West Virginia

West Virginia

Entered West Virginia after having KFC in Kentucky.  Passed towns known for the founder of grandparents day and Fayetteville which is the “coolest small town”. 

Just as soon as you think you are in the middle of nowhere there is an Arby’s, Bob Evans and Dairy Queen.  

We went to Beckley Expedition Mine which included a great tour of the mines.   Just enough for two teens attentions spans.  The driver of the train was a retired miner.  He had some great stories and told us about how the miners had to buy their own equipment including fuel for their light.   They actually had a flame on their head.  It was startling when he turned the lights off to show how dark it was.  

They had a nice example of old mining equipment in their museum and samples of housing for the miners.  

Gift shop found another key chain for Patrick, hoodie for Kate and a Christmas ornament for me.  Finally a shop with decent prices. 

On the way out- Hawkeyes (Patrick) spotted a chik fil a and they had a snack.  

We also found building 19s step brother “Ollie’s”.  Good things cheap and so many similarities for building 19 including the rug department. 

We then took some old country roads home.  We saw how the economy effects the population.  Lots of run down houses and places out of business.  

The trip home also included the New River Gorge Bridge overlook and a detour down a pretty steep road to the bed of the gorge.  Kate was impressed at the suddenness of the rapids starting. The road less taken always gives a surprise.  

We stayed at the adventures on the gorge campground.  It is far more glamping than camping.  A two bedroom cabin with a hot tub on the deck.  Two bathrooms and a memory foam mattress.   Reminded us of home when this morning yielded a trail of ketchup packets from the front of the cabin to the hot tub.  Must have been raccoons.