Leaving West Virginia

 We are sad to say that we had to leave West Virginia this morning.  We both think this is a beautiful state and would like to return and travel on the backroads.

This was the beautiful sunrise.

Final morning mist picture in West Virginia.  

Can you see the New River Bridge in the distance?

This was at the entrance of the park.  We didn't notice it when we came into the park Thursday evening.

This picture and the three that follow were taken as we drove west on US 60.  Around every corner was a stone outcropping and beautiful sight.

The picture below is of the Great Kanawha River and the old piers.  Route 60 goes through the town of Gauley Bridge.

Notice how close the homes and businesses are to the highway.

Town of Gauley Bridge

This train was carrying coal from the few coal mines of West Virginia that are still operational.  We saw several closed mines along Route 60.

I enlarged the picture of the dome of the capitol at  Charleston to show the intricate beauty of the dome.

 

The capitol building of Charleston.  It sits close to I-77/I-64.  As you are driving west, you come around a curve in the highway and there is the dome.  Normally, I would only have a quick shot of the capitol building but this one remains in your view for awhile.

  

This bridge crosses the Great Kanawha River in Charleston.  Interstate I-64/I-77 crosses these bridges which are painted gold and blue (WVA's colors) to honor the state's most well known citizen, Chuck Yeager.  

When we left Hawk's Nest State Park, we only had 200 miles to the last motel of the trip in Winchester, Kentucky.  Tomorrow morning we are taking a thoroughbred horse farm tour in Lexington.  We drove to the hotel we are to meet for the tour so we would know how long it would take for us to drive there.  Because we had extra time (couldn't check into our room until 3:00 p.m.), we sat in the parking lot and relaxed.  I read and Carol looked at Facebook.  Now we are relaxing in our motel.  It was a nice day in which we did not have to hurry.  We really enjoyed being in West Virginia and would like to come back just to drive the winding, scenic roads.