Day 30-West Virginia

 A long day of driving.  We were on the road by 8:00 AM, heading east toward West Virginia. 

Our final miles in Kentucky were gorgeous.   Lots of traffic-free back roads, rolling hills,  tidy farms, and an occasional Amish family on their way to Sunday service.

Scenery along a back road as we travel through Mammoth Cave National Park.

The Nolin River taken from the dam.

Our first stop was in Lexington, Kentucky, home to more than 500 horse farms,  so as we approached the city we passed many of them with their grand entrances, black three rail fences, and cupula topped stables.  Downtown Lexington was equally beautiful; gorgeous homes and plenty of boutiques.  We picked up some delicious biscuits, which in hindsight became our lunch, although at the time we thought they were just a snack.

Only in Lexington will you find streets and memorials dedicated to Triple Crown winners.

The Kanawha River, a tributary of the Ohio River.

Charleston capitol dome.

Following the Kanawha River into the hills of West Virginia.

As soon as we crossed into West Virginia it was if someone just turned a page in a book that compared the leisurely rich to the chronically poor.  The rolling hills grew much taller and rockier, and there was coal mining equipment and empty coal carrying rail cars everywhere. 

 

We stopped at a Five Guys in Charleston around 4 pm, knowing the restaurants beyond the capitol city were few and far between, and also because this would be the last time we would be certain of having any internet access.

 

 As we left Charleston, we followed the  valley of  the Kanawha River which created just enough room for a single railroad track and a two lane highway.   Each of the small towns had clearly seen better days, and the number of Trump yards signs was increasing.  

 We arrived at our campground in the Babcock State Park at 7:30 PM.  We are now just a short distance from our  nation’s newest national park,  New River Gorge.