22. Virginia

Spent Sunday night, November 3rd, in the town of Front Royal.  Next morning, cold and overcast, drove to the Northern entrance of Shenandoah National Park.  The 105 mile Skyline Drive runs the entire length of the park. I was planning on taking my time, do a bunch of hikes, and drive it in two days, but due to the bad weather, I only did one hike and finished it in one day.  It was a nice drive with great autumn colors and some wildlife.

Spent the night in Charlottesville.  Next day, drove my scooter to the University of Virginia, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819. Very nice campus with the old buildings surrounding a big lawn, headed up by the rotunda.

Drove downtown, walked around the pedestrian mall which was nothing special, then drove 15 minutes to Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson. Saw the movie, toured the house, visited the grave and did the short hike.  It was OK, but nothing special.

Next day, drove 30 miles West, then started on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  It begins where the Shenandoah National Park ends, goes 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina and ends at Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the North Carolina/Tennessee border.

Very nice drive, most of the visitor centers were closed for the season, but the road was empty so it was relaxing.

Old farm restored by the National Park Service

Nice views all around

 Typical views of the parkway - 45 mph speed limit

Left the parkway at milepost 50, and spent two nights in the town of Buena Vista at their county park's campground. Used the scooter to visit nearby Lexington, home of Washington and Lee University, the Virginia Military Institute and Robert E. Lee visitor center.  The Confederate general lived here after the Civil War, was the University president, died and is buried here.

Washington and Lee University

 Lee's tomb in the university chapel

 Virginia Military Institute

Drove 1.5 hours East past the Parkway to the National Historic Park of Appomattox Court House, sight of Lee's surrender to Grant. Toured the visitor center and houses, spent an hour walking all around the place, then spent the night at a nearby campground.

McLean House where Lee surrendered to Grant

 Nice reconstructed house in the village

Next morning, drove 70 miles West, rejoined the Blue Ridge Parkway, then drove down it for 100 miles, stopping at a few places to take short hikes.

Old cabin on hike at Smart View picnic ground

Mabry Mill historic site at milepost 175

Late that afternoon, Saturday, November 9th, left the parkway at milepost 200, drove 15 miles Southeast to Mount Airy, North Carolina, home of Andy Griffith.  Stayed the night at Mayberry Campground.