Heading Home Spring 2021

 Falls Lake State Recreation Area, just north of Raleigh NC was intriguing when we had stopped there for an overnight stop on our way down and it was going to be an easy enough ride for our first day heading back home.  Now, 2 weeks later, all 3 camping loops at Rolling View Campground were open but we still chose to park in Loop A – site 15.  The gravel parking pad seemed a mile and a half

deep and was surrounded by tall still naked trees.  The dammed up Neuse River (the same Neuse River that ran thru New Bern and out to the Atlantic Ocean!) was just down the steep, brown leaf covered, decline behind our site!  Each of the 3 camping loops was perched atop it’s own “mountain” and the park roads ran up, down, and around each of the small tree covered domes.  We’re going to stay a couple of nights so we can explore this interesting area more!

A hurricane-induced flood, back in 1945, was used as a guide for designing the strength of the Falls Lake Dam and the size of the lake.  Today this sprawling 12,000-acre lake is the main water supply for the city of Raleigh - providing 50 million gallons a day, and acts as flood reduction system for the many communities that have developed downstream.  We found the

massive earthen structure, which was completed in 1981 but since it was Sunday afternoon the parking areas below the spillway were all full to overflowing and the pathways and public fishing areas were in a “flood stage” of pedestrians out walking their dogs and other folks trying to catch a few fish!  We returned the next day and found several available parking sites so we unfolded the bikes to enjoy a sunny, almost warm Monday afternoon. We rode along the lower side of the river - rock filled and splashed with the white water that was escaping from the dam high above it!  It was very reminiscent of the pathway at the Cuyahoga National Park in Ohio.  Folks greeted each other as we all passed on our bikes.  I even spotted a noisy Pileated Woodpecker, hacking away at a tree near the path!  The visitor center was closed due to the virus but we walked along the walled sidewalks and viewed the dam from the “high” side. To and from the campground, the roads we took had names full of fun – Six Forks Rd, Baptist Rd and even Possum Track Rd!   We enjoyed the names and also the beautiful views as we drove along each one!

Back to West Virginia we headed.  We stayed on the expressway and did NOT take any more shortcuts this time!  It was back to Camp Creek State Park for a few more days.  The narrow road to the one loop campground paralleled the turnpike, but led thru a deep green valley, lined on both sides with small farms and crossed over the small babbling brook several times - instead of climbing up the

mountain like the turnpike did.  This time we were issued a “back in site” that had Camp Creek itself babbling right behind the “train”!  We had already walked to the waterfall at the end of the rutted gravel road on the opposite side of the creek, so this time we drove to the parking lot at the rustic tent camping sites and walked up stream to see the other beautiful layered curved waterfall that the area is known for.

Our intent this stopover was to revisit the New River Gorge and its 3,030 ft long, single span, 73 ft wide bridge that dominates the valley below it.  We’ve been here before - both on the motorcycle and in the silver Ford pickup that preceded H’s bright blue Ford truck.  In both of those visits there was a ONE lane, switchback two track “road” that zig zagged down the one side of the gorge and back up the same way. Now, after parking and walking around the bridge level visitor area we spotted the wooden walkway and steps that also zigged and zagged down the hillside.  The plaque at the edge listed 178 steps to the bottom and we KNEW that feat was not going to happen for us!  Back in the truck we chanced on seeing a sign for another road that pointed towards the gorge.  Part way down this also hairpin turn infested “path” was a sign that stated the road was NOT suitable for large trucks.  Too late!  We were in too deep and continued on with

our perilous decent.  Down, around and down some more, crossing back and forth under the 873 ft tall structure above us, we were finally level with the much smaller, narrow span of the one lane bridge that crossed the river to the other side.  This crossing was just a few feet above the racing water below us!  The mighty structure above us is the 3^rd highest in the US.  The Golden Gate is 746 ft high and the Mighty Mackinac is only 552 ft tall!   While there are longer bridges in the US – this amazing structure is the longest SINGLE SPAN Bridge

After crossing the river, the memories of previous adventures flowed back into our thoughts!  I remembered taking the same pictures of the same rapids and traveling back up that original road – I remembered the views from the underside of those mammoth steel beams from before.  This time tho – the roadbed is paved and there are guardrails now!!

When the following morning began to peek over the mountain we knew it was time to head home.  Back up on the turnpike, the highway led up the mountain as the sky turned peach colored.  The haze from the early fog that had settled in the valleys was still visible in the background.  This peaceful scene was not to last.  Soon we

were surrounded by the stampede of semi trucks that had also hoped for an early start on their long hauls to their own destinations.  Steadily, on we pushed on and arrived safely at home.  Soon H would be rested and ready to regroup for another adventure!