Riding Skyline Drive: The Fully Loaded Edition

We've been doing a lot of mountain riding this year to prepare for an upcoming self-supported bike tour. This week's ride took us to the Skyilne Drive in the South District of Shenandoah National Park. We ride the North District all the time and we wanted to do something different. The extra challenge this week was that we rode with all of our gear to see how that felt in the mountains. We had a great day and we found that we could actually climb the big hills while pushing 30 extra pounds of weight. We did 51 miles total. This just might work!

Michael and two of our friends climbing near milepost 68 on Skyline Drive. We had great weather. It was nice and cool when we started. This is on the first climb south of Swift Run Gap.

 My bike all loaded up.

 We passed by the areas that burned this spring in the Rocky Mount Fire. In some places, where the fire burned right up to the road, it still smells smoky. In areas where the fire didn't burn as hot, the blackened ground it dotted with bright green regrowth.

 A closer view of some of the fire scars.

 All four bikes at our turnaround point.

Heracleum maximum (Cow Parsnip). This plant is enormous. The flower clusters are dinner-plate sized and are on stalks that are five to six feet tall.

Aquilegia canadensis (Wild Columbine) hiding in the underbrush.