WILD and WONDERFUL

WEST VIRGINIA  - PART 5 ...MAY 29 2013...

Going to finish this up today.  Would you believe this will be my 601st blog since I started.  Yesterday was 600. Am I windy or what? 

Upon leaving Pipestem State Part we made our next stop at Tamarack - the huge complex featuring the work of West Virginia Artisans.  We shopped, and ate there.  Nancy had Kale for the first time - they served a lot of West Virginia type foods, and decided she liked it.  Kale has always been on of m favorites.

Leaving tamarack we arrived at Twin Falls State Park.  A lot of the park was still closed following the earlier storms, but we did visit the Pioneer Homestead which is part of Twin Falls.  It was a neat early pioneer village, we were the only ones there except for the resident cat.

Our next stop was the New River Gorge, the awesome bridge over the gorge, took pictures from the lookout, then discovered the road that wound down below the bridge, and took pictures there also.  This was in Fayette County.

On our way to Hawks Nest we discovered the remains of the Beckwith Mill.  The view from Hawks Nest was amazing.  From there we skipped over to Babcock State Park and photographed their famous mill. 

From there we headed to Carnifax Ferry  Battlefield.    Photographed some old barns on the way.

By now we were in Webster County, headed for home.  Took numerous miscellaneous pictures of things along the way.

And now for this last picture.  Not really spectacular or scenic, but has a great story to go with it.

Of course I use my GPS.  Couldn't find anything without it.  Towards the end of our trip, in the Holly River State park area there was an old grist mill I wanted to photograph.  I entered the co-ordinate into the GPS and off we went.

The beginning was fine.  Pave road.  Then turned into a gravel road.  Miles of gravel.  Soon the road turned to dirt.  Narrow.  Windy.  Dirt.  We talked about turning back but couldn't find anywhere to turn around.  Decided we had to come out somewhere.

Around the next bend was a homestead, or sorts with an older woman and, probably her grandchildren, picking wild flowers.  Stopped and asked her about the mill.  She told us it was just ahead.  Just ahead was a small stream of water running across the road.  She told us just do drive thru it, continue a short distance and cross the 'crick', turn right and we would be there.  Then keep on going and we would return to civilization.

We 'drove thru it' went the short distance, and there was the 'crick'.  No bridge.  About 2 plus feet of water.  DRIVE THRU THAT!!  SHE HAD TO BE NUTS!!  WE HAD TO BE NUTS!!

I looked at Nancy, she looked at me and said - "You aren't going thru that, are you?"

Of course not.  I might be nuts, but am not crazy.  We were able to turn around, drove the dirt road to the gravel road to the paved road and continued.  Never did find the mill.


Well, hope you enjoyed our adventure.  Am getting ready for our new adventure starting early Monday morning.  We are leaving on our bus trip to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard.  Don't think we will be driving thru any cricks!

It is a beautiful day.  Enjoy and God Bless. 

PS - The trees made it home no worse for the wear.  Am assuming Nancy got them planted.  Don't know what her son said when he saw them.  Probably don't want to know.

WILD and WONDERFUL

WEST VIRGINIA - PART 4...MAY 28 2013..


 The saga continues.  We were gone from Monday morning until the following Monday evening.  This blog has sort of been condensed, sort of.

Leaving Pocohontas county we entered Greenbrier County, the first stop being Beartown State Park.  Just prior to entereing the park we stopped at the Old Log Church.  This is acutally a working Church, not just something to look at.

After exploring Beartown we continued, seeing the Locust Bridge built in 1888.  Looked pretty good for an old bridge.  From there we continued to Lewisburg where we detoured, heading east into Virginia.  Just before arriving at Covington we stopped at the Humpback Covered Bridge and Park.  It was well worth the detour.  A beautiful bridge in a beautiful setting.

As we continued we saw a couple more Mail Pouch Barns, two additional covered bridges, more Mail pouch, and, of course a couple more quilt blocks.  Thank goodness they were also much too large to fit in the van.

We saw historical buildings, and visited the Indian Creek covered Bridge.  We had crossed into Monroe County somewhere between the historical and the bridges.

One of the prettier places as the Old Cook's Mill, built in 1797.
A beautiful setting for a mill.  We continued on to Pinacle Rock State Park in Princeton County then on to the town of Bramwell.  What a beautiful old, historical town.

Next stop was Pipe Stem State Park.  We  wanted to ride the incline, but it hadn't opened for the season yet.  Probably was for the best, as it was very cool and windy.  As you can see our days were quite full, we were quite busy, and the trip was fast winding down.  

I trust you had a nice Memorial Day weekend, whichwent by all too fast.  Take care and God Bless. 

WILD and WONDERFUL

WEST VIRGINIA ... Part 3 ... MAY 26 2013..

Another day.  Another adventure.  It started out as a "shopping" day.  Nancy needed - not wanted, needed - to visit a nursery - flowers not babies.  So first place we  hit was WalMart.

She doesn't shop little.  She shops BIG.  When we left she had only made 2 purchases.  But, oh boy!  She bought 2 trees. Yep.  Read me right.  Trees.  Two trees.  In big pots. Shortest tree was taller than me, other tree taller than shortest tree. 

Shortest tree went in first.  Put pot next to passenger seat back, and by angling it tree fit in the van.  Second tree (the really tall one) went in the tail gate, tree first.  We are guiding the tree as the nursery guy was  putting it in.  The tree itself went in over the first tree, the top came all the way thru the van and hit the dashboard on the passenger side, next to the door.  The rest of the trip Nance had to open the door, lift up the tree, get onto the seat while holding up the tree, shutting the door and letting the tree drop down. 

I'm sure glad I was the driver!!!!!  The tree, and Nancy both survived the rest of the trip and made it home safely. 

That was just one of several memorable experiences on this trip.

From there we traveled on thru Randolph County, seeing barns, white swans, Mail Pouch, the Kissing Bridge that doesn't tell, so the sign said, and a couple of quilt barns.

Entering Pocohontas County we stopped at Cranberry Glades State Park, photographed McNeel Mill, an old grsit mill, saw the Pearl S Buck birthplace.  (For you who don't know,she was a very famous author, born in 1892). 

From there we visited Droop Mountain Battlefield, saw some quilt pattern blocks for sale (Nance wanted one, but were more than she wanted to pay) thankfully, as I don't know where we would have put one as they were 4 foot square!!!

Finished up Pocohontas County with a visit to Watoga state Park.  Another day, more adventure, ready for a good night's rest and then on to, who knows what.

Have a great day and God Bless.