40f/4.4C, clear.
Back to our Saturday road trip to Hawk's Nest State Park:
The ramps for the dinner sold out fast! They were out when we got there, but fortunately more arrived. But by 3pm, they were completely out.
There was a great crowd for the presentations too, which was great for the historical society. It was a very successful fundraiser.
I was so happy to see my friend Jodi, now retired from her job as a park ranger at New River, but a very active member of the historical society.
And for the first time, I met David Sibray! He and I have been online friends and collaborators for 15 years. Dave is a naturalist, preservationist, and real estate salesman who blends these three roles to sell historic properties to people who will restore and preserve them, and he uses stories to do this, doing in-depth research on each property and region. His website,
WV Explorer, showcases his hard work and excellent writing about our state.
Then there was this guy, JD, becoming widely known for his
Creepalachia posts. He too researches stories, particularly of the weird and strange, that happen in our state. It was great to meet him, and I may be interviewed sometime for his podcast.
If you wonder what the dinner looked like, I forgot to take a picture! But here is our Easter dinner, which was similar:
Fried potatoes, scrambled eggs with morels, ham, and asparagus. The dinner at Hawk's Nest didn't have ham or asparagus, but had bacon, brown beans, and greens, which is more traditional.
And here is what ramps look like:
These were from the little patch we started here at home about 20 years ago.
Below is the restrooms building in the park itself. We didn't stop here, as the event was being held in the lodge. But such a cute building!
Then we were back on the road home. We decided to take state route 16, which would take more time, but kept us on the two-lane all the way to our road. It had been years since we traveled this road.
On a building in Gauley Bridge:
For this part of our driveway, we followed the Gauley River, up into Clay County, one of our state's more remote and very rural areas.
Seen on the roadside were these two cabooses which seemed to be being used as campers.
The ubiquitous Dollar General, they're everywhere! Even in this poverty-stricken area, the store does well because it is literally the only place to shop for miles.
This is Dixie School, which is in a former mining community. I have a good memory of a day spent telling stories here.
This lumberyard and truss-making business looked like it was doing well.
Still following the river...
Downtown Clay, where we saw this burned out building, is a depressing place, sadly.
Blast from the past: an old bus station.
A stately old home gives testament to the once thriving economy. Coal, oil and natural gas, railroads and timber fueled growth in the early 20th century, but by the late 50s, these industries were on the wane, interstates bypassed central West Virginia, and people began leaving, seeking better opportunities in places like Cleveland. Those who stayed continue to struggle to make a living.
As you can imagine, internet and cell service isn't great in these steep hills. But many choose to stay because it's home. Some commute to Charleston for work, and the low real estate prices make the region attractive to out-of-state back-to-the-land types, and retirees.
Today's poem:
Betrayed
no one told the apple trees
about tonight's frost
spring is a fickle lover
Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.
