A Rock Can Tell Time

Day 41 - Wednesday, August 24, 2022 - Part II

Walnut Hills Campground and RV Park, Staunton VA

From our campground we could enter the Blue Ridge Parkway and drive north one day and then south the next day.  Today we choose the Rockfish Gap entrance and drive the Jeep north on the Skyline Drive.  

It is amazing with the scenery, and the elevations stated on the plaques along the way.  The sign below tells of the low passway having served the buffalo, Indian, and covered wagon.  Thomas Jefferson came by stagecoach in 1816 to Rockfish Tavern.

The Rockfish Valley's elevation is 800 feet, but the elevation here on the Skyline Drive is 2,150.  If we entered the drive at Rockfish Gap, can we assume the RV park where we are staying is in Rockfish Valley?  I surely can't see Sweet Georgia Brown from here.

The photo below shows a two foot wall in the foreground to help ensure that no person gets close to the cliff.   Never fear, I plan to be safe.

I took this photo because I love the boulders, but look at the edge of the circular drive -- no wall or guard rail.

The white areas in the background are houses and building in the town of Staunton.

Reids Gap is the crest of the Blue Ridge at 2,637 feet elevation.  Somewhere along in this area Sirius XM loses its signal, we no longer hear the music, no sound at all.  It is brief, and obviously blocked by something.

The sign gives a little bit of history of the area and says, "20 Minute Cliff."  In June and July during corn chopping time this cliff serves the folks in White Rock community as a time piece.  Twenty minutes after the sun strikes the rock face, dusk falls on the valley below.  

Another area of the drive shows a different view of a valley, different vegetation, flowers and trees.

I am surprised to see crops growing on a hillside.  I can't tell what they are, but the farmhouse setting is beautiful and the rows of plantings look so perfect.

Boston Knob overlook.

Chimney Rock Mountain Overlook.  We stop at all the overlooks to enjoy all the views.

Here we get a warning about a steep grade and trucks need to use low gear.  Our Jeep uses a lower gear, also.

Run-away truck ramp is shown below.  If a truck cannot slow down enough to make the curves, it can exit onto the ramp, which is on an uphill grade until it stops.

It is an hour past lunchtime; we are starved!  At an information station I ask about restaurants, and am told there is one about 2 hours ahead on Skyline Drive, but we could exit and drive to Buena Vista back down in the valley, where there are a few restaurants.  Our hunger tells us that is a good idea.

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown,

   and of Walldog and Willie

   Wednesday, August 24, 2022