New River Gorge National Park

The newest national park!  The designation was changed from a national river to a national park on December 21, 2021.  Not sure what to expect, we only spent two nights there.  The park is beautiful and we would have enjoyed a couple of extra days.   Added to that, we had the best weather of our whole trip there, 78 degrees, no wind, clear blue skies.  The deciduous trees were a beautiful green that comes with the new growth.

A fire broke out less than a mile from our Goleta home two days ago.  Fortunately it was quickly under control.  This is the second time a fire has broken out near our house while we were on vacation.  Last time was in 2018 when we were in Glacier National Park.  Is that a message that we shouldn't be leaving home?

We are in Moscow, PA tonight, another Harvest Host.  This time it is at a pottery studio.  Tomorrow is the last leg of our journey, about 450 miles to our home in Maine.  We are getting a little travel weary and will be so happy to arrive there.

 

Photos of the New River Gorge and the New River.  Yes, that is the name of the river.  The bridge is the 3rd highest in the US at 876 feet.

This is the Nuttallburg coal mine that is in the national park.  The coal was mined and then dropped down a chute into the river where it was transported away by train.  When they sealed off the mine in 1958, they put bars over the openings so that bats could live in the mine.

This is the little town of Fayetteville near New River Gorge.  It is about 1/4 square mile with a wide variety of businesses including an old Ben Franklin five and dime, and Escape Room.  The second picture is of the courthouse.

The dogwood trees were starting to bloom.  This is a photo of several trees as the sun was rising this morning.