Sawmillers on I-81 or close

[highpockets]

Jacque are planning a trip to Washington D.C. around the first of June.  Since we have never traveled much in the U.S. we are kind of excited about seeing some new country.  We will be pulling our gooseneck camper and will most likely take I-20 from Shreveport to Birmingham, then turn north on ??? I-59 and I-81.  I was just wondering who lives on this path.  We may come back via Tennessee and Kentucky.  Who knows.   

[Ga_Boy]

I am about 40 miles south of DC.

Come on down if you want and visit for a spell.  I got sweet tea and grits.   8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

[Tom]

I-81 is one pretty road.  I took it from the Far North East to Tennessee in 1984.  It goes through the heart of the War and there are many battlefields to visit along the way.  See the Shenandoah, the Appalachians and the post card farms of Pennsylvania.  Keep going north and see the Pokonos, full of little historic museums, and end up in the North east without having to put up with the urbanization of the coast.

It's a shame that the tolls keep coming south.  Virginia is supposed to be putting Tolls on I-81 now.  What a way to ruin a scenic highway.

[Don P]

I'm about 45 minutes south of the I77/I81 cross in Wytheville VA. We're in Elk Creek. No hookups but holler if you need a place to park and kick back. PM if you'd like a phone #, I don't mind being someone to call while you cross new ground.

But Tom, they say they'll take the tolls down when they pay for the repairs  : :D

81 is a beautiful ride, it used to be alot better. The trucks have taken it over. It's been running 40% over designed truck traffic while passenger traffic still hasn't hit maximum. Take it easy through the mt's those guys need more room at times than they know.

[Dan_Shade]

yep, 81's nice, i grew up 5 minutes from an exit on it in West Virginia.  if I still lived there, i'd extend an offer to ya.  well, i'll extend it anyway, but i'm a bit farther south of DC than Ga_Boy, but you're welcome if you want to see my stretch of the woods!

[highpockets]

Ga_Boy,  thanks for the invite. We are still planning the trip but it is nice to know someone is there if trouble arises.  We may give you a holler.  I am sure you know more about D.C. than we do. 

Don P, thanks also.  I think Troy lives somewhere near the 77 and 81 intersection doesn't he.  We think this area may be our second night stop.  I'll drop you a line.

Dan_Shade, we may holler as we are not sure just where we are going after we leave. 

Tom, thanks for the comment.  Jacque and I have seen most of the world except the Far East (Asia) but we haven't seen our own capital.  Of course the Smithsonian is my deal.  I spent two day in the history museum in London in 1977.  I love old steam engines, etc.

Anyway we are debating coming south on I-95 or heading west into Kentucky and down.  Just ain't sure yet. 

[Dan_Shade]

i kind of say my offer in jest, but it stands, i'm an hour and a half away from civilization (at least an interstate), and I live on a penninsula.

[highpockets]

Thanks Dan, we are looking at the cherry hill r.v. park which is in the college park area and seems to be about two miles from the metro.  We may wind up in another area if we find something on the south or west near the metro.  Thanks

[highpockets]

What about U.S. Hwy 33 from Harrison Va to Weston W.V., it this a pretty decent highway?  We're thinking about coming back from D.C. and over to Weston, then to Menphis.

[scsmith42]

At the Smithsonian, the museum of American History is my favorite.  Out of all the Smithsonian museum's, I'd allocate at least one full day to the American History museum.

Also, the new Udvar Hazy Museum of Aerospace is now open at Dulles.  It's a hike from the Mall, but very worthwhile if you're into flying.

Many advised me that the best time to visit the Vietnam memorial is to get up early and be there immediately after sunrise.  It's not crowded at that time, and for some reason the impact seems even more powerful in the early morning stillness.  I'd concur.

On your way back, consider driving down i95 and then cutting over to see Monticello.  My favorite quote about Thomas Jefferson was one that JFK made when he hosted a group of Nobel Lauretes at the White House back in the early 60's.  His comment to the group?  "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone." 

Enjoy your trip - ought to be a great time.

Scott

[Don P]

This is a link to Virginia's DOT road conditions map. It highlights slowdowns mostly on major roads.

VDOT Road Conditions

I'm zoomed in on this link to the brandywine quad in Rockingham co.
http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/prOTIM.asp

I suspected that drop on 33 would be rough... check out the switchbacks. Topozone probably can pull up the elevations. If you're towing any length or weight I'd avoid that route unless someone pipes up with better info, Ron S might know that route. I think thats one that makes you appreciate the smell of toasted brakes, I've come real close to swapping ends on some of those roads with weight on. I stick to the big roads through the blue ridge with a load on when I can. You know your rig and its handling though, I might be all wet.

My connection is slower than usual today, I keep getting bumped off VDOT's pages but they do have trip planner pages, etc.
Monticello is certainly worth a visit, if you're going all the way down to Richmond on 95 on the way to C-ville, might as well detour to Williamsburg and Jamestown "on the way ;D " then across on I-64 would be one possible hiway out.

We can plan you a good year long vacation  :D

[highpockets]

Sorry I have not been here for a few days. 

Don P it looks like we may try to make Marion (I-81) for our second night stopover.  I see on my Streetmap Program that you are close.  I see the Hungry Mother Campground near Marion.  We may try that.   If you'd like I appreciate your phone number in a private message.   We may holler.  As for the 33 hwy, it looks like this is about the only option other than going up and catching I-68. 

We have a 32 foot Sierra Camper and I am not sure just what it weighs.  I have a 2000 F-350 duelly with a 7.3 diesel and a six speed manual.  I know what you are talking about on brakes. That is one of the reasons I like a manual transmission. The truck seems to handle the camper down here on flat ground.  I also pull my backhoe which weighs about 14,500 with the trailer.  Still hills are hills. It looks like about 142 miles of bad road on Hwy 33.   

Dan Shade it looks like we may be closer to you and Ga Boy than we first thought.  I am looking at coming up I-81 to Stunaton and taking 64 east to Richmond. At Richmond we think we are going to take 301 up to Upper Marlboro.  We are now looking at Duncan Family Campgrounds at Lothian, MD.  The address is 5381 Sands Rd. 

We are planning on using the metro to get into town. I am not sure which line I need to use nor where I can catch it on the east side of D.C.  If you know, I'd appreciate some info. 

Ga-Boy I am not sure just where you live. I tried to locate you on the map program and kept coming up with something in wenstern maryland and I know that is not right.

scsmith42,  I agree with you on the american history museum.  Of course I have never had the opportunity to visit D.C. but in 1977 I had a few days to goof off in London and stayed in their natural history museum for two days.  Then in 1995 I got to visit the museum in Munich Germany.  So I am looking forward to D.C. . 

Anyway, I appreciate you guys jumping in here.   
   

[Dan_Shade]

if you are going up 301 to Upper Marlboro, you're going to be very close to GaBoy, he's right off of 301.  I'm about 40 minutes from 301.

[scsmith42]

Based on your proposed route, you're going right by Monticello (off of 64 just west of Richmond).  You seriously ought to consider spending 1/2 to a full day there - you won't regret it.

Scott

[Part_Timer]

The streatch between Abingdon and Marion on 81 is very pretty.  My mom and dad live in Abingdon and we sometimes take 77 south through W. VA and then take 81 to mom's.

Just be aware that the streatch between Abingdon and Marion is called "million dollar hollar".  Last time we visited I made the trip every day for a week and saw no less than 6 cops each way each day.  watch your speed. :D

Just outside of Abingdon there is a log cabin home sales place.  They build cabins there then disassemble them and move em.  I've never seen logs the size they are using on some of those homes.  It goes by quick but is neat.

[highpockets]

Dan I have located you and Ga-Boy on the map. When we get into your neck of the woods it will be our third day atleast and I'm sure we'll be trying to get somewhere to park.  We may holler later after getting setup and organized. 

We may look at Monticello.  I am not sure just what we can do with the camper. 

What is the speed limit on I-81?  I pretty much abide by the law but this truck is a Texas Truck. It likes 70 m.p.h. in sixth gear.  About 1900 r.p.m.   

[Don P]

The limit through there is 65, they do watch it close right on through the interchange at 81/77. People for some reason get froggy in there and it has caused alot of wrecks, so they patrol it alot, I imagine they make a healthy nickle in the process  :D. Hungry Mother is where my aunt's family used to like to go. I'll ditto Monticello if you can do it, you'll forget being a day late soon enough  ;D.

[highpockets]

It looks like we are now changing our route to D.C..  I have always wanted to see the U.S. Air Force Museum in Columbus Ohio so it looks like we will make a run from D.C. west on I-70.  Maybe a day trip to Loudenville (amish country) then to Cincinatti and south to Memphis.  Any comments about things to see is appreciated.