Skyline Drive & Shenandoah River in Virginia

So after staying 'home' for the day of the tornado on October 31, we woke up on November 1, to SUNSHINE!

It was good foresight from me to book us 4 nights here at the Hyatt Place in Charlottesville, VA...

So off we went to our Skyline Drive in Virginia.

Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive and the other way driving south, you enter the Blue Ridge Parkway what we did for two days.

This was in Waynesboro, Virginia around 10:00 in the morning and look at the blue sky!

After a visit at the Visitor Center to pick up some brochures and maps, I had to capture our U.S.A. flag waving against the blue sky here at Lyndhurst, Virginia.

Oh, the gentleman at the Visitor Center told us that the ENTIRE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY was CLOSED! This due to lots of fallen trees because of the tornado...

How lucky we both have been for having had two sunny days when we rode it on October 28 and 29!

So here we enter SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK on the SKYLINE DRIVE...

At the entrance I showed our National Park Pass and that was all fine but the lady told us that we had to turn back around the building as there was a fallen tree on the narrow road and it could not be removed in time.

About one hour later, we entered, after using a regular road, at Swift Run Gap Entrance Station and turned north on the Skyline Drive to start our new adventure...

That way we missed about ⅓ of the entire Skyline Drive but it was not as bad as tourists that had come down from New Hampshire to enter the Blue Ridge Parkway and had to go back! Sad for those people who came in vain.

Shenandoah National Park, Elkton, Virginia

Oh, the golden colors of Autumn agains the blue sky!

Shenandoah National Park, Stanardsville, Virginia

Yep, at Stanardsville, Virginia the time and temperature 36ºF or 2.2ºC tells you that at that height it was cold! 
It even had been as low as 32ºF or 0ºC before...

Shenandoah National Park, Elkton, Virginia, so we are circling back and forth into certain sections.

Mighty views over quite a distance!

Shenandoah National Park, Stanley, Virginia giving you a better impression by this overview. 
Don't listen to my Limburgs... I just say: 'yesterday tornado and today beautiful clear weather. First section was closed but here we are!'

In 1968 the eastern hemlock tree was present in the Appalachian and they were over 300 years old. 
Sadly Ninety-five percent of Shenandoah's hemlocks are gone, killed by an invasive pest called the hemlock woolly adelgid. 
This was at Sperryville, Virginia.

Shenandoah National Park, Sperryville, Virginia
The gray, broken tree trunks of Hemlock Springs remind us of the hundreds of thousands already lost and the ecosystems forever changed.

Shenandoah National Park, Sperryville, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park, Bentonville, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park, Bentonville, Virginia with our Nissan Murano against the rocks to the left.

Shenandoah National Park, Washington, Virginia with some more dead Eastern Hemlock Trees...

Shenandoah National Park, Washington, Virginia - Yep, this was very close to Washington, D.C. the nation's capitol.

Shenandoah National Park, Front Royal, Virginia with Pieter standing against a gorgeous background where you even see Shenandoah River to the left and Shenandoah Valley...

Shenandoah National Park, Front Royal, Virginia
For seeing all The Overlooks of Skyline Drive click here
When exiting the Skyline Drive we were in awe of the sight of the Virginian Stack Train (yep, TWO layers of containers!!!) passing by!

What a sight at Riverton junction, VA just click through... Got more of this majestic Virginian on my Pinterest under FAVORITE PLACES I've Visited...

Shenandoah, Virginia and the Shenandoah River

Being more precise, South Fork Shenandoah River...

With my brother Jan at our home:

Did sent from Shenandoah River in Shenandoah, this short video via WhatsApp to my youngest brother Jan Van den Munckhof... This is us on July 27, 1999 singing along with John Denver - Take me Home, Country Roads click on link
Sweet memories of their 1st visit to the USA and Jan with wife Wilma intended to drive to Shenandoah, Virginia but got discouraged by the way too vast distance and never went all the way.
So I wrote to Jan: In my thoughts I took you along... and then sent him the location.

South Fork Shenandoah River as seen from the bridge in Shenandoah, Virginia

The other side of South Fork Shenandoah River in Shenandoah, Virginia
From there I drove back to our Whole Foods Market near the hotel, also to Trader Joe's and Costco to do some shopping and to gas up for next day when we would be heading to our next destination.

Both of us felt very happy and blessed with such great weather for all our outings.
Despite not being able to do any hiking, this was a great adventure!

The total km 353.1 km or 219.4 miles and the 9h 7m is total time, including our breaks for food and shopping etc.

Skyline Drive - Shenandoah National Park click it

Stay tuned for next part!

Thanks for your visit and comment.

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Mabry Mill Restaurant and Blue Ridge Parkway | previous post by me

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