2008-10-05 VA Whole Skyline Drive, Soul Mountain Café

[str8_70s]

Okay. I don't know if this is enough detail for everybody's satisfaction, but it's what I've got. If you have any questions, want to confirm participation, or want to figure out when and where to meet that's not the start time and location, contact me directly. PM, email, phone. Phone or direct email is best.

Ari
434-409-3075
str8.70s@gmail.com

Start:
Fontaine Research Park, UVA
10:00 am, Sunday 10/5/08
64 West to Rockfish Gap (exit 99)
Skyline Drive north to northern terminus in Front Royal

Lunch:
Soul Mountain Café
(http://www.virginia.org/site/description.asp?AttrID=39120)
Approximately 2:00 pm

Return route:
TBD - either Skyline Drive, or some combination of back roads and highways, depending on time constraints of riders present.


I'm starting out at the Fontaine Research Park at UVA at 10am, then heading up to Rockfish Gao to hop onto Skyline Drive. I'm riding the entirety of Skyline Drive, stopping somewhat frequently for overlooks and such, and ending up in Front Royal. There I will eat at Soul Mountain Café (http://www.virginia.org/site/description.asp?AttrID=39120) before heading home. I don't have a specific route in mind for the return trip. This will depend on the general consensus, assuming that I'm not the only one riding. If people would like to ride Skyline Drive back the other way, we'll do it. Otherwise, we'll find another route. If people want to join for this ride, but not meet at my starting point, let me know, and we'll figure out approximate times for crossroads.

Again...

Ari
434-409-3075
str8.70s@gmail.com

[NCrider]

Um, did I miss the date?

[Gene]

Yep it's in the title :D

[str8_70s]

Added date in the body as well, next to start time. Sorry for the confusion.

[WVUandVT2]

Darn...must have missed everyone. I drove down to the cafe and got there around 1430 and stayed in that general area for about an hour. It was definitely perfect weather for a ride. I hope everyone made it back ok. :biker:

[str8_70s]

Sorry, Chief. A buddy joined me from Charlottesville, and we made it 20 miles up Skyline Drive before I earned my first speeding ticket on Black Betty. National Park Ranger Coles issued me a ticket for 60mph in a 35mph zone, and issued a warning to my buddy for 54 in a 35. 20 over is the magic number. If they could give you a reckless driving ticket, you'll thank them for a mere speeding ticket. I have cruised past rangers in Shenandoah doing 55 before and not had them flinch. I was unlucky. This guy was oncoming and got me. He could have given me a warning, too. Anyway, by that point, if we had to sit behind a car doing 45 it would have taken us forever. His wife is in her third trimester with twins, and I didn't want to ride for 6 hours. We got off the Drive and rolled around the back roads in central VA for a few. He went home and I went for a spin on the Blue Ridge Parkway, 56 along the Tye River, and 151 south of Wintergreen for a few wicked switchbacks, sans lightbars.

I paid for Track Day and had almost as much fun. Considering how fast I have been riding on some of the byways, I'm lucky to have only gotten one ticket so far, and 25 over is not nearly as bad as what could have been. I understand the STOC nominal speed is 125mph. Well, I got it. 70 over is reckless, not matter how kind the officer normally is.

Alas... what can a man do, but cry?

[Blue STreak]

Sorry, I didn't even see this until today. I might have met you for lunch.

Anyway, as you've learned, Skyline has pretty views but maybe the strictest enforcement of any National Park I've been to. There are roads west of the ridge that are at least as much fun to ride, without all the police presence.

[str8_70s]

Now that officer Coles has slowed me down a bit, I may choose to do Skyline in a couple weeks, or I may choose the alternate route. Probably go one in one direction, and choose another route for the other direction. Skyline North, something else back. I'll post again and stick to a plan a bit better.

Freakin' radars. On that, anyone know of a concealable radar detector that is undetectable?