Motorbike w/e tour thru Central, VA--Sat

Hello Gang,

My son Andy Cap and myself rode to Appomattox Court House over the long w/e, catch a late season ride prior to the really cold air setting in. The skies were crystal clear both days but rather cool and windy on Sat and absolutely perfect on Sunday. I trailer the bike to Front Royal, VA on Friday and we headed out on Sat morning toward Lynchburg. Being the days are so short right now, we spent the long evenings at hotels watching movies and eating microwaved popcorn. We didn't run a bunch of miles. The plan was to stay off of the interstates and keep each day at around 200 miles with hotel check-in before 4p in order to get off the road before sunset.

I few images from Sat's visit to the village at Appomattox Court House which is a National Historic Site, maintained by the Dept of Interior. A rein-actor gave a 45 minute history lesson. He was great, spoke in the 1st person as if he was a soldier in the war on Apr 8th & 9th, 1865. He was really good!


The McLean House. This is where the surrender of General Lee and the Northern VA Confederate Army took place. The other Confederate Armies surrendered soon afterward. Confederate soldiers were issued parole slips and granted permission to travel home with the promise of to stop fighting. Confederate soldiers were allowed to keep their horses ( if they owned the animal ) and sidearms.

Taking a break at the county line.


The entire village of Appomattox Court House. This village was no more than a stage coach stop prior to the historic meeting that took place on April 9, 1865

Very cool!! thanks for the pics!

Let's hope there are a few more good days coming. This week doesn't look good temp wise up here. I'll take any good days remaining, ......long wait for these temps again. They had snow up north this weekend and the ski areas are crying about a warm Thanksgiving Week......can't make anyone happy.....

Get ready to 'spark it up' if you haven't, this week is no false alarm....break out the long johns.
Coal prices are lower everywhere...stock up!

I wonder if Bob up in Ft Kent, ME ever takes them off ??!!

On Sunday, we headed north back toward Front Royal again avoiding major highways and seeking out country and mountain views. We rode to the top of the Blue Ridge via VA Rt56 and picked up the Blue Ridge Parkway for a bit before heading back down and traveling US 340 N.

Some images from Sunday

MINT!! Been a looooong time since I've seen the Blue Ridge Parkway. Never saw it in the fall like that - MINT PICS!! Did you rub the "egg" for good luck at Luray? Great place! Awesome riding ...

Great looking trip, Cappy! I've always wanted to do a trip like that with my boy but haven't gotten there yet.

My wife and I did the BRP and Skyline on the way up from FL on the FJR in 2005 but we were more interested in the Dragon than the battlefields that first time. And it was in late June, so we had the summertime green rather than the fall quilt. Nonetheless spectacular, though. The BRP's a great road for a motorcycle tour, methinks, not only because of the scenery but because it's an "engineered" road with very few mid-corner surprises, so you can relax a bit more and enjoy the ride.

Overall, we covered 2100 mi in 6 days but settled in at an average of 300-400 mi/day. Like you guys, we maintained a nice, easy schedule; ours was to ride a stint before lunch and one after, and try to be off the road by dusk.

The Appomattox pix are great. The story of how awkward it was for both Grant and Lee is legendary; it must have been a treat to stand in that room and hear it told by a pro guide.