The plan thus far:

macguyver leaves his place in Takoma Park, MD via Miata around 8:15, gets here (Manassas) around 9:15. Following his car on my bike, we head to Front Royal and into Shenandoah Nat'l Park, heading down Skyline Drive. At Mile 65, Swift Run Gap, (about 3 hrs from here, by that point) we ditch the car, ride two-up for about 9 miles, drop the bike, and hike back to the car, taking around 4 hours. (My goal is to ride on Skyline Drive under fall foliage, his goal is to hike the Appalachian Trail in bits and pieces. We're combining goals. :) We return to our respective vehicles, and ride out of the park by dark (around 5:15), and head back home. Long day, it'll be, but a) fun, and b) contain a lot of nice scenery. :)

Long, fun, long day.

Man, am I going to be sore tomorrow..

After working out today's plans late last night, David showed up at my place around 9:30 in his pretty merlot-colored Miata; at that time I was checking over my bike, oiling the chain, strapping on my backpack, that sort of goodness. Followed his car w/my bike.

Headed west on I-66 to Front Royal, paid our entrance fees to get into Shenandoah National Park, and headed south on Skyline Drive, featuring many timid, annoying drivers! It was indeed gorgeous, fall colors and amazing vistas from lookouts (which we only stopped at one or two of--there are dozens).. traveled to around Mile 65 (Swift Run Gap, insersection with Rte 33), dropped off his Miata, and we continued about 9 miles down the road to the ranger station at Simmons Gap. Left the bike parked there, changed from my riding boots into day hikers, removed the liner from my motorcycle jacket, and away we went, following the Appalachian Trail north, back towards the car.

I have no idea what time we did any of the above after leaving Manassas; I looked at my watch once all day, around 4:45, or maybe 4:15. Time just isn't as important when you're riding a beautiful road, or hiking through the woods on the AT. :) As I mentioned, he's hiking all 2000mi of the AT in bits and pieces--I think his longest piece was 3 weeks; he planned to complete the section in Shenandoah this season, but the south 1/3 of it is being closed for road repairs next week, meaning a) he'd have to do that whole leg at once, and b) he'd have to redo what we did today. Anyway, today: the terrain varied from flat grass to steep and rocky, through miles of forest, occasionally breaking out on gorgeous vistas. (Ok, David, correct me if I'm wrong, but if we went over Hightop Mtn like the map indicates, our elevation changes spanned 1300 feet!) I'm entirely unaccustomed to such hiking, so my legs were hurting; the simple backpack I was wearing has no waist belt, so even though it was light, my shoulders--from bottom of shoulder blade all the way to collarbone-- were also complaining. David's used to such hiking, and had better boots/socks/shirt/pack, but he hasn't hiked in at least two weeks--so he was getting tired too. :) We both found that how hot we were varied directly with steepness of terrain; his clothes were designed to wick away sweat, though. My waterproof motorcycle jacket shell, and cotton shirt, were not. :P We talked pretty much nonstop the whole hike--at least four hours, probably closer to 5--about anything and everything. LJ, music, religion, tales of hiking, tales of my climbing instructor's tales, scouting, cars, motorcycles.. all good. :)

We'd intended to get back to the car by around 4:15, giving an hour before sunset to get out of the park in daylight--that didn't happen. Got back to the car as daylight was fading; it was dark by the time we drove back to the bike--where I realized I'd left the tail/parking light on for several hours, but it started with no problem. Continued south on Skyline Drive to complete the run through the park--105 miles in the park driving, 25-35mph and winding. Lots of deer after dark, too.

Headed east on 64 to 29, and took 29 north to 66, stopping for gas several times--more than I actually needed, I never had to hit reserve. At 66, he went east and I mistakenly went west--I'm familiar with 29 Business, which intersects 66 east of Manassas; 29 intersects west of Manassas. Turned around at 15, came home.

Total mileage on the bike: 280
Total mileage on foot: around 9

I'm going to be really, really sore tomorrow. But it was a good day. :)

( Map! )