A Traveler's Experience

Skyline Drive (VA)

As we proceeded south toward Skyland Resort on the Skyline Drive and our night's lodging, our headlights illuminated the trees on each side, with great gaps where overlooks were. We could tell we were really high up because of the city lights far below to the east. The curves, the darkness, and the glorious full moon made this drive a spooky experience. We nearly had a close encounter with a nice four-point buck, too!

My room at the resort had a good viewpoint to see the Shenandoah Valley the next morning, except the air was hazy. I guess that's normal. Had a tough time tearing myself away from that picture puzzle in the lobby. Had breakfast at the restaurant there. Liked the scones, but I was surprised when they fried the raspberries as well as the pancakes.

We drove south from Skyland, passing two intrepid cyclists -- they looked tired. Lots of overlooks to the west now. Our goal was to see one of the many waterfalls that Shenandoah National Park is known for, and so we took the Dark Canyon Falls hike. That was a warm experience! When we stopped to take a photo of the stream, a deer was grazing right behind Steve. No fear at all, the deer just strolled right on by. That was the first of several close encounters with wildlife -- HUGE butterflies, speckled fish with red fins in a clear pool (trout?), and a warthog! Okay, the warthog was only a bent stump, but it sure resembled one. A really nice hike through a hardwood forest path next to the stream that forms the falls. I did get a bit breathless on the way up, though!