A friend suggested that I visit Shenandoah National Park, specifically to motor the Skyline Drive that snakes along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. I took 113 pictures during the 6 hours spent on the 105 miles of that heart swelling drive and every one of them is a pitiful representation of the grand vistas I enjoyed today (I don't know if Jack enjoyed the view or not). I will post a few of the pictures but keep in mind they are dismally inadequate to convey the true majesty of the area.
Upon coming into the park we encountered a turtle crossing the road, I picked him/her up and moved him/her to the grassy verge of the forest.
We took one short hike. There are many maintained trails in the park, some are even handicap friendly! I know that Jack enjoyed that part of the day. He also enjoyed the vehicular speed limit, 35mph, he had his head out the window for most of the length of Skyline.
The highest elevation in the Park is 3600 and some feet and up there the air was cool and clear and the trees were still in the process of presenting their leaves. Under 2500' feet in elevation the trees and shrubs were leafed out and many were flowering adding perfume to the breeze.
The park is extremely user friendly. It has the highest population of black bears east of the Mississippi. The park ranger I talked to this morning enthusiastically congratulated me on visiting in May as it is her favorite time of year in the Park because of the low volume of visitors and the high volume of flowers. Besides the turtle we saw a herd of deer grazing at Big Meadow near the summit, lots of vultures circling below the overlooks so instead of seeing them from below you see them from above, other birds, and squirrels.
Skyline Drive is an uplifting experience, a treasure of sensory pleasures.
These pictures look gorgeous, Mel. I really like the picture of the trees and the picture of the rolling green hills. Lovely.
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