The Journey - Day 11

Today we set off early taking the Interstate to get us up to the top of the Parkway closer to Route 211 to Luray Caverns....it was a hot one today so moving fast on the Interstate when it is early is preferred to doing so in the afternoon heat. This morning started at 9 with a temp of 22 and quickly climbed to 33 by the afternoon when you were moving. When you stopped it was more like 38 and 40. We have been drinking loads of water which usually results in a lot of bathroom breaks for the first hour and a half but after that the stops are less frequent...this is a phenomena that I have started to call "pisspiring"......

By the time we stopped for lunch it was noon and 2 pm before we reached the caverns. We were not disappointed in making the time to see this site. You go down into the tunnel inside the main building and you are immediately greeted by some of the most beautiful natural wonders ever seen. Stagmites and stalactites, reflecting pools, huge chambers and small pathways. Two of my favorite were the reflecting pool where the formations are mirrored in the still water and it appears as though there is this great abyss when in fact the water couldn't be more than 3 inches deep, and the music chamber. In this chamber someone installed little rubber hammers like a piano to a cellinoid switch which is triggered by a large organ. There are 37 of these which when triggered "tap" specific stalactites each giving an individual note. From this they can either play the organ or use a template on a drum (old fashioned way) and they play a sound that is so pure, almost like crystal being played. It is beautiful and almost haunting at the same time.

After we left the Luray Caverns we decided riding in the shade would be the best bet so it was 10 miles back over to the Skyline Drive and we rode the last 30 miles to the beginning of our Parkway journey. It had an almost melancholy feeling really. So little time had really passed since we first made our way through here but we had covered so much ground and have done so much since our last ride through only a week ago......

I will miss Shenandoah.....it is indeed, almost heaven!