the pump labeled "Venomous".



Spent the night in Boone, NC. Then down to Blowing Rock, NC to get on the Blueridge PKWY.

Started the day with leather jackets and chaps.







Look closely at the mirror!


Lunch break at Mabry Mill.


Spent the night in Roanoke, VA. Then back to the Blueridge heading north.
View from Roanoke Mountain.








Lunch at "Peaks of Otter" Lodge.



Short trip off the Blueridge for fuel in Glasgow, VA.


Ummmm. . . . I dunno. Odd site in Glasgow.

Too hot in the valleys. Felt at least 30 degrees hotter.
Back up to the Blueridge, headed south for another night in Roanoke.



Back road near Roanoke. Never rode through a drain tile before.


Entering West Virginia.

Old bridge over New River in West Virginia. Road surface was a mixture of steel mesh, concrete, and steel plates.


New River Gorge National River area.

The longest single span arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
The arch is 1700 feet across.

This bridge is huge! That's a four lane highway up there!







West Virginia coal mines.




Lots of coal trucks.