Way up high, down deep below

 Title pretty much sums up the day. Now for the details to explain how I came up with such a title.

 We started our day by driving up to a relatively new National Park, New River Gorge National Park and preserve. It became a National Park in 2020, it had previously been New River National River. It now protects some 70,000 acres of the river and surrounding land. It is a wild and scenic place with steep gorges. And this bridge some 876ft in the air.

Any self respecting bridge would have a viewing platform for a better angle. And so it does. Probably can't read the sign but it warns there are 178 steps to the platform. Going down is option, coming back up is not!

As you can tell, we put that new knee thru a work out. But we made it.

 You probably have already guessed that was the way up high portion. Now how about the down deep below part? Simple, we are in West Virginia.

Jackets on because the mine stays around 58 degrees all the time. Our tour guide was/is a retired coal miner who spent 39 years in the mines. This mine was started in the late 1800's used mainly to supply coal for local families. Since the city bought it, enlarged it and made safety improvements. Our guide stopped at designated areas and told us about equipment and usage as well as life spent underground. Our tour took us about 150 feet underground. Deep enough for us.

They were expected to mine 10 tons per day, in a twelve hour day. Crappy pay, crappy conditions. While he can stand up in it now, previously it would have been 3-4 ft high.

while the camera did not catch it, that is with the lights off in mine and he is demonstrating a carbide lantern worn on hat (in reality just a flame) (carbide mixed with water creates acetylene).

piece of petrified wood often found in coal seam. It would fall out unexpectedly and was thus nicknamed "widow maker" as it weighs a couple hundred pounds.

 In addition to the actual coal mine they have relocated several buildings from other mines to make a small city. represents a foremans house down to a batchelor 1 room shanty, church and school. All in all a very informative day.

"...you load 16 tons and what do you get, another day older and deeper in debt...""..St Peter don't you call me cause because I can't go, I owe my soul to the company store.."

how hard could it be?

  Thursday meant moving day again. Was to be a relatively short day of about 170 miles. That doesn't factor in the up and up and up, well you get the picture. When you look at maps, topographical or google earth type views you see this

See those ridges running southwest to northeast. They be serious ridges. Guess we got 4 gallons to each ridge. Yep, that 5.0 was screaming up 8% grade that went on and on and on.

 Well we made it to the West Virginia welcome center and we needed a break. Took advantage of the facilities and then snapped a photo to celebrate.

I was standing there having just taken this photo when a lady working at rest stop asked if we wanted one with both of us. Sure. Rare you see us both in scene. Mary has not moved, I have not moved, camera is set to capture the same scene, just add a person. How hard can it be?

Well I guess harder than I figured. At least she got us, too bad half the sign is missing as well as the view. She had good intentions. Yep, didn't check her work till after she had walked away.

We had to exit the freeway and head down a road that makes a snake look straight as an arrow. And makes the snake look fat. Swear I hear dueling banjos again..

Our home for a few days. Nice folks and not too bad a place.

 States visited map getting pretty colored in...

Parkway, bridge and trail

 If it sounds like a mixed bag, it probably is. Started the day off with a cruise down the Blue Ridge Parkway. LINK A no commercial traffic, 45mph kind of parkway.

 An access point was nearby our campground so we took a little slow paced drive thru some beautiful scenery. The parkway has turn offs so you can stop and enjoy the view.

We will log some more miles on this parkway when we reach North Carolina next week. Then it was on to the bridge. What's so special about a bridge, well take a look and read as well.

Pretty good credentials for a bridge I would say. We have been to Natural Bridges National Park in Utah and nearly passed on stopping here. So very glad we did. But first we had to do the 1000 steps

 And of course what goes down, must come up.. but worth the effort.

Probably can't read it but Jefferson owned it at one time, and wanted it to be a park for the common good. Due to debts owed at time of death it was sold. Remained in private hands until 2016 when the state bought it. His dream was realized although it took 200 years. Private owners had built a hotel and what is now visitor center.

After all those steps, down and up, it was time to feed Mary. As you would expect, nothing but the best!

I know you want more info so go HERE

Well after packing on those carbs it was time to hike the trail. What trail? Well of course the Appalachian trail. Makes the second time we have hiked it, how many times for you? This time we focused on the James river footbridge segment of the trail.

 Oh, I almost forgot. Mary was nearly eaten by a bear!!!

Tomorrow we are off to West Virginia to gather rosebuds...

carpe diem