Where's Liz-2013?: September 2013

Carol and I did a little of the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way south. We got on near Rocky Knob in Virginia.

And parked under some chestnut trees....you know what that means. I kept answering the door every time one knocked.

We toured around by car with a stop at the famous Mabry's Mill. Water was low in the mill pond.

View from Lover's Leap in Meadows of Dan.

Thistle and I hiked through a cow pasture. He learned how to climb over the barbed-wire fence.

We visited the Brinegar Cabin near Doughton Park campground.

Thistle and I hiked the trail back to the campground and let Carol drive the car.

The trail passed through a field of wildflowers.

A short hike brought us to this view.

I love the hues of blue in the mountains.

I stopped at one of the pull-offs to hike to "Jumping Off Rock." It is a long ways down.

I stayed two nights at Price Lake.

The first day Thistle and I hiked the trail around the lake.

Leaves are beginning to turn and fall, but are nowhere near their peak.

Views from the trail.

Rhododendrons lined much of the trail. I bet it's beautiful when they are in bloom in the spring.

There were deer in the campground. I took this out my window as they grazed near Carol's RV.

Carol only stayed one night. I sure missed her when she left the next day, heading for home.

I took the kayoo out on the lake in the morning...without Thistle, shhhh!

Views from the kayoo.

They rent canoes and kayaks here, but I was the only one on the lake when I started out.

One bright red maple all decked out.

Almost back to the ramp and here they come....kids and grown-ups, canoes and kayaks, hoots and hollers. I sure came at the right time, and got out just in time too. It's Saturday.

Sunday I left the Blue Ridge too, driving over the Linville Viaduct.

One more stop and one more view. I'm on my way to Georgia to visit my daughter and family. Can't wait to see them again.

We passed through some beautiful mountains coming through West Virginia. And under those mountains is a lot of coal. We stopped in Beckley to experience life in a coal mining town.

The town is comprised of restored buildings moved here from various West Virginia coal mining towns. The mine here ceased active operation in 1909, and was reopened for exhibition in the 1960s (I think).

A monument honoring WV coal miners. He's holding his dinner pail which also carried his drinking water.

We start our tour at the Company Store. You've heard the song, "Sixteen Tons" by Tennessee Ernie Ford. The lines, "Another day older and deeper in debt," and "I owe my soul to the company store" refer to the system which miners were paid in scrip which could only be exchanged for goods in the company store. We paid in cash for our tour tickets.

The tour started with a trip into the mine on this little train. We were not issued hard hats, but were cautioned not to stand up.

The tour is narrated by a retired coal miner.

Here we go...

It's dark in here even with the lights on.

Notice all the water on the ground.

It's constantly dripping on your head too, which is why they needed these:

The veins of coal were about 3 to 6 feet wide.

The tunnel we traveled in was made wider and higher to accommodate the tourist train. The actual mine tunnels were shorter and narrower.

We stopped in several places where our guide would explain what was done. Here he demonstrates the old way workers shoveled coal into this one ton cart. A miner would get paid by the number of these he filled.

There were numerous ways the air was tested for poisonous gases. One way was using a canary. If the canary died, it was time to get out.

An assortment of miners lamps and other air testing gear.

It's good to know the fire boss deemed the tunnel air safe at 9 a.m., about an hour before we entered the mine.

On into the mine we go.

This small miners oil lamp would last about an hour.

When the electric lights went out, this emergency lamp could be ignited for a little temporary light.

Whatever was spoken on this telephone could be heard throughout the mine.

Here our guide is about to demonstrate how the pick axe was used to loosen coal.

Then a drill was used to make holes for explosives...."fire in the hole!"

These are more modern machines (as compared to a shovel) for loading coal.

Our guide demonstrates how the ceiling is shored up using long bolts.

I could see numerous ceiling bolts all through the mine.

Coal dust was a major problem....think Black Lung disease. One way to keep the dust down was to "dust" the walls with crushed limestone. (I wonder if there is something called White Lung disease...hmmm)