Skyline Run / Back Roads Drive on Saturday Nov. 7th

[DarkstarZero]

So here's the plan:

We're going to be meeting at the IHOP at
7495 Iron Bar Ln
Gainesville, VA 20155
at 9am on Saturday. I'll be having some breakfast inside along with a few others, I'm sure. There should be plenty of parking available on the side of the Virginia Gateway building next to the IHOP so we can all park together.

We'll be heading out around 10am, taking a left onto Rt 29 (Lee Hwy) going west. Then take the 15,29,211 south/west exit which takes you through Warrenton. Then take the right exit onto 211. This is a long road with generally minimal traffic. There are cops though so be careful. The group will have been well split up by this time due to all the lights and traffic on 29. That's ok, we'll all start catching up to each other once on 211.

Before we get to the mountains, we'll stop at the Shell gas station at:
12663 Lee Hwy
Washington, VA 22747
Grab some drinks, use the bathroom, regroup. The camera man will probably drive further down the road to setup his tripod and get a nice shot as we all drive by in a group

211 turns into a single lane and then a double lane when going up the mountain, this is one of the best sections of road in NoVA! Allow some room between you and the other cars, put it in M mode, and enjoy the drive At the top of the mountain turn right into the Skyline entrance going North.

Do not speed on skyline (too much) the rangers really don't like that. Instead, enjoy the views, don't feel like you need to stay with the group, stop where you want to and take pictures. There's only one overlook I want us all to stop at and that's Hogback. It's the highest peak on the drive and should have room for all our cars.

Continue north on Skyline dr. until the end. Turn right onto 340 and continue straight through Front Royal. The road will bend left and you'll see Melting Pot Pizza on the left. Parking there is useless so park at the bank thats on the corner.

Melting Pot:
138 W 14th St
Front Royal, VA 22630

After some fantastic pizza we'll head to the back roads portion of the drive. Go back the way we came but turn left onto 522 (Commerce Ave) then left at the light for Rt 647 (Happy Creek Rd). Stay straight on this road for a while, across low water bridge, very cool, and over the hills until the road turns left, thats when we make a right onto Red Gate rd to get on Rt 50 East.

About a mile down Rt 50 we'll turn left onto Blue Ridge Mountain Rd which is the best stretch of road on the entire trip. At the end of that road, turn right onto Rt 7 and immediately right again down another fantastic back road, Snickersville Pike. We'll stay straight on that all the way to Rt 50 and home. You can head home from Rt 7 if you want to.

Let me know if you have any cool ideas Bring your cameras! I'll setup a server for everyone to upload their raw video and pictures to.

Here's a link to the route map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...8fe84d7f1e5199
(don't look at the driving directions because we'll be going in reverse)

[SUB-ZERO]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

So here's the plan:

We're going to be meeting at the IHOP at
7495 Iron Bar Ln
Gainesville, VA 20155
at 9am on Saturday. I'll be having some breakfast inside along with a few others, I'm sure. There should be plenty of parking available on the side of the Virginia Gateway building next to the IHOP so we can all park together.

We'll be heading out around 10am, taking a left onto Rt 29 (Lee Hwy) going west. Then take the 15,29,211 south/west exit which takes you through Warrenton. Then take the right exit onto 211. This is a long road with generally minimal traffic. There are cops though so be careful. The group will have been well split up by this time due to all the lights and traffic on 29. That's ok, we'll all start catching up to each other once on 211.

Before we get to the mountains, we'll stop at the Shell gas station at:
12663 Lee Hwy
Washington, VA 22747
Grab some drinks, use the bathroom, regroup. The camera man will probably drive further down the road to setup his tripod and get a nice shot as we all drive by in a group

211 turns into a single lane and then a double lane when going up the mountain, this is one of the best sections of road in NoVA! Allow some room between you and the other cars, put it in M mode, and enjoy the drive At the top of the mountain turn right into the Skyline entrance going North.

Do not speed on skyline (too much) the rangers really don't like that. Instead, enjoy the views, don't feel like you need to stay with the group, stop where you want to and take pictures. There's only one overlook I want us all to stop at and that's Hogback. It's the highest peak on the drive and should have room for all our cars.

Continue north on Skyline dr. until the end. Turn right onto 340 and continue straight through Front Royal. The road will bend left and you'll see Melting Pot Pizza on the left. Parking there is useless so park at the bank thats on the corner.

Melting Pot:
138 W 14th St
Front Royal, VA 22630

After some fantastic pizza we'll head to the back roads portion of the drive. Go back the way we came but turn left onto 522 (Commerce Ave) then left at the light for Rt 647 (Happy Creek Rd). Stay straight on this road for a while, across low water bridge, very cool, and over the hills until the road turns left, thats when we make a right onto Red Gate rd to get on Rt 50 East.

About a mile down Rt 50 we'll turn left onto Blue Ridge Mountain Rd which is the best stretch of road on the entire trip. At the end of that road, turn right onto Rt 7 and immediately right again down another fantastic back road, Snickersville Pike. We'll stay straight on that all the way to Rt 50 and home. You can head home from Rt 7 if you want to.

Let me know if you have any cool ideas Bring your cameras! I'll setup a server for everyone to upload their raw video and pictures to.

Here's a link to the route map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...8fe84d7f1e5199
(don't look at the driving directions because we'll be going in reverse)

See you there! Hope to have enough time to give the ///M a bath.

-SZ

[DarkstarZero]

Sat Nov 7

Sunny

High 60°
Low 39°

0% chance of precip.

[baarii]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

Sat Nov 7

Sunny

High 60°
Low 39°

0% chance of precip.

[Cashman]

Since you are literally driving right past my house, i guess i should join in the fun. Be bring the GT2. May meet in Gainesville or maybe at the shell on 211, Ill let you know.

[M5V10]

how many cars are we expecting?

[DarkstarZero]

Originally Posted by M5V10

how many cars are we expecting?

It's hard to tell since some of the people going are not members of this forum. My best guess is anywhere between 25 and 40 cars.

[SUB-ZERO]

Originally Posted by Cashman

Since you are literally driving right past my house, i guess i should join in the fun. Be bring the GT2. May meet in Gainesville or maybe at the shell on 211, Ill let you know.

This is going to be great!

[DarkstarZero]

My gf just reminded me, Melting Pot Pizza only takes cash! So hit an ATM before you come if you're like me and only carry cards.

[M3ltdown]

I just remembered to charge the batteries for my gopro camera

This ride should be bigger than the last one!

[Alpine335TT]

Hmm.. might join you guys. Not an M though.

[baarii]

Originally Posted by Alpine335TT

Hmm.. might join you guys. Not an M though.

Phill, all M3 killers are invited too

[ase2dais]

anyone it Tysons area.. theres a Rolling Thunder meetup group at 9am Starbucks Tysons rt 7 by Golds Gym, Panera..heading to Ihop

[novablackm3]

i'll be ihop around 10ish

[ase2dais]

for the Skyline II sequel photos and vids
goto

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312417