Wednesday, September 4, 2013, Romance, WV

This morning the fog was to thick to see Swan Lake from 20 yards away.  The chapel was out of sight behind the fog.  We had our coffee and usual computer activities.  By 9:30 the chapel was clearly visible.

I talked to Eddie by phone, he is still in the VA Hospital in Huntington.  They want to keep him for more tests.  He may be released tomorrow.

The New river Bridge on US 19

New River Gorge from Grandview

Gerri and I decided to drive to the Beckley area and see the New River Bridge and Gorge.  When it was built in the 70's it was the largest and highest steel arch bridge in the world.  An example of bringing home the pork by longtime Senator Robert Byrd.  I think he was West Virginia's Harry Reid.  Both the bridge and the New River are quite striking in different ways.  The bridge is a graceful example of fine engineering and the river an example of God's handiwork and it's ability to recover from man's ravages.  The New River is one of the premier white water rafting destinations in the world.  The trip was worth it but was mostly a misadventure.  I hadn't been to the bridge the early 80's, so I didn't know the way.  I was depending on the GPS which was a Garmin struck with gremlins once we were in the Beckley area.  First of all the bridge wasn't listed on the unit as an attraction.  When we left Charleston for the 70 or so mile drive I set the destination as New River Grandview Center.  The gremlins struck and the unit kept going off and locking up.  We circled North Beckley two or three times and finally got to Grandview.  The view of the gorge and the new River was spectacular, but no bridge.  The area wasn't very busy, two other cars in the huge parking lot.  Gerri asked another tourist where the bridge was.  Luckily she was a local and gave us directions.

Rapids on the New River

 The grimlins were taking a rest and we set the GPS for Canyon Rim Visitors Center on  the other side of the river.  Back through North Beckley again.  We walked out to a couple of view points but didn't attempt the stairs that led 200' down to a view up at the bridge.  I did a geocache near the bridge and we headed home.  We did stop at a Tudor's Biscuit World and had hot bologna sandwiches for an early supper.

We got a call from Lottie on the way back.  Not much news other than they wanted Eddie to under go more tests.  He wants to have those done closer to home in Charleston.  Getting out of the hospital tomorrow is still a question.

We were back at Rippling Waters before dark.  Quite a day we had driven about a 140 miles and paid $8 in tolls on the West Virginia Turnpike.  They even have a sign where the Turnpike ends thanking you for traveling on it.

Our last view of the chapel tonight.

A little after dark the fog was already starting to rise off the lake.  I took some pictures but they fall short of showing the real view.  Some computer time and old westerns on TV wound up the evening.