Business in Front Royal is way down. Usually this is a bustling town at the entrance to the National Park, but people are having a tough time. The motel parking lot was only about 1/4 full, if that. In the morning, the local Harley crowd, who were staying at the motel, decided to rev up their bikes. I could see the other motel residents cringe when the noise started and I'm sure those that were still sleeping, were no longer. I was embarrassed to be dressed in motorcycle gear and just grabbed a bagel and headed to Shenandoah National Park.
I have the opportunity to meet a friend from Texas in Abingdon, VA for the night and that alters my plans for the day. The difference between the park and the motel parking lot is stunning. I'm riding above a fog covered valley down tree-covered roads without any traffic. It's a relaxed pace and I'm happy to be sight-seeing.
 
What is it about tunnels? Everyone seems like a picture opportunity. The road itself has to be at least as great of an engineering feat as the tunnel, but the tunnel gets the picture.

Just past the tunnel as I came around a right-hander with a rock outcropping. A very large black bear was booking it up the hillside no more than 10 ft from the bike. If anyone thinks they can outrun these guys, you should have seen him climb this 60%+ grade.

A few miles later a guy on a cruiser passes me. He's in a much bigger hurry than I am. The only downside is the silence is now broken. Time to stop at a pullout and enjoy the area.
 
Along the way I pass a fawn who's fairly large and will probably be losing its spots soon. Of course the warnings are going off in my head. Where there's a baby, could mama be far behind. Fortunately she never shows. At a visitor's center the deer are absolutely oblivious to the people and leisurely graze. Better here than out on the road.

A few minutes later cars are flashing their lights and a big National Park Service SUV comes the other direction. Who is behind me in the distance, but that same cruiser who passed earlier. Who is now behind him with lights flashing, but the SUV. It would have been nice if the cruiser saw him, but he adds insult to injury by passing me on a double yellow line. We were both driving south, but his vacation just went south in a big way. At least it will be quiet for awhile.

In Abingdon I meet my friend and it seems like old times. We've been on several trips together and relive the old stories. For some reason, we seem to meet up on New Years' Day and have some of the worst road meals in history. Today we find a nice place for a change.