Day 21 - Home Again

We left on this trip 21 days ago with the intention of experiencing warmer weather in the south (we did) and with hopes of returning to a warmer Ohio (it wasn't).  It was 70° when we left Milton at 9:30 this morning and 44° when we arrived in Columbus this afternoon.  It was 54° when we left on April 4th.  Oh, well ... best laid plans and all that stuff.

The route was 166 miles:  US-60W to Huntington, US-52W to Portsmouth, then US-23N to Columbus.

Nick J. Rahall Bridge from
Huntington, WV to Chesapeake, OH

Welcome to Ohio

Bridge to Ashland, KY
(from US-52, headed toward Ironton, OH)

Even though the day was pretty dismal, nature offered an unexpected treat.  Redwood trees were in glorious, full bloom along the highway between Ironton and Portsmouth.

It rained and the wind gusted most of the way from Portsmouth to Columbus.  Thankfully, the rain had stopped by the time we got to the storage lot.  The wind gusts continued and it was pretty cold as we unloaded.

Trip Summary
3,304 miles driven
2,825 miles towing
13.6 mpg
No car or trailer problems

We visited 11 states and traveled on some of the routes we'd used during previous trips.

Day 20 - Milton, WV

We drove 187 miles in 8 ½ hours today.  The weather was great, the roads were OK, the car was running fine and we didn't get lost ... we just took a side-trip at Beckley, WV.

The route: I-77 north from Fort Chiswell to Beckley, I-64 west from Beckley to Milton (about 10 miles east of Huntington).

On the way to Beckley

There are lots of pastoral scenes
in western Virginia

Big Walker Mountain Tunnel
(I-77 north of Wytheville)

Beckley Excursions
We went off route and found the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine.  The museum, the restored buildings and the mine tour reminded us of the lives portrayed in the movie October Sky. We  gained a new respect for the difficult and dangerous life of a coal miner.

The company store serves as a
museum and gift shop

Superintendent's home
is a lot fancier than any other residence

Super's dining room

Super's living room

left: coal company house
right: coal camp church

Each coal company house came unfurnished
and had its own outhouse.  (rent - $4/month)

Bachelor Shanty provided the basics
(rent - $2/month)

Bachelor Shanty

A retired mine worker took us on a 40 minute underground tour.  Our guide was Duke Reed.  

The temperature underground is a constant 58°F.  Moisture dripped from the ceiling, water pooled along the tracks.  It used to take a miner 12 hours to extract 1 ton of coal ... for which he was paid $2 in company scrip.

Duke takes us into the mine in a "man trip"

Carbide lamp demonstration

Jeffrey Manufacturing (Columbus, OH)
made significant mining equipment

Miner's lunch pail
(today's value - $400)

Duke lost his finger in a train coupling accident

We went to Tamarack after visiting the mine exhibit.  We had a nice lunch and hit the road without doing any shopping.  Whew, that was close!

Tamarack had beautiful tulip displays

West Virginia capitol building in Charleston

There weren't many campground choices where we wanted to stop.  Carol searched our directories for a long time before finding Fox Fire KOA in Milton.  It's scenic, secluded and beautifully maintained.  It's was a great selection!

Site #42

 We'll be home tomorrow.

Day 19 - Fort Chiswell, VA

We traveled 233 miles and touched three states (SC, NC and VA) on I-77 today.  The sky was cloudless and the temperature reached the low 60s.

We noted yesterday that The Barnyard RV Park had no curb appeal, but things really look up when you get past the curb.  This departing picture illustrates.

We saw lots of Dogwood and Redbud trees:

Pink and white Dogwood along I-77
(north of Charlotte)

Redbud along I-77

Towing got more difficult near Charlotte as we dealt with short entrance ramps, rough highways and drivers who've attended too many NASCAR races.  Terrain became more hilly as we traveled north.  

We passed the Blue Ridge Parkway

We stopped at the Ft. Chiswell RV Park in Max Meadows, VA.  This is a very nice, large park located in a farming valley.  Big rigs have been pouring in here all afternoon.

Site #41

Some surrounding sites

The park was obviously carved out of farmland

Day 18 - Columbia, SC

We started heading toward home today.  It was a beautiful day indeed!  The morning was clear.  It clouded over as we passed Savannah around noon, then cleared in the afternoon.  We had a delightful breeze all day (note: not fun for towing).

Leaving Brunswick, GA

This site is cheerful when the sun's out

Even the access roads feel like wilderness

The 239 mile route: I-95 north, passing Savannah and Charleston, to I-26.  I-26W to Columbia, SC.

Along the Way

SC greets us soon after passing Savannah

We got a strange feeling as we drove toward Columbia on I-26.  It was the first time since leaving the Natchez Trace that we've had to pull much of an incline, other than driving over bridge spans.  The roads and highways have been flat through Louisiana, Florida and Georgia.

We're camped at The Barnyard RV Park.  There's virtually no curb appeal for the park.  It's located behind The Barnyard Flea Market ... but, that's where "blah" ends.  The park and facilities are top notch.  Sites are level and grass covered.  All have trees.

Site #B-1 - The Barnyard RV Park

Dinner tonight was a real change of pace.  We've been traveling in areas where seafood is the big attraction.  We visited what looked like a plain, little Mexican restaurant in a nearby strip mall.  To our delight, Marisqueria 7 Mares (a Mexican and seafood restaurant) was about as far from Taco Bell as you can get.  The mariachis were our first clue.  The predominantly Hispanic clientele suggested those who know, liked it.  The Mexican dishes were delicious and provided a wonderful change from seafood.

Day 17 - Brunswick, GA (Day 2)

It rained all of last night and the temperature has dropped 30 degrees.  This morning is gray, but we're going to explore Jekyll Island.

First, we drove the F.J. Torras Causeway to St. Simons Island.  This stop was on the way to Jekyll Island.  St. Simons is one of Georgia's barrier islands and is the largest (16.6 square miles) of Georgia's Golden Isles.  We saw many mansions and a ritzy shopping area near the downtown docks.  The sights were typical of a lifestyle of the well-to-do.  We didn't stay long.

Approaching St. Simons Island
(ship is in St. Simons Sound)

Marina as we approach the island

The island has many impressive mansions

A salt marsh and five tidal rivers separate
 the island from the mainland

Jekyll Island is just a few miles south of St. Simons Island.  This stop was the focus of today's outing.  Access is via Ocean Highway (US-17).

Ocean Highway approaching
Sidney Lanier Bridge

Background
Jekyll Island is one of only four Georgia barrier islands that feature a paved causeway to access the island by car.  The island is about 7 miles long and 1.5 miles wide.  It has 8 miles of wide, flat beaches on the eastern shore.

In 1886, a group of Society’s elite – the Astors, Rockefellers, Goulds, and Morgans among them – incorporated to form the Jekyll Island Club, a private hunting retreat.  Architect Charles A. Alexander was commissioned to design and build a 60-room clubhouse.  A six-unit apartment building, named San Souci, was erected in 1896, becoming America’s first condominiums.  The Club experienced financial difficulties during the Great Depression and the properties fell into disrepair.  Georgia bought the island in 1947.

Jekyll Island Authority was created in 1950 and is designed as a governing board charged with the operation and care of the island.  The Authority is a self-supporting body, obtaining its operating revenues from leases, park fees and island amenities.  The island does not receive any tax revenues for its operation.

Jekyll Island Road took us to the Information Center and the Toll Plaza  The daily entrance fee to the island was $6/car.

We took a wonderful, guided tour of the Jekyll Island Club Historic District.  Our guide was one of the best we've ever had. This was certainly the land of the rich and famous from 1886 until 1942.

Views of the hotel

Spanish moss decorates the trees

This shop was once a servant's residence

San Souci was the first condominium

Moss Cottage

Goodyear Cottage
(Buffalo lumber & railroad magnate Frank Goodyear)

Indian Mound
(William Rockefeller's cottage)

Richard Teller Crane, Jr. built Crane Cottage
(It was the most expensive & elegant home
ever built on Jekyll)

Hollybourne Cottage
(owner Charles Maurice was a bridge engineer)

Villa Ospo

Villa Marianna

Cherokee Cottage

Faith Chapei

The Red Bug provided island transportation
(it was available in gas and electric models)

After the tour, we drove around the island.

Carol at the Horton House 

The island is beautifully maintained and offers many amenities.  We were impressed by their campground and would try to stay there if we ever return.

Jekyll Island is managed by the State Park Authority and is supported by entrance fees and private donations.  It presents a very different experience than St. Simons Island.  We preferred Jekyll Island.