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For 469 miles the Blue Ridge
Parkway weaves, rises and falls through the
magnificent mountain ranges that make up the
Blue Ridge . The Parkway stretches from the
Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky
Mountains. On this tour we will climb and
descend over 48,000 feet as we cycle the
entire length of the Parkway and discover the
beauty it beholds.
I will sum up the experience
of cycling the Blue Ridge Parkway with a quote
from Elizabeth & Charlie Skinner's
Bicycling the Blue Ridge - "There is no
ribbon of road in the country more ideal for
bicycling than the Skyline Drive and the Blue
Ridge Parkway"
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Asheville to
Waynesboro
We leave Asheville at 10am
to shuttle to Waynesboro, VA. the
bordering town of Rockfish Gap, the
origination point of the Blue Ridge Parkway. After dinner
in town we will return for an early evening
and much needed rest before you begin the
challenge to cycle the length Blue Ridge
Parkway.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Dinner
Day 2 - Entering the Blue Ridge Parkway
After a hearty breakfast we shuttle to
the Parkway to begin our bicycle tour of the
Blue Ridge. The next two days are the longest of the tour and are scheduled that way to accommodate the spacing between available lodges. Today we will cycle to the Peaks of Otter Lodge, which is one of three lodges operated by the Park Service that are located on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Today's route is one of the most challenging both for its length and the climb up to the Peaks. Tonight's lodging with its pristine setting and restaurant overlooking the lake will be just reward for your efforts.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage: 0.0 - 86.0 = 86 Miles
Day 3 - Peaks of Otter to
Rocky Knob
Today we will cycle
88 miles along a stretch of the Parkway that is full of historic farms, cabins and beautiful overlooks. We will begin the day by descending out of the Peaks of Otter into the rolling terrain of the Roanoke valley before ascending up through
the Rocky Knob recreation area. Tonight
our host will be Greg and Nancy at the
Woodberry Inn, in the hip little community of
Floyd.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage: 86.0 - 174 = 88 Miles
Day 4 - Rocky Knob to Doughton Park
This morning we will have
the pleasure of a bountiful breakfast
prepared for us by our gracious host at the
Woodberry Inn. After breakfast we continue the days 67 mile route which will bring us into North Carolina. The route ends at Bluffs Lodge, which is located next to the beautiful 6,000 acre Doughton Park. After getting cleaned up there are several optional hiking trails where you can take in the dramatic sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage: 174.1 - 241.1 = 67 Miles
Day 5 - Beautiful Blowing Rock
Today's 51 mile route will
start with a glorious descent past sheer rock
faces and roll along the ridge as you make your way into the beautiful mountain town of Blowing Rock. That evening we will relax at the luxurious Chetola Resort, which is within walking distance to many interesting shops and fine restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage: 241.1 - 291.8 + 2 miles to Host Inn
= 53 Miles
Day 6 - A Day of Recovery in Beautiful Blowing Rock
The day is yours today to do
whatever you choose. You may choose to stroll
through the area's many shops, relax by the
hotel pool or join a few of us as we cycle the
infamous climbs of the once fabled Tour
DuPont. Tonight you can dine privately or of
course you are more than welcome to join your
guides as we sample some of the local
nightlife.
Meals: Breakfast
Mileage: 0
Day 7 - Blowing Rock to
Little Switzerland
Following our day off we get
"back in the saddle" with short day to
reacquaint the legs to the stress of cycling
on the BRP. This segment of the Parkway is one of the
most scenic stretches and will take us across
the famous Linn Cove Viaduct, past
Grandfather Mountain and include an optional hike up to
Linville Falls. This evening we will stay at
the Switzerland Inn, with its fabulous views
and fine cuisine.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage: 291.8 - 333.9 + (return to Parkway
& round trip to Linville Falls) = 48 Miles
Day 8 - The Queen Stage,
Little Switzerland to Mt. Pisgah
Today's stage will be a
serious test for even the strongest among us.
We climb from Little Switzerland up and over
the Black and Craggy Mountains before a long
descent into the Asheville River Valley that
leads to
the last long grind up Mt. Pisgah...oh
yeah and along the way there is an option to
conquer Mount Mitchell, the highest point east
of the Mississippi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage: 333.9 - 408.6 + ( 9.6 miles
optional round trip to Mt. Mitchell) = 75 Miles
(84 miles w/ option)
Day 9 - The Final Glorious Day Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
This is it, the final day, 61 dramatic miles through some of the most beautiful scenery of the entire tour. After breakfast we will cycle along the Pisgah Ridge to the Great Balsam mountains, where we will pass over the highest point on the Parkway, and eventually finish with a long descent into the town of Cherokee near the Great Smoky Mountains. To celebrate everyone's accomplishment of finishing this challenging tour we will shuttle into the city of Asheville where we will enjoy a gourmet meal and
sample the famed night life of this
beautiful city.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage: 408.6 - 469 = 60.4 Miles
Day 10 - Final Farewell
After a relaxing breakfast
you are free to depart at your leisure. The
trip home will be a time to reflect on the incredible accomplishment you have achieved and the new friends you have made along the way.
Meals: Breakfast
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