Dec 29, 2008: Meems Bottom Bridge, Va. and Night Sky on Skyline Drive

My wife and I decided to visit the Shenandoah Valley on our break between Christmas and New Years. A favorite place of ours is the only covered bridge in the northern part of the state--all others are either west of Blacksburg, Va., or down in Floyd County, east of Christiansburg, Va.

Meems Bottom Bridge is located about a tenth of a mile off of Rt#11, located between Mt. Jackson and New Market. The bridge crosses the north fork of the Shenandoah River.

After our picture taking at the bridge, we visited a restaurant I have been visiting for over 30 years, the Southern Kitchen in New Market--famous for its peanut soup. Then, in a change to dead-heading back up I-81 to I-66 east, we decided to take Rt#211 east over the Massanutten Mountain, through Luray, up over Skyline Drive at Panorama [Thornton Gap], and then into Sperryville to Warrenton to home.

We stopped at the crest on Skyline Drive and took two pictures of the skyline--revealing Venus, the moon, and Jupiter to the west [Mercury had just set] and Orion's Belt to the east. An incredible view of the Milky Way overhead was seen--something I had not seen in 30 years.

Meems Bottom Bridge

Inside View of the Bridge



Lane looking east from the bridge opening

A fun time available near by

New Market Gap in the Massanutten Mountain



View of the Shenandoah River, just up-river from Bridge



Southern Kitchen, about four blocks south of intersection of Rt#211 and Rt#11

Looking west from Panorama on Skyline Drive (Thornton Gap). Venus, the Moon, and Jupiter visible--Mercury has just set below Jupiter


The Orion Constellation, looking to the East

Shenandoah Valley Trip Day 3

Day 3 of the Shenandoah Valley Trip had several positive surprises! We continued down US Rt #11 from New Market into Harrisonburg. More interesting barns and buildings appeared.
Courtesy of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail Book (which may be ordered from the Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries Department http://www.dgif.state.va.us/vbwt/ for $8.50, or you can view sections on-line), we became aware of Lake Shenandoah just east of Harrisonburg—just off of US Rt #33. This delightful lake setting includes a place to launch canoes, kayaks, and small boats offered quite a variety of birds and ducks. Pictures of them may be seen below. We set up our chairs and sat there for several hours. An excerpt from the website describes the trail:

“From the Atlantic Ocean on Virginia's eastern border, to the towering Mt. Rogers at its southwest corner, the Commonwealth includes every bird and animal habitat that occurs naturally between Maine and Florida. The state also offers a long history, rich culture, and tradition of warm hospitality to welcome visitors.

Within Virginia's 43,000 square miles of diverse natural habitat, you can find some 400 species of birds, 250 species of fish, 150 species of terrestrial and marine animals, 150 species of amphibians and reptiles, and a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. The Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail celebrates this diversity. In fact, it is the first statewide program of its kind in the United States. In Virginia, three phases of the trail link wildlife viewing sites throughout the state.”

After Lake Shenandoah, we headed further east on Rt #33 to Elkton, Va., just short of the entrance to Skyline Drive. From here, we proceeded up US Rt #340, the “other” Valley highway. From here to Luray, you are driving alongside the South Fork of the Shenandoah River—Skyline Drive on your right, and the Massanutten Mountain on your left. This is a beautiful drive—mountains on both sides of you.

Our destination was Luray, Va., home of the Luray Caverns and headquarters of the Shenandoah National Park. Luray is also home to a birding trail—the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway along Hawksbill Creek (which comes down from Skyline Drive).

We camped at another resort-style RV campground: Country Waye. [www.countrywaye.com ] It is well set up to handle large RV rigs and has spotless, impeccable restrooms and bathhouse. It is located just two miles north of Luray proper, just off of US Rt #340 by Kimball. The site is nestled in between Skyline Drive and the Massanutten Mountain—with a 270 degree view of the mountains. Kennedy Peak is prominent to the west. You may take Bixler’s Ferry Road out of Luray and onto the road to Camp Roosevelt in the George Washington National Forest to reach a trail head to Kennedy Peak, which has an observatory overlooking the valley below.

Shenandoah Valley Trip Day 2 Part Two

For the second day and night, we ended up at the Endless Caverns and RV Resort, just south of New Market, Va. As an aside, a few miles north of New Market on Rt #11 you will find Meems Bottom Bridge, a lovely covered bridge over the North Fork of the Shendoah River. We have visited it several times in the past; the winter trip (icy) provided the best picture taking.

Endless Caverns provides very luxurious RV camping spots; with both back-in and pull through sites easily accomodating the largest class A and 5th wheel rigs. Water, 50/30/20amp electricity, and sewer are standard. We were high enough up on the western slope of the Massanutten Mountain to breath mountain air (instead of valley air)--it was quite clean.

We caught a spectacular sunset--the parking lot to the Caverns faces westward across the valley. The Caverns access and walkways were constructed when stone was quite fashionable--as shown below. Finally, for those that remember, the Civil Defense Air Raid Shelter sign on the old entrance to the Cavernts. I really liked the covered stone walkway.