Hotels near "Mile 0" of Blue Ridge Parkway?
02-13-09, 09:29 AM
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Hotels near "Mile 0" of Blue Ridge Parkway?
I want to do a day ride from the beginning of the BRP to Roanoke this Spring, coinciding with a family trip to Roanoke. My plan was to have my wife drop me off around Waynesboro, stay at a hotel nearby, then get up at dawn the next day to spend all day biking to Roanoke.
Does anyone know of a hotel near the beginning of the parkway that is close enough to bike to the parkway semi-safely? I found the Inn at Afton, but online reviews make it sound like a disgusting dump (unwashed sheets, mold, mildew, other filth). All I need is a clean bed and shower for the night (inexpensive is the key).
Chris
Does anyone know of a hotel near the beginning of the parkway that is close enough to bike to the parkway semi-safely? I found the Inn at Afton, but online reviews make it sound like a disgusting dump (unwashed sheets, mold, mildew, other filth). All I need is a clean bed and shower for the night (inexpensive is the key).
Chris
02-13-09, 05:43 PM
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How about staying at the Cookie Lady's, Bike House in Afton.
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"When I hear another express an opinion, which is not mine, I say to myself, He has a right to his opinion, as I to mine; why should I question it. His error does me no injury, and shall I become a Don Quixot to bring all men by force of argument, to one opinion? If a fact be misstated, it is probable he is gratified by a belief of it, and I have no right to deprive him of the gratification."
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"When I hear another express an opinion, which is not mine, I say to myself, He has a right to his opinion, as I to mine; why should I question it. His error does me no injury, and shall I become a Don Quixot to bring all men by force of argument, to one opinion? If a fact be misstated, it is probable he is gratified by a belief of it, and I have no right to deprive him of the gratification."
T. Jefferson
Last edited by bhchdh; 02-17-09 at 07:23 PM.
02-13-09, 06:13 PM
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02-13-09, 07:50 PM
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Super 8, Day's Inn, Comfort Inn in Waynesboro are all I know. You can't run I-64 to the top of the mountain from there, but you can run Rt 250. Swannanoa Country Club owns the mountain south of I-64 and north is Shenandoah National Park (South end of the Skyline Drive), so no hotels there.
Cookie Lady Info here: https://www.biketouring.net/rides/xcountry/curry.html
Cookie Lady Info here: https://www.biketouring.net/rides/xcountry/curry.html
02-14-09, 03:11 AM
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I've stayed at the Super8, but I drove there (and drove from there to the visitor's center at Mile 0 to park.) The area was pretty congested, but probably rideable if you're careful. Let us know your findings.
I did a 100-mile day ride up the BRP on a Friday (50 up and back), and then stayed overnight in Waynesboro, and did a 60-something ride up Skyline on Saturday. I'll be doing it again this summer.
Wish I could go right now
I did a 100-mile day ride up the BRP on a Friday (50 up and back), and then stayed overnight in Waynesboro, and did a 60-something ride up Skyline on Saturday. I'll be doing it again this summer.
Wish I could go right now
02-14-09, 10:49 AM
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June Curry, is a legend on the Trans Am. Google June Curry, or Cookie Lady. Here is a link to get you started.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?...ry&context=all
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?...ry&context=all
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"When I hear another express an opinion, which is not mine, I say to myself, He has a right to his opinion, as I to mine; why should I question it. His error does me no injury, and shall I become a Don Quixot to bring all men by force of argument, to one opinion? If a fact be misstated, it is probable he is gratified by a belief of it, and I have no right to deprive him of the gratification."
T. Jefferson
"When I hear another express an opinion, which is not mine, I say to myself, He has a right to his opinion, as I to mine; why should I question it. His error does me no injury, and shall I become a Don Quixot to bring all men by force of argument, to one opinion? If a fact be misstated, it is probable he is gratified by a belief of it, and I have no right to deprive him of the gratification."
T. Jefferson
Last edited by bhchdh; 02-14-09 at 11:50 AM.
02-14-09, 01:36 PM
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Wow - that's a stout ride. Should be beautiful.
I just drove past there not too long ago and I'm pretty sure that there's still at least one hotel still open right there at Rockfish Gap. The cookie lady's place is only about a 20 minute ride from the BRP.
I just drove past there not too long ago and I'm pretty sure that there's still at least one hotel still open right there at Rockfish Gap. The cookie lady's place is only about a 20 minute ride from the BRP.
02-14-09, 06:55 PM
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OP's a better rider than me though, I could never make Afton to Roanoke in a day on the BRP. Too much climbing there for my blood
-R
Last edited by CCrew; 02-14-09 at 06:59 PM.
02-17-09, 11:22 AM
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That said, I only have to make it to Roanoke. I won't have to save energy for subsequent days. If I don't make it, my wife can drive from Roanoke towards my point of failure and "save" me.
I have a few centuries under my belt already. I'm trying to make the leap to double centuries.
Chris
02-18-09, 09:40 AM
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Oh, I'm familiar with the Parkway in general, but I've never ridden that portion (0-PoO). I've ridden fair chunks of it in the Roanoke area. I spent one day just doing climbs up Mill Mtn and Roanoke Mtn.
Still, it makes me nervous when someone says it's a hard ride.
Chris
Still, it makes me nervous when someone says it's a hard ride.
Chris
Last edited by allencb; 04-07-09 at 07:04 AM.
04-05-09, 05:29 AM
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I did it. I rode from Mile 0 to 117 (where my wife picked me up) in 12hrs. I took all the food and water I'd consume for the day except for a single bottle refill at Peaks of Otter. The climb to Apple Orchard was brutal. Not because it was steep, but because it was long, steady, and at a point where I was already feeling the miles.
As for the hotel, I stayed at Colony House just down Rt250 from the parkway. It wasn't a place I'd take my family, but it was enough for me to spend a night.
Thanks for the help guys!
Chris
As for the hotel, I stayed at Colony House just down Rt250 from the parkway. It wasn't a place I'd take my family, but it was enough for me to spend a night.
Thanks for the help guys!
Chris
05-03-09, 11:33 PM
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That is a kick ass ride. Without looking at my elevation profiles, I would guess you did about 10,000+ feet of climbing.
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05-04-09, 06:40 AM
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Your pages were a big help. By studying them and the pictures, I had a good idea of what was ahead of me at any given point in the ride.
Chris
