Joe Alexander – Page 14 – DREAM BIG. BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS. DO THE WORK.

Virginia highways big and small

Highway 340 north of Waynesboro, Virginia. - photo by Joe Alexander — Highway 340 north of Waynesboro, Virginia. – photo by Joe Alexander

Every highway I explored in Virginia was lined with greenery.

I hit some interstates and a few two-lane country backroads.

A month from now, the greenery will change to fall colors.

Interstate 64 in Virginia west of Richmond. - photo by Joe Alexander — Interstate 64 in Virginia west of Richmond.

Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park

Skyline Drive’s northern entrance is a little more than an hour drive from Washington DC, but it feels like a world away. - photo by Joe Alexander — Skyline Drive’s northern entrance is a little more than an hour drive from Washington DC, but it feels like a world away. – photo by Joe Alexander

Skyline Drive runs for a little more than 100 miles through Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The northern park entrance is in Front Royal, Virginia – about 70 miles west of Washington DC. Skyline Drive winds roughly north and south to near Waynesboro, Virginia.

I got there about a month to early for the prime viewing of the fall colors in the park.

There are a number of overlooks and places to park along Skyline Drive, where the highest elevation is 3,680 feet.

Official Website: www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm

Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. - photo by Joe Alexander — Skyline Drive – Shenandoah National Park

The road to Virginia and Shenandoah

Crossing into Virginia on Highway 340. - photo by Joe Alexander — Crossing into Virginia on Highway 340. – photo by Joe Alexander

I started my day driving west on a highway south of but roughly parallel to the Mason-Dixon Line. I passed exits for towns whose names rang a bell from Civil War history.

Places along Highway 430 like Frederick, Sandy Hook and Boonsborough in Maryland and Harpers Ferry in West Virginia. I crossed over the Potomac River along the state lines of Maryland and West Virginia.

Due to an unexpected road closure, I spent a couple of hours driving south on the mostly two-lane Stonewall Jackson Memorial Highway.

I crossed the Shanendoah River and two of its forks.

Along the way I saw a lot of small-town Virginia.

It wasn’t the day I had envisioned, but it was certainly a change of scenery.

Along highway 340 on the way to Front Royal, Virginia. - photo by Joe Alexander — Along highway 340 on the way to Front Royal, Virginia.

Road trip starts with a flight to Baltimore

The Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. - photo by Joe Alexander — The Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. – photo by Joe Alexander

I remember trips to Baltimore from when I was a youngster in the back seat of my parents’ car.

This time, Charm City is just a quick stop on the way to some new scenery.

Flying into Thurgood Marshall-BWI Airport between Baltimore and Washington DC. - photo by Joe Alexander — Flying to Baltimore

Inner Harbor area of Baltimore. - photo by Joe Alexander — Inner Harbor – Baltimore

Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. - photo by Joe Alexander — Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Thurgood Marshall statue in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore. - photo by Joe Alexander — Thurgood Marshall statue – Baltimore

Babe Ruth statue outside Oriole Park at Camden Yards. - photo by Joe Alexander — Babe Ruth – Camden Yards

Brooks Robinson statue outside Oriole Park at Camden Yards. - photo by Joe Alexander — Brooks Robinson – Camden Yards

Punk rockers Girl In A Coma announce reunion concert dates

Girl In A Coma playing in San Antonio, Texas, in July, 2016. - photos by Joe Alexander — Girl In A Coma playing in San Antonio, Texas, in July, 2016. – photos by Joe Alexander

San Antonio legendary punk rockers Girl In A Coma announced dates for three reunion concerts:
Dec. 7 at the Continental Club in Houston
Dec. 8 at Paper Tiger in San Antonio
Dec. 9 at The Mohawk in Austin

Their ticket info is on Facebook

Girl In A Coma playing in San Antonio, Texas, in July, 2016. - photo by Joe Alexander — Girl In A Coma

Chris Cuevas Project at Commons Park at The Rim

The Chris Cuevas Project with some sunset blues. - photo by Joe Alexander — The Chris Cuevas Project with some sunset blues. – photo by Joe Alexander

The Chris Cuevas Project played as the setting sun lit up Commons Park at the Rim on San Antonio’s north side on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.

La Sal Mountains in southeastern Utah

The La Sal Mountains in southeast Utah. View is looking east from Arches National Park in late April. - photo by Joe Alexander — The La Sal Mountains in southeast Utah. View is looking east from Arches National Park in late April. – photo by Joe Alexander

The La Sal Mountains make for a handy reference point in and around Moab, Utah. The peaks were covered with snow in April and visible from almost anyplace near Moab.

The La Sal Mountains are located about 20 miles southeast of Moab in the Manti-La Sal National Forest near Utah’s border with Colorado.

The mountain peaks are over 12,000 feet – the second highest mountain range in Utah.

The La Sal Mountains in southeastern Utah. View is looking east from Utah Highway 191 driving south toward Moab. - photo by Joe Alexander — La Sal Mountains, Utah

Utah road trip: Arches National Park part 2

Arches National Park in southern Utah in April, 2023. - photo by Joe Alexander — Arches National Park in southern Utah in April, 2023. – photo by Joe Alexander

People flock to Arches National Park for the red rocks, blue skies and most of all for the namesake arches.

Be aware that from April 1 to October 31, 2023, you need a reservation in the form of a Timed Entry Ticket. More information on that here:
Official site: Arches: National Park Service