24May2008 America's NP's - a whole new world

Our first lesson on the road - all information relating to the journey through the parks is best obtained at the visitors center. The Dickey Ridge Visitors Center is situated a few miles into the northern entrance. The ranger at the information counter was friendly, informative and above all very patient. She recommended two hikes - the reward would be views from two modest summits. Instead, we chickened out and decided to do a shorter one described in the Nat Geo NP book. This was a friendly 1.2 mile trail into the Fox Hollow - down a gentle slope followed by an undemanding uphill walk; the trail was a loop so the end would be where we started from. We intended to follow the ranger's recommendations if we live through this first hike.

Typical city slickers - we felt harassed by all the insects, the creepy crawlies and zoomers in the forest. On top of this we had to keep our eyes on the ground to avoid tripping over rocks and exposed roots. It was not fun - the straps of our cameras tangled with our walking sticks and we were out of breath. Whenever there was anything interesting, it was a major effort trying to hold our cameras steady whilst swatting some silly insect trying for our jugular. On top of that, we had to keep track of a colour blaze daubbed on tree trunks at regular intervals meant to guide us. Armed with a booklet on flora, we stopped periodically, flipping the pages frantically to identify some leaf or flower that looked irritately familiar!! A small wonder then upon reaching a small cemetry, the Fox family plot with its old tombstones and crumbling retaining wall, we felt elated. Wow, this was what we came for - to learn how people lived (and died) in these forests.

What we ate for lunch later was not worth noting but what needs recording is that Big Meadows was a carpet of downy green, soft as a cushion, with inumberable oasis of shade offered by huge oak trees; from far, this looked like a golf course.

Crawled into Super 8 motel at Harrisonburg, thoroughly exhausted but buoyed by the soothing greenery, quietly anticipating another feast from Mother Nature tomorrow.
(We just called in and were lucky to get a room in spite of the holiday weekend. (Sigh) instant noodles again that night, a consolation though, we had whiskey to wash the food down.

distance travelled 96.6 miles


Taken at the start of the drive by a nice European couple - it was still chilly this late in May even with the sun out


Our first attempt at botanical identification - the leaf and flower of the tulip tree, aka the yellow poplar, tallest hardwood in the Appalachians, 40 - 60 ft.


Really photos don't do justice to the place


Relaxing at Big Meadows

23May2008 Beginning our drive across America

23May2008 Baltimore MD
It was the day after Romina's graduation. Had a superb breakfast at the Blue Moon Cafe with Ro and Ben. We were introduced to scrapple which tasted like liver after it had gone through a blender and fried. We started our drive and reached Front Royal, the town at northern entrance of Shenandoah NP, where we bedded down for the night at Quality Inn. Since it was the Memorial Day weekend, the place was packed. Many walk-ins were turned away, including a group of ageing bikers on their immaculate Harleys. The receptionist at the front desk was thrilled to have guests from China (HK)!
We slurped down our instant noodles in our room and quickly slipped into bed, in anticipation of an early start the next morning.


The backbone of Shenandoah NP is the Skyline Drive which runs from north to south for 105 miles along the crest of the northern Appalachians. There were four entrances to the park. Holiday makers were relieved from being cramped up inside their vehicles with 75 scenic overlooks along the way. To engage the energetic traveller - there were umpteen trails which ranged from easy to strenuous. Points of interest - waterfalls, lakes, mountain peaks, campsites - on either side of Skyline Drive can be accessed by short detours. So visitors had to know what they wanted to see in advance and how much time they can spare, novices like us just had to learn as we proceeded.

distance travelled 109 miles