Thoughts on Virginia/West Virginia trip

This will be the last post until December when we take off to Texas for the winter. I'll alert you when I am posting to it again. A couple of observations and notes from this trip.

West Virginia is all that John Denver sang - "Almost Heaven, West Virginia." It is wild, beautiful, very rugged, a truly outdoor person's haven. Very poor towns but very friendly people. We both liked WV - again I think because of less people. Virginia: We were about 50 miles away from Washington DC the whole time in Virginia, and just too loud, noisy, too many people and cars/traffic. People weren't as friendly. We felt uneasy at times - they have not forgotten the Civil War - they are so proud that they were Confederates. However, the Shenandoah Valley and National Park - breath taking. Pennsylvania - the area we saw was lovely, had lots of Amish, tremendous history lessons. Glad we went to the places we did - we both learned alot from this trip of early American history and how the expansion to the west happened.

I am an avid reader - and the last book I read (finished yesterday) was so deja vue! It was set in Virginia/West Virginia about 1750 and was the life of a woman who was abducted by the Shawnee Indians and managed to escape and find her way back home. This is a true story, and was written from journals and personal accounts/oral histories from the family. Mentions George Washington, General Braddock, the New River, the Shenandoah valley. Wow. Didn't have a clue this was all in it when I got the book. I was blown away when we were traveling west today out of the campground and the New River Gorge area, and went over a bridge that said it is in honor of this woman! See you in December!

Ohio and almost home

Saturday we decided to not sit in the rain - to go do something. Off we went to supposedly an ole-time hardware store in Summersville. What a bust. Was definitely not our 45 minute drive there and got caught in 3 towns with town celebrations. Made through 2 of the towns within minutes before they shut down the road - parades were about to start. Matching day - gloomy outside, gloomy and bust things to do, not a productive day.

Sunday was spent just being around the campsight, doing whatever. We packed up this morning and drove 4 hours to Cambridge, Ohio - we are camped right near Interstate 70 and 77. We will spend 2 nights here, tomorrow cleaning inside and out the RV and getting it ready for storage for a couple of months. Our plans are to MAYBE take it out in October when the 2 older grandgirls come in from Phoenix, weather permitting. If no camping, then we will get it ready to take off again the first of December for Texas. We plan to be in Texas/New Mexico this winter from December through April. We would not bring the RV back to Ohio at that time - leave it at a dealer for maintenance and return home until such time in we return to it and move up north through Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, the Dakotas, etc. Again, never bringing it back to Ohio

Sandstone Falls and John Henry

What a fun day yesterday! We started out by going to the visitor's center at an old town, Sandstone, which is about 4 miles from here. They gave us all the info on Sandstone Falls in the southern area of the New River Gorge National River park. Said we had to drive 8 miles south along the river, then 7.8 miles back up the other side of the New River. Dave got freaked out again because of the windy/twisty road going up over the mountain just to get south to a town called Hinton, then turning back up north - again a one lane road on the other side of the river. But, what a reward once we got there! Absolutely beautiful area. We spent about 2 hours piddling around there, walking out to as far as we could over the falls, watching people fish - then decided to drive back into Hinton and on to find the Graham Home which is the first settler's home in West Virginia. On the way we took pictures of people's campers - up on stilts obviously because of flooding. Separate email with more pics will show just how clever these people are in keeping up out of the flood waters. On the way there, we stopped at a roadside Dairy Queen - which was built on the side of the mountain, and the eating area was built out over the New River. Alot of people - I think this is a main attraction in Hinton. On our drive to Lowell which is where the Graham Home is, we stopped at a monument that honors John Henry - the man that beat the steel-driving hammer of the railroad fame but died from exhaustion afterward - google John Henry and read his story. Anyhow - when we stopped there was a car from Georgia - two women - Dave said he could take their picture if they wanted to while they stood infront of the statue. I think from that small act of kindness, they suggested that we follow them - they were going to the Great Bend Tunnel of John Henry's legend. We could see tracks running right into the mountain we were standing on, looking down, from below where we were at the statue. We followed them in our truck and suggested we get in their car with them after we had turned into CSX's property - they were going to drive to the tunnel - come along. They said their husbands were both employed by CSX and they are allowed on the property. Was spooky - could see a small light at the end of the mile-long tunnel - and was just blown away with the whole thing. Again, there are orbs showing up in pictures - but only show up when we were standing at the entrance. Separate email will show these pics. CSX has since built another tunnel beside this one, you can just barely make it out on the left - and CSX is in the process of making a visitor's center to honor John Henry. After leaving there, we continued on our road to find the Graham Home - found it but it had closed for the season. Today, Saturday, it's raining, will head into town later to do some shopping, but just lay low.

New River Gorge National River, WV

Yesterday we traveled to the visitor's center for the New River Gorge. I was disappointed because I thought the river would be running more - this area has been in a draught just like the rest of us and the Class 5 and higher rapids (these are for those rafters that are very very advanced) were just trickles. Was neat to see anyway - we saw this Gorge about 25 years ago when we brought our son-in-law's parents through here on a trip. This bridge is the largest single-arch span bridge in the world. You can fit the Washington Monument and then 2 Statue of Liberties on top of that Monument and still not reach the top of the bridge where the traffic is. Two times a year people bungee jump off this bridge. We went to get a snack after and saw a memorial to those jumpers who have lost their lives doing this. Fun? Unbelievable. From there we drove the Gorge scenic drive for awhile. I wanted to stop in Thurmond, which is a ghost town now withe the exception of 6 people who still live there. Dave was not happy to drive into this small little place - the road went from a narrow two lane to one lane - and there were cars and trucks passing us. No where to get off the road but scrinch by. We saw some really sad looking places, very very poor. However, once we got there - there was a railroad bridge with a one-car lane attached to it. Had to go over it to get to the town - so over we went. Glad we did. Thurmond is now part of the national park and they are restoring the town to make exhibits and such to show how the town was way back in 1900. Thousands of people lived here - coal mines were abundant, hotels, banks, and all the supportive businesses for that amount of folks. We walked the tracks to look at the exhibits inside these buildings, there were no roads - only walk by the tracks or on them. Just as we were leaving, a train came by. Pretty neat.
Today we are heading south of here, still within New River Gorge National River area - to Sandstone Falls. This is very well known and we plan on spending all day there - weather is wonderful - about 72. Weather is supposed to turn to rain tomorrow so we will hunker down and just enjoy being 'out here.'

Dawson West Virginia

Not much happened since last wrote other than awful hot weather. We left yesterday morning from Front Royal, Virginia and traveled south then west to a small town called Dawson, West Virginia. Left at 9:15 and it was 87 degrees (already) and when we got here it was 76. Last night the temperature got down to 40 - my kind of camping! It had been so hot the past 2 weeks that we had only a sheet on the bed. Last night, 2 blankets and 2 sheets. Cats froze and ended up wedged between us on the bed - snuggled.

We are not far from New River Gourge National Park and near the Gauley River - both of these are by Beckley, WV. For those who white-water raft - these are THE places to come to. We don't plan on doing that, only sightseeing.

Won't even do hiking - I broke my toe two nights ago while cleaning up inside the camper. Pretty ugly and really sore. Here's a view this morning looking out the window towards the meadow where we are camping. The old barn had an owl singing to us for quite awhile last night. The manager (that's his RV in this picture) said that deer often come up from the meadow behind them and you can see them right next to your RV. There is a walking path beyond this but he said to make sure you take a walking stick and thump the ground as you walk - 'there are copperhead snakes here and this will scare them to move on.' I don't think so!

Labor Day in VA

Yesterday, Sunday, we spent just catching up on emails, Dave doing photo editing, laundry, etc. Only went out for a short run to get drinking water and to tank up the truck. Had to even take a quick nap in the afternoon - we were up till after 1am Friday night due to the campground having a live band and then the party people did not quiet down until much later. This place is full, but fortunately we are sitting up above it all, right by the manager's RV. This is the view from our door, looking at the worker-bee's (Ed) RV and then the Manager's Montana RV. Then looking down into the transient RVs - where we were to start with. In the distance you can see the Shenandoah National Park - about 15 miles from here.

Being Labor Day and the last official 'hooray' for end of summer camping, we are watching RV after RV pull out to go home, or coming up into the area to our left (unseen in this photo) to be stored. This campground is a year-round place, not sure if we could stay here in the winter with snow. But, fun to watch the people pack up and go.

After much discussion as to where do we go next - north, south, west - and definitely not east which is Washington DC and cazillion people, we opted to head out south, then west Wednesday for Beckley, West Virginia, about a 4 hour drive from here, where the New River Gorge National Park is. Will stay there until at least next Sunday, if not more. Today and tomorrow we clean, get caught up on things, wash clothes/linen, in general just lay low. Will not be posting to blog until this coming Thursday, after we get settled.

Shenandoah NP, again

After Hurricane Earl blew by, we were supposed to get high winds and only 75 for temp. With the high winds we decided to head back to the Shenandoah NP - we could clearly see the mountains from the campground. Drove back to the mid-entrance (Boyd Visitor Center) wanted to walk along the Big Meadows - too many people - drove the rest of the way south to the end. It actually was freezing up there! Being a holiday weekend - so many people camping in the park - all campgrounds were full. Some people got a pass to leave their car in overlook sections and hike down the Appalachian Trail, spending the night where ever they choose, then hiking back out. Ahhhhh - would be nice to do, but I am not young anymore. And, I don't think I would relax with bears hanging around.

The north and south districts are totally different in vegatation and views. We both said we liked the north for the foliage, but the south for the views. There were more historical markers and information in the southern district. Goal was to hike on the Appalachian Trail, in this picture you see the AT which marks the trail heads and a small band above the AT with imprinted data that tells you how far distance to such-and-so point. Each side gives distance, depending on where you want to hike. Along the trail you will see a band of yellow swatch of paint on a tree to mark the trail. The second tree to the right has this mark. Well, we did hike the trail, picked a trail that said you will get to a waterfall (seems to be our niche) but after walking 2 miles, DOWNHILL, decided to head back since we had to hike back UP. Sweat! Even though the temp was about 68 - sheese. But, I am so glad we did this. Was neat to see and hear things in the forest.

We drove out of the park, drove back to the 500,000 book store we went to the other day (Green Valley Book Fair) and browsed for a couple of hours, returning back to Front Royal by 7:30pm. With the high wind all day, we found some of our outdoor 'stuff' was blown across to other sites. We decided we are done sight-seeing from this campsite - will just relax the next couple of days and then move on to somewhere ? Wednesday. Haven't decided yet.

Cedar Creek National Battlefield and Belle Grove

Friday we decided to go to Cedar Creek National Battlefield and to Belle Grove plantation which is about 10 miles from here. Hurricane Earl was definitely in the east - you should have seen the cloud formations! No rain forecasted - but supposed to be hot so off we went. Belle Grove Plantation is a home built in 1785, designed by Thomas Jefferson, and the wife of the owner was the sister of James Madison, the 4th president. Again, no pictures on the inside, but was amazing to see and hear the history and how people lived. Notice how this home is so huge - and only 2 bedrooms. And one level - notice the steps going up high? Alot of furniture is still from the Hite's (that's the original family). Across the road is the Cedar Creek National Battlefield Historic Park. I had never heard of this battle in the Civil War and found out it only became a national park in 2002. Cedar Creek and Belle Grove are connected because during the battle, Major General Ramseur of the South was mortally wounded and brought here to die. At his bedside was Northern Lt. George Armstrong Custer (the same of the tragic Battle of Little Big Horn - Custer's last stand). Others who fought in this battle were William McKinley and Rutherford B. Hayes -future presidents! This battle was a turning point in the Civil War because the North (Union) were not doing so well, being defeated by the South (Confederates) and Abraham Lincoln was campaigning for re-election, also the Shenandoah Valley was key to provisioning the South. This battle happened in October, two weeks before election of a president. Most of the battles of the Civil War were fought here in the Shenandoah Valley, some towns had 4 battles during the 4 1/2 years. Talk about devastating your town and economy and all the lives lost. Anyhow, General Sheridan got his troops to rally and won this battle for Lincoln, the North became optomistic that Lincoln could finally end this war, re-elected him and end slavery forever. You have to use your imagination to see this battle. Even the visitor center didn't have any interpreting - just some guns/bullets/uniforms/books. Not enough money to do anything right now. "But come on back in October when we fight this battle all over again - over 4,000 people come to do this!" Ahhh, no thanks, but didn't tell him that.


Having learned that the majority of the battles of the Civil War were fought in the Shenandoah Valley - it is so fertile, many rivers beside the Shenandoah, major thoroughfare between North and South - it makes sense that everywhere we go you see "Viriginia Civil War Trails" signs and historical placques everywhere. And most battles are reinacted every year! Big business even now!

No Earl, but hot!

We stuck it out at the RV yesterday, watching the waves of clouds come in from Hurricane Earl. It did get to 100, too hot for us. No rain, did get some wind. Tomorrow is supposed to be very windy from the back side of Earl going up the coast. Strange thing is today the sky is very, very overcast, Earl is due east of us out in the ocean. Can't see the Shenandoah from the RV like you can on all other days, too hazy. We thought the campground would get pretty busy when in fact it is very desolate here. The worker-bee guy Ed who is next to us said that this Earl probably scared away alot of folks, although this weekend is supposed to be wonderful - temps in the 70's. Yeah!

Today we were going to go back to the Shenandoah but since you can't see the mountains from the campground like normal, we figured we couldn't see looking down from the top of Skyline Drive. So, instead we probably will go to Cedar Creek National Battlefield and Belle Grove Plantation about 10 miles from here. We have steered clear of battlefields, but for some reason - I haven't researched it - this battle has made a National park. So, we'll go.

Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia

We hung around the RV Tuesday, just trying to stay cool. It was 96 before the day was out, funny - we delayed this trip to avoid hot weather and it keeps getting hotter! Yesterday it was 100. We needed to go do something yesterday, so we drove 60 miles south down Interstate 81 to Staunton VA to the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia. This museum houses authentic homes from the English, Irish, Scottish and German people from the early 1600's and 1700's. Then you stepped into "New World" American settlements - frontier homes/farms from 1740, 1820, and 1850's. This picture is the 1820 farm. They (museum founders) went to the old world countries, dismantled the homes, brought them to VA and reassembled them just as it stood. For the American frontier homes - these came from places in Virginia - again actual homes/farms dismantled and then reassembled here. Quite impressive. And brought all the interior with them - furniture, fireplace cooking utensils, clothing, etc. The staff was working on a West African site and similar slave quarter home from a plantation was to be finished by the end of the month. The last piece was American Indian and they have it in their plans.

From there we found a bookstore that says it has 500,000 books. And do they! Unbelievable. We were on sensory overload when we walked in, and then I discovered that alot of the authors were recognizable but the books weren't. I think these were overstocks, titles that never made it big time, etc. And cheap. Every catagory you could imagine. I found 4 books, Dave found 1 for a total of $19.46. Was worth stopping and browsing for a couple of hours.

Today, again we watch for Hurricane Earl - Virginia is in a state of emergency and I don't know how that will affect me grocery shopping. Supposed to be passing through tonight, but a quick passing. Hopefully with Earl passing on, the Shenandoah will clear up and we will drive back up there again and get clearer pictures. I want to get a picture of the Appalachian Trail as it criss crosses the Skyline Drive. Maybe I'll see a bear again?!