The Grayson Highlands tour to southwestern Virginia will take place on Saturday July 18 through Monday July 20.  It will include a mixture of primary and secondary roads through the mountains and countryside with the primary destination being Grayson Highlands State Park.

Day 1 – We will leave from Manassas on Saturday morning, traveling south through Culpeper and then through the foothills east of Shenandoah NP, to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  From there we will head west through Buena Vista and Lexington.  We will run parallel to the mountains to Christiansburg for overnight lodging.  Estimated final mileage is about 300 miles. 

Day 2 – Will consist of a circle route, heading south from Christiansburg, through the Mount Rogers National Recreational area.  At the southern end of the loop, we will stop at Grayson Highlands State Park http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/gra.shtml .  Short hikes (bring your sneakers) to scenic vistas are available, or just relax at the visitor's center.  We will then continue through the mountains, returning to Christiansburg.  Approximately 260 miles total. 

Day 3 – We will leave Christiansburg in the morning, using a southern route, linking up with a different section of the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Peaks of Otter.  The last section will include US 15 North, back into the DC area.  Approximately 325 miles back to Manassas. 

Costs – There are a number of motels in Christiansburg with rooms in the $50-70 range per night.  I will check into getting a block of rooms.  There is also a small entrance charge at Grayson Highlands.

The August 22-24 West Virginia ride will expand on last year's WV ride, revisiting many of last year's beautiful twisty mountain roads and spectacular scenery.
Day One (8/22), we will head through Luray, then southwest to the George Washington National Forest. We will stop for lunch in Monterey VA, then head south through the Monongahela National Forest to get what we hope will be a drier look than we had last year at the Cranberry Wilderness Area . We'll end the day in Summersville WV at the Best Western and have dinner at Dominic's Italian Chop House. (Big hit last year.)
Day Two, we will head to Fayetteville WV and spend some time checking out the New River Gorge Bridge (the highest vehicular bridge in the Americas, and the second-highest in the world. Also, the second longest steel arch bridge in the world.) We will then wind our way back north for the night's stay at the Highland Inn in Monterey VA.
Day Three (Monday 8/24) we'll head up through valley north of Monterey and take in the Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area with some of its hidden roads and spectacular overlooks before heading home.
 
The start and finish will be at Sheetz in Haymarket.

The Lancaster Covered Bridge Tour takes you on a short ride to a long-ago world -- Lancaster County, home of the Pennsylvania Amish.  On Friday we’ll ride a 160-mile route over back roads through several Maryland covered bridges before crossing into Pennsylvania.  We’ll travel into the hub of the Amish Community, Intercourse, Pennsylvania to a popular shopping area where riders will get a chance to see and enjoy various Amish crafts and foods.  After a brief rest at our hotel, we’ll travel to another popular tourist attractions where a great Amish Buffet awaits us.  On Saturday morning, after we enjoy an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet we’ll ride a 110-mile Covered Bridge Route visiting 11 Lancaster County covered bridges.  That night, another famous Amish Buffet will help celebrate the end of a great day of riding.  Our final day will begin with a hearty breakfast and conclude with a scenic ride through several beguiling byways on our way back home.  The Lancaster Covered Bridge Tour will be a ride you won’t want to miss.  Cost will be announced at a later date.  A deposit will be required a month in advance.  For more info, call me, Mike Wascak, on 703-963-1860 or email me at smichaelwascak@aol.com.