Solo ride to the Skyline Drive and Washington. appox. 1998
Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 4:18 am
Finally got some vacation time and instead of just hanging around New Jersey I decided to head out on an adventure of my own.
I had taken a ride to the Skyline Drive in Virginia a few years back with about six other riders but as usual when you ride with a group you're at their mercy as to where you go and when. I wanted to do it my way this time.
Monday morning, bright an early, I'm on my way. Last night I thought, as I was on my own, I should have some sort of cover for the bike so it wouldn't be so obvious when parked at night.
I headed for the closest dealer in my area. I was early so I had to wait for them to open.
While I was waiting, off to the south I noticed the sky was a little dark but I was determined. Nothing was going to mess up this ride.
I bought the cover and headed south on Rt. 295 towards Rt. 55. I rode down Rt. 55 to Rt. 42., down to Cape May New Jersey and the Cape May/Lewis Ferry. As I was in no rush and I wanted to travel south on Rt. 13, this was the obvious choice.
After a relaxing ride across the Delaware Bay, and after a nice conversation with some Canadian Bikers heading for Florida, (now that's a ride!), I landed in Lewis Maryland and Rt. 13.
I headed south towards the Eastern Shore of Maryland. On my last ride to the Drive, we had gone down Rt. 95, around Washington and south to Charlottesville Virginia. This time I wanted to avoid the hassle of the big interstates and take the scenic route.
As usual something always tries to spoil my trip so that pack of chewing gum that managed to yank the filling right out of my tooth was no
surprise. I thought this would be the turn around point but though there was a big hole nothing hurt, so on I rode.
It was right after the tooth incident, the heavens opened up. I hope the people who owned the porch I used to change into my rain gear didn't mind, but nothing was going to stop my adventure. A ride solo is always an adventure.
It rained off and on in that 90-degree heat, all the way down the Eastern Shore until I reached
the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/tunnel.
If you have never crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/tunnel try to plan your trip so you do.
Most of the ride is over the water and it's quite an experience.
The Bay Bridge/tunnel lets you off at Norfolk Virginia. From there I made my way to Suffolk Va.
where I stopped for the night. Total time, with all the stops in between about 10 hours.
Most of the stops were putting on the rain gear and taking it off. Ended up riding with the pants on all the time. One of the benefits of a two piece suit.
Tuesday morning I awoke to a beautiful day. Sun shining and not a bit of rain in the forecast.
I made my way north/west on Rt. 10 to Rt. I95 and Richmond. Can't seem to avoid those interstates.
At Richmond I turned west on Rt. 64 towards Charlottesville and the bottom of the Skyline Drive and the northern entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A note to remember. If you just reached the Skyline Drive and are about to take the ride and it's late in the day, don't do it! The Drives speed limit is 25 mph and strictly enforced. It will take you most of the day to transverse the Drive, so start early. This leads me right into the rest of the story.
I arrived in Charlottesville about 11 AM, a little too late to start the run, so I stopped at the hotel at the end of the Drive and checked in. I decided to spend the day and take some short runs in the area.
I hadn't been on the Blue Ridge before so that's where I headed. Beautiful ride!
When I got back from my ride, I decided to visit the Thomas Jefferson house. If you're down Charlottesville way, be sure to visit. Thomas Jefferson was quite a man and his house reflects it. Many inventions went into the house including dumb waiters and a special pass through for
serving food. There are also underground walkways from the main house to the out kitchen.
The house is built in an octagon shape. Very airy and light and well furnished. It was here that Mr. Jefferson, our 3rd President died on July 4th 1829, just 2 hours before our 2nd President, John Adams. Mr. Adams was reported to have said just before he died, "At least Thomas Jefferson is still alive." Little did he know.
My butt was a little sore from the ride the day before, so I decided to 'veg out' in the hotel for the rest of the day.
Tuesday I awoke early for the ride up the drive. I looked out of the window to check on the bike only to see gray. It was so foggy I couldn't even see the parking lot. What the hell?
I like a little adventure as much as the next guy, so I paid the bill and headed out to the bike.
I got all packed up, started the bike, and promptly broke the tack cable. This was a usual occurrence with the Suzuki 850, so I hopped on and started up the drive.
Now to say it was foggy would be an understatement. I was lucky to see no more that 20 feet in front of me. I prayed I was the only idiot on the Drive that morning. I got to thinking, as I rode close to the shoulder, what if I was to go over the side, no one would ever find me! With these thoughts in my mind, I rode on.
Eventually the fog cleared and the ride was as good as it always is. The Shanondoah Valley is a beautiful place I decided to stop at Lauray and visit the caverns. I forgot it was a steady 50 degrees in the caverns. I about froze my butt off, especially after getting off a hot bike in 85 degree weather, but the caverns were great and so was the museum. If you take the ride, be sure to stop. There are signs on the Drive and the turn off is about half way up the drive. Oh yea, bring a jacket and comfortable shoes. After leaving the caverns, I headed north.
At the end of the drive at Front Royal, I headed out on Rt. 55 to Rt. 66 and Washington DC.
As I wanted to visit Washington, I stopped on Rt. 66 in Roslyn.
The motel I stopped at said they were full. I asked if there were any rooms in the area and they called across the street to the Best Western. They said they had a room, so off I went.
When I walked in, helmet in hand, and asked for a room. I was told they had none. I promptly told them about the phone call and by some miracle, a room appeared. That was the first time I ever felt any prejudice because I ride a motorcycle. Most motels and restaurants are very courteous. So after I washed my bike, with their towels, "no rooms" my butt, I settled in for the night.
Up bright and early and checked out. Heading for the National Zoo. The zoo is on Connecticut Ave. heading north/west.
When I arrived, it was about 7:30 AM and of course no one was there, which made it very easy to park. The zoo isn't locked up at night, at least it wasn't at the time I took this ride. No gates. No guards. So I just walked in.
I had the zoo all to myself. It was great. Took the whole tour only meeting the occasional Zookeeper. As I was just finishing up, people with their car loads of kids, were just starting to come in.
As I was in the area, I decided to head to Bathesda and the Navel Hospital where the National Medical Museum is located. The Medical museum used to be part of the Smithsonian and located in downtown Washington but for some reason they moved it to Bathesda. As I couldn't really get into the hospital without a pass and luckily I rode a motorcycle, I just bypassed the gates and found a place to park. (Hell of a security system.)
Well the museum was a bit disappointing as they have stored away all the really interesting exhibits they used to have and left only those that, I assume, will not offend anyone. I was offended anyway. I wanted to see the ones they stored away.
After Bathesda and a great disappointment, I headed back to DC for a visit to The Wall. I had been there before, but a second trip was still moving experience. As I had seen the Smithsonian before, I decided to head on home.
I left Washington and headed north, up Rt. I-95, through Baltimore, straight to Philadelphia.
The end to a great ride. Even with the problems, riding solo was a joy. I made my own time, did what I wanted and stopped when I wanted. True freedom of the road.
I had taken a ride to the Skyline Drive in Virginia a few years back with about six other riders but as usual when you ride with a group you're at their mercy as to where you go and when. I wanted to do it my way this time.
Monday morning, bright an early, I'm on my way. Last night I thought, as I was on my own, I should have some sort of cover for the bike so it wouldn't be so obvious when parked at night.
I headed for the closest dealer in my area. I was early so I had to wait for them to open.
While I was waiting, off to the south I noticed the sky was a little dark but I was determined. Nothing was going to mess up this ride.
I bought the cover and headed south on Rt. 295 towards Rt. 55. I rode down Rt. 55 to Rt. 42., down to Cape May New Jersey and the Cape May/Lewis Ferry. As I was in no rush and I wanted to travel south on Rt. 13, this was the obvious choice.
After a relaxing ride across the Delaware Bay, and after a nice conversation with some Canadian Bikers heading for Florida, (now that's a ride!), I landed in Lewis Maryland and Rt. 13.
I headed south towards the Eastern Shore of Maryland. On my last ride to the Drive, we had gone down Rt. 95, around Washington and south to Charlottesville Virginia. This time I wanted to avoid the hassle of the big interstates and take the scenic route.
As usual something always tries to spoil my trip so that pack of chewing gum that managed to yank the filling right out of my tooth was no
surprise. I thought this would be the turn around point but though there was a big hole nothing hurt, so on I rode.
It was right after the tooth incident, the heavens opened up. I hope the people who owned the porch I used to change into my rain gear didn't mind, but nothing was going to stop my adventure. A ride solo is always an adventure.
It rained off and on in that 90-degree heat, all the way down the Eastern Shore until I reached
the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/tunnel.
If you have never crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/tunnel try to plan your trip so you do.
Most of the ride is over the water and it's quite an experience.
The Bay Bridge/tunnel lets you off at Norfolk Virginia. From there I made my way to Suffolk Va.
where I stopped for the night. Total time, with all the stops in between about 10 hours.
Most of the stops were putting on the rain gear and taking it off. Ended up riding with the pants on all the time. One of the benefits of a two piece suit.
Tuesday morning I awoke to a beautiful day. Sun shining and not a bit of rain in the forecast.
I made my way north/west on Rt. 10 to Rt. I95 and Richmond. Can't seem to avoid those interstates.
At Richmond I turned west on Rt. 64 towards Charlottesville and the bottom of the Skyline Drive and the northern entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A note to remember. If you just reached the Skyline Drive and are about to take the ride and it's late in the day, don't do it! The Drives speed limit is 25 mph and strictly enforced. It will take you most of the day to transverse the Drive, so start early. This leads me right into the rest of the story.
I arrived in Charlottesville about 11 AM, a little too late to start the run, so I stopped at the hotel at the end of the Drive and checked in. I decided to spend the day and take some short runs in the area.
I hadn't been on the Blue Ridge before so that's where I headed. Beautiful ride!
When I got back from my ride, I decided to visit the Thomas Jefferson house. If you're down Charlottesville way, be sure to visit. Thomas Jefferson was quite a man and his house reflects it. Many inventions went into the house including dumb waiters and a special pass through for
serving food. There are also underground walkways from the main house to the out kitchen.
The house is built in an octagon shape. Very airy and light and well furnished. It was here that Mr. Jefferson, our 3rd President died on July 4th 1829, just 2 hours before our 2nd President, John Adams. Mr. Adams was reported to have said just before he died, "At least Thomas Jefferson is still alive." Little did he know.
My butt was a little sore from the ride the day before, so I decided to 'veg out' in the hotel for the rest of the day.
Tuesday I awoke early for the ride up the drive. I looked out of the window to check on the bike only to see gray. It was so foggy I couldn't even see the parking lot. What the hell?
I like a little adventure as much as the next guy, so I paid the bill and headed out to the bike.
I got all packed up, started the bike, and promptly broke the tack cable. This was a usual occurrence with the Suzuki 850, so I hopped on and started up the drive.
Now to say it was foggy would be an understatement. I was lucky to see no more that 20 feet in front of me. I prayed I was the only idiot on the Drive that morning. I got to thinking, as I rode close to the shoulder, what if I was to go over the side, no one would ever find me! With these thoughts in my mind, I rode on.
Eventually the fog cleared and the ride was as good as it always is. The Shanondoah Valley is a beautiful place I decided to stop at Lauray and visit the caverns. I forgot it was a steady 50 degrees in the caverns. I about froze my butt off, especially after getting off a hot bike in 85 degree weather, but the caverns were great and so was the museum. If you take the ride, be sure to stop. There are signs on the Drive and the turn off is about half way up the drive. Oh yea, bring a jacket and comfortable shoes. After leaving the caverns, I headed north.
At the end of the drive at Front Royal, I headed out on Rt. 55 to Rt. 66 and Washington DC.
As I wanted to visit Washington, I stopped on Rt. 66 in Roslyn.
The motel I stopped at said they were full. I asked if there were any rooms in the area and they called across the street to the Best Western. They said they had a room, so off I went.
When I walked in, helmet in hand, and asked for a room. I was told they had none. I promptly told them about the phone call and by some miracle, a room appeared. That was the first time I ever felt any prejudice because I ride a motorcycle. Most motels and restaurants are very courteous. So after I washed my bike, with their towels, "no rooms" my butt, I settled in for the night.
Up bright and early and checked out. Heading for the National Zoo. The zoo is on Connecticut Ave. heading north/west.
When I arrived, it was about 7:30 AM and of course no one was there, which made it very easy to park. The zoo isn't locked up at night, at least it wasn't at the time I took this ride. No gates. No guards. So I just walked in.
I had the zoo all to myself. It was great. Took the whole tour only meeting the occasional Zookeeper. As I was just finishing up, people with their car loads of kids, were just starting to come in.
As I was in the area, I decided to head to Bathesda and the Navel Hospital where the National Medical Museum is located. The Medical museum used to be part of the Smithsonian and located in downtown Washington but for some reason they moved it to Bathesda. As I couldn't really get into the hospital without a pass and luckily I rode a motorcycle, I just bypassed the gates and found a place to park. (Hell of a security system.)
Well the museum was a bit disappointing as they have stored away all the really interesting exhibits they used to have and left only those that, I assume, will not offend anyone. I was offended anyway. I wanted to see the ones they stored away.
After Bathesda and a great disappointment, I headed back to DC for a visit to The Wall. I had been there before, but a second trip was still moving experience. As I had seen the Smithsonian before, I decided to head on home.
I left Washington and headed north, up Rt. I-95, through Baltimore, straight to Philadelphia.
The end to a great ride. Even with the problems, riding solo was a joy. I made my own time, did what I wanted and stopped when I wanted. True freedom of the road.
