Ann and Richard's American Adventure: Day Nine

Got up, had breakfast, watched first few games of Murray v Federer. Then had to leave. Tried to find it on the radio to no avail.

Headed back a few miles to the entrance of Shenandoah National Park.

Fans of Top Gear may remember this episode.

Top Gear

In it, they start a road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway which is a very long road in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is meant to be one of the best driving roads in the world, but they get very bored as they can only go 35mph in their sports cars.

Well in Shenandoah NP is the Skyline Drive, a road which is set in the last section of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It follows the crest of the mountains for 105 miles, all at 35mph. Now the speed for us is not an issue as we aren't test driving cars, but we are looking forward to what should be some great scenery. We pay our $15 park entrance fee and set off on our merry way entering at the very southern point of the park.

We stop at the first couple of viewpoints but soon realise that we can't stop at them all otherwise we will never reach the other end. As we drive it starts to become apparent that it actually isn't a good driving road at all. There are trees pretty much along both sides of the road for miles at a time so you can't see any further than the first tree. Occasionally there is an overlook where you can stop, but most overlook the same view, just from a slightly different angle. And doing only 35mph means you just see slow moving trees.

A View of Trees

We carried on driving as we had little choice but to keep going as there are only two points along the 105 miles where you can exit. We made the decision that we would exit on the second one. It is still roughly 75 miles from where we had entered the park, so we tried to push on as best we could mindful of the speed limit and the rangers and radar monitoring it. We did briefly touch 60mph at one very boring part. We decided to stop at one point to use the facilities and look in the normal tacky kind of shop. Ann got some Red Velvet Cake Fudge. We also saw this.

What is it? No idea!!

Saw some American Civil War information about somebody who did something.

Info

Eventually we managed to leave, having spent three hours in the park. Got onto a quicker road. Stopped in Front Royal to get lunch. Decided to do something different and went into a supermarket. Mooched about for a while and then got some stuff to make a packed lunch. Set off to find somewhere to eat it. Ended up near a cemetry. Was quite quiet except for all the coffin. Boom Boom.

Carried on north, out of Virginia, briefly into West Virginia and then Maryland. Ann tuned the radio into some bluegrass music. We sang any old lyrics in a drawl with an occasional yodel thrown in. Was hilarious. Then suddenly we had a moment of joy as we realised we were approaching a place where we had been two years ago. Sure enough there it was, Hancock. The place we had eaten lunch on our first driving day last time when we went from Washington to Niagara. High fived as we drove past. Soon entered Pennsylvania.

Carried on upwards until we reached our destination, Somerset. Checked in to the hotel. Found out Murray had won gold. Watched some TV before going out to dinner. Walked down the road to a diner a few hundred yards away. Ate the best meal of our trip so far. Was awesome and probably the cheapest we have had too. Whilst sat eating we saw five coaches going past carrying a marching band of some sort. Then two HGVs went by carrying their stuff. Boy, they must be a big band. The waitresses got a bit worried as they thought the coaches were turning into the carpark. We then decided to have dessert. Enquired what the burnt sugar pie was. Waitress tried to describe it being some sort of cake and then said I'll show you. She bought over the cake. We looked and said ok, we'll have a slice to share. To our amazement, she took the clingfilm off and gave us the entire cake. It turned out to be just one portion.

Photo doesn't do it justice.

We start eating, but having stuffed ourselves already it proves tricky. Ann gave up after a few mouthfuls. She tried to claim she had at least a third of it, but she is lying. Ann suggests that we take it away. I say don't talk such nonsense. Attack it with vigour. Eventually, some hours later, emerge victorious.