Gateway to Skyline.
Yesterday was my first real day on the road. I went I'd say about 200 miles, give or take a few. The most exciting part of the day was seeing my first national park ever, Shenandoah National Park. I got my parks passport stamped and drove right on through the now leafless forest surrounding Skyline Drive. I can't even imagine what it looks like when the leaves start to come back. I'm sure the only time you can see anything but trees is at one of the many overlooks. About 60 winding miles later and finally a speed limit over 35 mph I ended up at the Luray Caverns.
Two things about the caverns - 1. Don't come hungry. You only work up even more of an appetite, trust me. 2. It's beautiful and 100% worth it. There were stalactites and stalagmites everywhere (basically cave icicles that come up from the ground and also hang from the ceiling). Up close they look like what the props of a ride at Disney World would be made of, fake plastic rock. They kind of feel that way too even though they are very real and have been around for hundreds of years. Technically you're not suppose to touch the formations but I may have "accidentally" missed that part. Whoops! The last thing I will say about them is this - they are very musical. The Great Stalacpipe Organ was installed in the fifties and each note played triggers a rubber mallet that then taps on different stalactites throughout the caverns. Crazy, right?!
Two more hours of driving through farmland and run down shops, I arrived at my destination in Staunton, VA. Going to stay here a few days with friends and visit a bit. Stay tuned. :)
- G.
The Photo:
Dream lake in the Luray Caverns.
It's an optical illusion, there is only the cave above and the water below is creating a perfect reflection.
Luray, Virginia.
1/16/17.
