Aug 5 & 6 – VA
Day Four – We slowly drove our way south through the Shenandoah National Park at 35 mph, that is the limit for twisting roads on the top of the ridge. It is strange to think that we were driving on top of the mountains. It was a beautiful drive, along with a nice hike down to a waterfall, the Dark Hollow Falls.
love this sign!
The falls — and cute Jason below …
A huge fly hanging onto our hood as we cruise down the ridge parkway
Entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway
Than, we entered the Blue Ridge Parkway in George Washington National Forest and experienced our first southern red-neck experience. We stayed at Sherando Lake State Park just off the northern section of the parkway through some very scenic country, and got lucky with an over flow camping spot being available; there was a wedding being held there the next day – the wedding party was camping there the night before though. Our first welcome to the stereotypical south greeted us as we approached the local gas station and convenience store with a sign letting us know that they have 9mm pistols for sale for only $139.99, AT THE GAS STATION, along with some minnows.
I love these vine-trees, they were everywhere in va.
Later that night we enjoyed our nice meal of 10 minute rice and Indian food (TastyBite – really good stuff) with the background of country music from the radio that the local campers provided. The campers also had huge spotlight-like flashlights that they shined into the tree tops and forest randomly… I didn’t understand this activity, except maybe they were trying to quiet down the monster crickets. Later in the night to set up camp across from our site, believe it or not, was shirtless, literally red necked – burned past your imagination, potbelly southerner – just like you would imagine from the stories. It was a good night.
Day Five – This morning as we packed up, I got a visit from a big spider. I am from the northwest originally and spent the last three years in new york – spiders don’t get too big there and they usually leave one alone. These past few days I have had enough spider encounters to make me not look forward to going further south – thinking they are bigger down there. I don’t know how the spider got there, nor do I want to know, but I found it hanging from my upper arm/armpit area. Jason said he never heard me scream so much like a girl before – I don’t know if I have ever freaked out like I did than. It scared the crap out of me – 2.5” in diameter; I am being very realistic in the size.
We finished our packing with the friendly spider under the car and drove off to University of Virginia in Charlottesville. We enjoyed the town life and running some errands and than our first thunderstorm came in to the area and down poured as we drove out of town to find a campground. We found one southeast of the Charlottesville and set up our tent right in between storms and with help from a tarp, stayed dry the whole night, though not much sleep.
this is dixie, va
Tags: 01 - USA - East Coast
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