Despite its name, West Virginia's New River is at least 3 million years
old. The river provides class V rapids for rafters and kayakers. The
longest arched bridge in the Western Hemisphere spans it.
Drive through undulating valleys between green mountains in this humid land
of the Hatfields and McCoys and you'll understand why it's an outdoor
playground. Coal once was king here. Men still work a few remaining mines,
bent over as they waddle through four-foot high tunnels and set charges to
blow the coal free.
I enjoyed last week in the company of new friends in this beautiful place.
Here's what you might see as you stumble out of your tent to go to the
bathroom at 6AM: http://tinyurl.com/7p4sc
A walk in Babcock State Park led us to the site of a narrow gauge railroad
for hauling coal. Now it's a hiking trail:
http://tinyurl.com/csrgp We hiked past mossy tree trunks surrounded by
lush green: http://tinyurl.com/c39wk
I also visited Fayetteville and enjoyed the slow pace in this small town:
http://tinyurl.com/djng5 http://tinyurl.com/ckqb7
West Virginia rains help fill the river I was going to raft. The New River
Gorge Bridge spans the river and shortens a 45-minute crossing to about a
minute. You can see this view near the New River Gorge National River
Canyon Rim Visitor Center: http://tinyurl.com/bdmcz
Outside the visitor's center, song sparrows like this guy might greet you:
http://tinyurl.com/aszb9
Drive down to the old bridge and you're rewarded with views of the new
bridge, completed in the 70s: http://tinyurl.com/8ccft
Rafters drift under both bridges: http://tinyurl.com/bgsmv
Kayakers also ride the rapids: http://tinyurl.com/b8ebw They sometimes get pretty close to the rafters: http://tinyurl.com/cqgd9 Click here for more river sports pics: http://tinyurl.com/bmuyc
All comments welcome.
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