Moving Up the Blue Ridge…Quietly

We left our campsite at Stone Mountain State Park near Roaring Gap, NC and soon crossed into Virginia. We were still on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the overlooks continued to amaze and astound. The picture of the Shenandoah Valley (above)is a good illustration. Our destinations for the next eight nights included Horseshoe Point Recreation Area, near Henry, VA, and Bolar Mountain Recreation Area in Warm Springs, VA and close to the West Virginia border. We were about to enter the “quiet period” of our journey.

Unlike many of our RV stops which include sightseeing, flea market browsing, and sampling the local food and beverage offerings, these two visits would contain none of that…because none of that existed there. We were going into the deep woods. It was time for some solitude and, we would eat our own cooking for a few days.

Horseshoe Point is several miles off of the Parkway and adjacent to Philpott Lake. The campground is nice and offers both water and electric. The shower facility is clean and seems almost new. As it often happens, we arrived during a rainstorm which makes un-hooking setting up a real challenge, especially on a site with a few large pine trees adding to the difficulty of backing into a campsite. Nevertheless, we got it done despite the rain.

Over the next day or so, we relaxed. Helen (adorable wife) took the time to do some deep cleaning inside Gracey as well as spending time on her puzzle that is more of a challenge than she realized. I spent my time finishing up a book containing short biographies of all 425 Generals of the Confederacy. Some of those men led amazing lives, and I wanted to complete the book before we made it to Gettysburg.

In addition to those vigorous activities, we ventured to nearby Fairystone State Park where I picked up one of the Fairystones found in the area. I had visited the park with my family at around age 12 and felt obligated to return. On the way back, Helen and I drove to Ferrum, VA to do our laundry and briefly browse a flea market. On our last day there, we drove to the overlook at Philpott Lake. By now, I’m confident that I have put every Easin’ Along reader to sleep but, if not, read on. By the time I take you through Bolar Mountain, you may be in a coma.

Bolar Mountain Recreation is an almost two-hour drive west of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We did not realize that at the time we made the reservation. It is not that far as the crow flies, but crossing the mountains along some twists and turns at 35 mph takes time. The campground is very isolated and primarily used by folks who come to fish the scenic waters of Lake Moomaw. The gentleman camped next to us comes every year for six weeks along with several of his buddies.

This campground is quieter than quiet. For activity, Helen and I swam in the lake, which we had to ourselves on a misty, but lovely, day. Beyond that, the most action I had was chasing a Pileated Woodpecker around the campground to take his picture. We read a lot here also. By the end of our second day, Helen said that she was ready to end our “Wilderness Experience” and that it was time to move on. It was more than boredom that prompted the decision, however. On paper, it appeared that Gettysburg was about a four-hour drive away, but with the mountains and curving roads in front of us, that trip extended to more than six hours, and we don’t do six unless we have to. We made a reservation for one night in Front Royal, VA which is at the end of a charming drive along the Virginia Skyline. The campground we booked in Gettysburg allowed us to come a day early.

We can’t say much for the campground, but the town of Front Royal is charming. Trip Advisor told us that we had to eat breakfast at L Dees Pancake House and, for that, we’re genuinely grateful. The small diner was filled with locals (always a good sign) and the staff was polite, efficient, and seemed to be having a great time greeting and serving all their friends who came for breakfast. Helen’s omelet was excellent, and my pancakes were the best. Outside of the restaurant and all along the street, flower baskets hung from poles, adding a touch of charm to this small town.

If you’re still with me after all of this frenzied activity, I have to let you know that, in spite of the low key nature of these past two stops, we enjoyed our time in both of them. We needed a pause and time to breathe some mountain air. What’s the hurry, we say. We’re supposed to be Easin’ Along anyway.

Next week – Gettysburg National Military Park.