Day 3: Riding Through Blue Ridge Parkway Tunnels
The Blue Ridge Parkway from around Little Switzerland to about Asheville is one of my favorite sections of the whole stretch. Aside from being a great ride, it offers some really beautiful views of the valleys below. The 50 or so miles seemed to go by in a blink as we rode along.
You can also catches glimpses of the road ahead as it cuts along the edge of mountain ridge. There is something that I love about being able to see a wiggly roadway peeking out from the trees. It’s like a teaser that says, ‘Come on, hurry up. Look how much fun you’re gonna be having in a minute!’
There also a few of those spiral curve signs along the way to get your get-up-and-go a-workin’.
The Little Switzerland area at milepost 333 is also where the majority of the 26 tunnels on the parkway begin. Only a single tunnel exists before that way back at milepost 53.
Though I’ve ridden the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway a few times before, each time I do I find something exciting about the tunnels.
Because they are unlit and some have turns inside, when you enter you have no idea where you’ll end up. There could be more tarmac on the other side or… you could be riding into the mouth of that giant worm thingy from the Empire Strikes Back. Who can say?
The tunnels aren’t very long. When you enter the darkness your eyes barely have enough time to adjust before you are plunged out into the light again.
Those exits make for great jump to lightspeed pics on the GoPro 🙂
Great stuff. I didn’t realize there were so many tunnels. I need to get out and see this country more.
Here is an interesting tunnel not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
http://buckysride.blogspot.com/2010/10/road-to-nowhere-and-good-jumping-off.html
…and some more info on the Blue Ridge Parkway
http://buckysride.blogspot.com/2009/08/ride-to-mt-mitchell-highest-point-east.html
Keep up the posts. We love them!