Sherando Lake Recreational Area -National Forest

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1.      Sherando Lake Recreational Area - National Forest-Wednesday/Thursday May 13 & 14 -65 sites – our site C5  Meadow Loop with electricity – costs $10 with Golden Age plus $5 for electricity.

Off the Blue Ridge for a bit using route 814 less steep!

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         This campground is situated on the west side of the Blue Ridge and one can find it by taking a mile post 16 route 814 much easier drive than the 664 off the mountain.  This is known as the jewel of the Blue Ridge because of its beauty with the mountains around it and located on the shores of a 25 acre spring fed lake.  It was built by the CCC and so some of the buildings are of the typical logs and natural stone.  There are four loops two for tents and two for RV’s and bigger rigs.  In all there are 65 sites and 30 with electricity.  All sites are first come first serve so even during midweek of May there were only about 3 sites left after we got there.  It is one of the most popular campgrounds  of the forest service.  The upper lake is good for fishing and hikes around and the lower lake has a nice swimming area, fishing pier, park benches and a few hiking trails that go around it.  They had a water shortage when we were there so the showers were not working.  Very peaceful campground and so much beauty!

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     Our Days -  We left Holliday Lake Campground and drove back to the Blue Ridge Mountains stopping at Lynchburg and then through Big Island.  The drive up was a roller coaster ride and you better have good brakes before attempting it.  Once we were on top  we stopped at James River Visitor Center which is on the lowest point of the parkway and has hikes over the river to the original canal where tobacco boats were passed through up and down the James River heading for Richmond and points west.  Continued driving on this bright sunny day up the Blue Ridge and the views were spectacular.  Arrived at  our campsite around 1 and selected a site near the rolling creek and with about a 100 steps up a embankment to the upper lake. 

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      The weather forecast is not good for the next few days but the rains held off on Thursday so that we had the sun come out and we were able to take bike rides, hikes and just sit on the rocks and watch the water coming down the mountains.   The views from the lakeshore looking up at the Blue Ridge are spellbinding.  Really nice!.  George is starting to have problems with his lungs and we think it is because of all the rain we have had on this trip as well as the pollen has been falling everywhere that we have gone.  Might have to stop at a clinic tomorrow before we head to skyline drive and Shenandoah National Park.  Hope for the best!