Fleeter Log #146
West Virginia Summer Mountain Ride
2009 August 6-9
Time again for the MTF to gather in the mountains of West Virginia for a Summer Mountain Ride. We'll muster in Beckley and ride loop tours from there.
Cloverleaf touring around Beckley, WV
Entire trip here on Spotwalla
Day 1 - Thursday
Aug 6, 2009
276 miles
Fredericksburg, VA to Beckley, WV
"Sic jurat transcendere montes"
Today on my way westward, I choose to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains following the route of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition of 1716. I crossed the the mountains at Swift Run Gap on Spotswood Trail (US33), near where Governor Spotswood led his group of explorers as they traveled west to see what was there. They were hoping to find land worth settling. Turns out that there is a lot of land west of the Blue Ridge Mountains worth developing.
After the journey, the Governor presented the explorers with a Horseshoe shaped pin inscribed with "Sic jurat transcendere montes", which translates into English as "Thus he swears to cross the mountains."
Once I crossed the mountains, I drop into the Shenandoah Valley where I turn south to Grottoes before I turned back to my westward heading to Beckley.
Day 2 - Friday
Aug 7, 2009
200 miles
Beckley, WV
I join a few friends to wander around Beckley to see what we can find.
After checking out the Glen Jean Bluestone National Scenic River Visitor Center and collecting an ink stamp, we found our way to the old Thurmond Train Depot.Highway 25 between Glen Jean and Thurmond |
Thurmond Depot |
Abandoned town of Thurmond, WV |
Thurmond, WV |
US 19 New River Gorge Bridge at Canyon Rim |
Kanawha Falls near Gauley Bridge, WV |
Lunch at The Kitchen in Clay, WV.
Sometimes you have to watch out for even the good roads or they can drop right out from under you! Highway 11 between Clay and Dille.
Dille, WV post office |
After wandering around the New River Gorge area all day, we met the rest of the MTF group at Dirty Ernie's Rib Pit in Fayetteville for a group supper.
New River Gorge Bridge near Fayetteville, WV |
Day 3 - Saturday
Aug 8, 2009
260 miles
Beckley, WV
After spending yesterday riding with some friends, today, I am ready to get back to my solo riding. I start my lone ride by heading to Pax and then heading west deep into the coal miner country.
Railroad into the unknown.
Sylvester, WV |
Pie, WV |
US52 in West Virginia |
My path crosses the Hatfield-McCoy Trail in Matewan, WV.
Hatfield-McCoy Trailhead at Matewan, WV |
Mullens, WV |
Hotel Wyoming in Mullens, WV |
Back to Beckley in time to meet the MTF folks at Pasqualie's Restaurant for supper at 6pm. Dessert at Dairy Queen afterward ... I followed the Goldwingers.
Day 4 - Sunday
Aug 9, 2009
300 miles
Beckley, WV to Huntersville, WV to Fredericksburg, VA
Time to leave the the SMR gathering and head back home. Of course, I'll be taking a detour or two along the way.
I64 in West Virginia |
West Virgnia's hwy 19 known as Richland-Carol Hill Road |
WV Highway 19 |
Blue Bend Rec Area |
Entering Brownsburg, VA |
Wades Mill, VA |
I've been through most of this area ... but never like this! Gorgeous, gorgeous photos!
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'm totally stealing this route! :)