OCTOBER 16TH-17TH

October's trip is going to have us traveling down to Shenandoah National Park to roll down Skyline Drive at the peak of fall foliage!!!

Whether we take I-95/66 or I-70/US340 from the Bel Air, MD area down to Front Royal, VA...it'll be a 2.5 hour trip. So leaving BY 6am is best. The earlier the better!

I have been working on an itinerary....but for now, briefly, I'll let you know, we'll be driving SKYLINE DRIVE (paved roads, no 4x4 req'd) and a couple of the fire roads (I assume won't be more than gravel) and then heading to LURAY to sleep for the night (will have a list of places to stay....but so far, Best Western was the cheapest) and then we'll be going to LURAY CAVERNS and then head home.

More details to come!

Love it

Double love it Can't wait!!!

I love the idea. Especially that is is essentially paved roads, and maybe I could take the motorcycle. The one issue is the distance and the weekend. It is a little far for me for a normal weekend. Any chance of doing it the weekend before ( a 3 day weekend with Columbus day)?

k_enn

Must be nice to have a job that gives you Columbus day off! That's not a 3 day weekend for me. Also, I may be in MA the weekend before this trip....leaf-peeping.

sorry.

PS. we miss you!

Rooms are getting quite expensive down there for the weekend we'll be there.
Samantha is looking into places. I looked and found nothing under $129/night.

I don't know how many people are going....and you may want to research on your own to find the best deal.

We'll hit a local restaurant for dinner after we all get settled wherever we are staying.

LURAY CAVERNS ON THAT SUNDAY IF EVERY/ANYONE'S UP FOR IT. I know sometimes saturday can be tiring and some people need to head home to relax sunday morning. We can have a vote....or those who want to go can, and the others leave. No biggie. This is supposed to be FUN...do what you want!

We’re gonna have to consider coming home right after the run ($$$$$), but did find these options for those staying: http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=11511552280240789389&q=Luray+Caverns+Motel+West&hl=en&cd=1&cad=src:ppiwlink,view:smartmaps&ei=-sugTPbmJqXAyQXW35jjBw&dtab=0

…or this one: http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=7850238595445137621&q=Hillside&hl=en&cd=1&cad=src:ppiwlink,view:smartmaps&ei=asygTPvKGZz6yAWU-cWkBg&dtab=0

Both seem to be in about the $70 range and reviews are good, but I didn’t call to verify prices.

Hi guys. I also found a Days Inn in Luray for 99.95 plus taxes. Days Inn Luray/Shenandoah. I can call the other places Pete and Paula suggested to confirm rates.

So far; Days Inn has availability (at least for 3 rooms)

Hillside Motel- no availability.

Still checking on others

okie dokie then......sooooo, it'll be the usual crew.


Definitely:

Mike and Tina
Dennis and Sam
Pete and Paula
Chris and Pattey


Expressed a maybe:

Angela and Jeff
George and Michelle
Doc and the Mrs.
Kenn


May have a couple people from church coming.



OKay, also....Pete and Paula expressed that they may drive back home that evening. Not a horrible idea, considering the expense of a room (they raise the rate HIGH for this season) AND it's only slightly longer than the trip to Rausch for us Harford County people. It'll stink missing Luray Caverns....yet with how busy everything is down there, it'll probably be packed.


SOOOoooooo, with that in mind, I talked to Samantha and she agrees. heading back after a nice (but long) day of fellowship and beauty is a great idea.

I was thinking of a great plan that leaves everyone happy, doesn't have us driving home in the middle of the night and is beautiful and easy. I came up with.....

......drumroll please......

Meet either in Bel Air, MD area or Front Royal, VA (depending on where you're coming from) in the AM (I'll figure out times, according to travel time, ASAP) and run down SKYLINE DRIVE......there are a couple options....

1. go to milepost 43. Then it turns into OLD RAG FIRE ROAD and then WEAKLEY HOLLOW FIRE ROAD which leads to route 600. Then 707 to 231 to 522 (stay on 522 which merges with 211 and then leaves it again) all the way up to the top @ FRONT ROYAL and find a place to break bread (aka dinner) and then head HOOOOOOOOOOMMME!

or

2. turn around when we all feel like it's a good time, head back up SKYLINE DRIVE the way we came, find some grub and head home.


*sigh* I'm tired. TTYL.

XJXtian wrote:

Must be nice to have a job that gives you Columbus day off! That's not a 3 day weekend for me. Also, I may be in MA the weekend before this trip....leaf-peeping.

sorry.

BTW, you know you are welcome to swing by me if you want a little rest on your travels. I am only a few miles off of I-287 (if you go that way). Just give a me a heads-up in advance.

k_enn

We can probably make this one. Front Royal would be a good place for us to meet up.

k_enn wrote:

BTW, you know you are welcome to swing by me if you want a little rest on your travels. I am only a few miles off of I-287 (if you go that way). Just give a me a heads-up in advance.
k_enn

Thanks Ken!!! It turns out I will not be heading to MA that weekend. Too much going on here. We will definitely keep it in mind, just to at least stop by and see you and say hello. Sometimes, we leave super early in the morning (before most humans are awake) but if we leave a little later, we'll definitely come by. Might be near the end of October.

Milkman wrote:

We can probably make this one. Front Royal would be a good place for us to meet up.

Super!!! I'll work on times and all that!

Sounds like a plan Pattey! We're good with anything!

Really looking forward to this trip. Coming back on Sat night sound ok. The thing I will miss is the fun we had Sat night on the last trip. The fellowship was amazing!

Ugh, we're going to miss this one...

Oldest daughter is going to homecomming.

...must be a girl thing!?

what!?!?

I bet she'll look beautiful! Take lots of pictures.

I'm sad you're not going. Kids ruin everything. just kidding!!!

Geesh, kids these days and their proms and homecomings. Just teasing! Yes, homecomings are very important in a girls life! We will miss you! and yes, take lots of pictures!!

We will miss you guys...but some things are more important and your daughter's homecoming is one of them. We can't wait to see the pics!

okie dokie then......sooooo, it'll be the usual crew. (minus our #7 and #8 sweethearts!)


Definitely:

Mike and Tina
Dennis and Sam
Chris and Pattey


Expressed a maybe:

Angela and Jeff
George and Michelle
Doc and the Mrs.




Meeting in Bel Air, MD area and heading to Front Royal, VA.

NOW...IT'S A 2 HOURS AND 40 MINUTE DRIVE. CHRIS AND I ARE ALL FOR LEAVING @ 5:15AM (we'll meet Sam and dennis and Mike and Tina at the Mountain Rd/I-95 park and ride) TO GET THERE AT 8AM.

What do you other Marylanders think?

Then once there:

1. go to milepost 43. Then it turns into OLD RAG FIRE ROAD and then WEAKLEY HOLLOW FIRE ROAD which leads to route 600. Then 707 to 231 to 522 (stay on 522 which merges with 211 and then leaves it again) all the way up to the top @ FRONT ROYAL and find a place to break bread (aka dinner) and then head HOOOOOOOOOOMMME!

or

2. turn around when we all feel like it's a good time, head back up SKYLINE DRIVE the way we came, find some grub and head home.


We can figure it as we go...small group = very cool and laid back.

SWEEEEEET! Very Excited! Sounds like a plan! Bring your Camera!!!

Pattey is driving and I can SLEEP the whole way down

JeeperX wrote:

Pattey is driving and I can SLEEP the whole way down

yeah, I'm driving.....I'm a horrible passenger!!!