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
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| There are lots of pastoral scenes in western Virginia |
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| 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.
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| The company store serves as a museum and gift shop |
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| Superintendent's home is a lot fancier than any other residence |
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| Super's dining room |
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| Super's living room |
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| left: coal company house right: coal camp church |
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| Each coal company house came unfurnished and had its own outhouse. (rent - $4/month) |
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| Bachelor Shanty provided the basics (rent - $2/month) |
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| 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.
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| Duke takes us into the mine in a "man trip" |
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| Carbide lamp demonstration |
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| Jeffrey Manufacturing (Columbus, OH) made significant mining equipment |
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| Miner's lunch pail (today's value - $400) |
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| 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!
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| Tamarack had beautiful tulip displays |
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| 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!
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| Site #42 |
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