After a visit to Richmond to see friends, we headed east to Shenandoah National Park. Our trip down Skyline Drive was spent in thick fog for half the ride. The other half afforded some longer views. In the fall colors, it was still spectacular.

The next day (with better weather), we started our trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is what riding a motorcycle is all about - it doesn't get any better than this! The road surface is great, the scenery is spectacular, and the curves, sweepers, and twisties must have been designed by a motorcyclist!

Near Lynchburg, where we were getting the bikes serviced, is Poplar Forest. While president in 1806, Thomas Jefferson designed and built this octagonal house as his personal retreat. The surrounding working farm also provided a source of income.

On the way back to Richmond to play tourist some more, we stopped in Appomattox. This reconstructed house was the residence of Wilmer McLean and was used by Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant in 1865 to negotiate the terms of the South's surrender to the Union Army.

Back in Richmond, we wandered around Hollywood Cemetery for a bit. Presidents Tyler and Monroe are buried here and this stack of stones was erected in 1869 as a memorial to the Confederate Soldiers who lost their lives. It's actually very interesting to walk around a cemetery that has history and character.

In a city park that overlooks downtown Richmond and the James River, even the street lamps have character. They are gas powered and have mantels, just like Coleman Lanterns. We wondered how often the city's maintenance crew have to tie on new ones.

It was fun to have a personal tour guide and chauffeur - Thanks Bill.

Billed as one of the seven wonders of the natural world, it is 215 feet from the span to the creek below. It was surveyed in 1750 by George Washington (who carved his initials in the wall), and bought by Thomas Jefferson from King George III in 1774 for 20 Shillings.

Continuing down the Blue Ridge Parkway, the road runs along the spine of the mountains and in places you can see the valleys stretch away on both sides at the same time. At other times, it runs through rolling hills. The scenery is always spectacular, and well worth running it's entire length, all 469 miles.

On the parkway is a mill (gristmill, sawmill, and blacksmith shop) owned and operated by E. B. Mabry from 1910 to 1935. The site is very interesting and worth a stroll to stretch your legs.

Just off the parkway is a place called Blowing Rock. It is a rocky outcropping on a ridge at the end of a valley that faces the prevailing winds. In bad weather, the rain and snow falls up. Although it was calm when we were there, the view from the platform was grand.

Toward the end of the Blue Ridge, the views are into the Great Smoky Mountains. The ridges just fade with distance into the haze.

As we traveled into the Smokeys, sometimes the curves gave way to short, unlit tunnels. Usually they weren't long enough for our glasses to clear (photogreys), and since the curves continued through the tunnel, it was a bit disorienting before we got to the light at the end.

A great road for an early morning ride in the Smokeys is Little River Road. It runs inside the edge of the park from the northern visitor's center to Townsend, outside the park.

As we began 'The Dragon', we stopped to lend a hand dragging a bike back onto the road. The only time you are straight up on this road is during the transition between a left-hand turn and a right-hand hairpin. It is a great roads and an exhilarating ride (if you don't get run over by some of the sportbikes).

Although the entire area seems to have more than it's fair share of wonderful motorcycle roads, the Cherohala Parkway has great views and long, sweeping curves.