Back of the Dragon

10/8 Wednesday

At 0940, we left our cabin in VA just as a rain cell hit. Prior darkening skies enticed us all to put on rain gear. As we rode the few miles down Rt58 to Rt16 the rain steadily increased. The road curved up and over mountains. Vision obstruction from rain, wet roads, and leaf litter on the roads made us ride more cautiously. Near coal loading yards, coal powder coveted the road. Some dips nearby had pooled dark water, that we avoided riding through.

That certainly sounds bad but only occurred in the first few hours of riding. After which the roads dried out and sunshine took the place of rain. Views of rivers, mountains, vallies, and foliage further enhanced the riding. Our gear dried out in the sun, while we moved through drier air.

Coming down into Tazewell from a mountain range via kudzu covered hillside switchbacks, Bruce and I pulled off to the side of the road to take a photo. We pulled in behind a white car, which we later learned was the areas photographer. We heard Nate, who was also stopped just around the corner ahead of us. He sounded confused about something. Photos taken, we rode around the corner to find Nate at a pull off with a cow. The cow was eating roadside kudzu, but didn't like our attention. It headed up the road back around the corner. Bruce tried to go get a photo, but two DOT pickups came around the corner and the cow started back towards us. The DOT just drove past. We moved away from the pulloff, and the cow returned to its pasture. Around the hairpin we found more cows and a deer within roadside fencing.

At The Back of the Dragon store in Tazewell, WV we ate lunch.

And purchased stickers, shirts, and magnets. Bruce realized he had more room for t-shirts because he had left his cooler back in the freezer at the cabin.

We continued on WV-16 north of Tazewell. The road has a section near Beckley, WV that passes through some larger towns and isn't any fun. But further north, it got fun again.

To overnight we selected Kitty Wilson Campground in Calhoun County Park. Just prior to reaching it we stopped to get takeout at Miller's Kwik Stop. The campground is a grassy open hilltop . We arrived at dusk, scaring off the only other resident, a deer. Tents got erected, diners eaten, and we retired into our tents to prepare for the expected 40F temperatures.