Skyline Drive

Friday we went down Skyline Drive.  What an amazingly gorgeous drive. 109 miles at 35 miles an hour.  We could drive with the windows down and enjoy the air, and hear the birds. It was in the mid 60s. It felt wonderful!
Skyline Drive History Bit from Wikipedia:
Begun as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression, construction of the Skyline Drive was both difficult and dangerous. Large cuts were made into the sides of knolls and peaks to allow for a road wide enough to handle traffic. The work began in 1931, and the final section (from Swift Run Gap to Rockfish Gap) was completed and opened in 1939. The Civilian Conservation Corps also had a hand in the construction of Skyline Drive. The CCC graded the slopes on both sides of the roadway, built guardrails, constructed overlooks, and planted thousands of trees and shrubs along the parkway.It has 75 overlooks.

Already a National Scenic Byway and on the National Register of Historic Places, the Skyline Drive was designated a National Historic Landmark in October 2008.

It was a foggy morning.

at the Dickey Visitor's Center.  It did not open till 9 am, we got there at 8:35. We kept moving!

Enjoying the view

Gorgeous views

Lon trying to catch the fog and see what it tastes like
He was getting soaked!

The dead tree looks really creepy with the fog behind it

Marys Rock Tunnel

This tunnel was completed in 1932.

Lon got the Jr. Ranger Booklet done, we watched the movie about the CCC.  We both learned a few things about the CCC in the Shenandoah.  One was there was 10 camps! The camps were run by the Army, but the work was run by the Park Service.

There were some poeple just starting on the Jr. Ranger Badges, they were impressed with Lon. As they should be!

Always have to get these!

Jr. Ranger Badge # 86

Back to the view

The last photo from Skyline Drive, it was amazingly gorgeous. Lon wants to go again, soon!

Welcome to Tennessee! Johnson City would be where we spend the night.

Our dinner was at a place called Cootie Browns.  Very interesting place. The food was good.


It was a great day. We all had a great time.