Babcock State Park, Beckley, Trip Home

Pumping Station - Click to EnlargeCommander Goes Offroad - Sewell Rd Landisburg - Click to Enlarge
Bell, Book and Blackboard in School at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

7/5/07

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Waypoints

 

July 2, 2007 July 3, 2007 July 4, 2007 July 5, 2007
Road Trip, Charleston WV Geocaching, Off-road to Thurmond, More Geocaching  New River Gorge, Long Point Trail, Fayetteville Fourth of July Fireworks  Babcock, Offroad, Beckley, Trip Home)

Thursday July 5, 2007

We got up finished packing and cleaning.  I loaded the rest of our stuff into the Jeep, and we went over to the park headquarters to check out.  Then I set a course for Beckley.  On the way out of the park we decided to drive the other roads to see what the other sections of the park were like.  It was uniformly beautiful.

Pumping Station
Pumping StationPumping Station

One of the cabin loop roads passes an overlook.

View along FR802 Babcock State Park
View along FR802 Babcock State ParkView along FR802 Babcock State ParkView along FR802 Babcock State Park

Provenchers at View along FR802 Babcock State ParkProvenchers at View along FR802 Babcock State Park

We came upon a group out horseback riding.  I managed to catch the "tail-gunner".

Horse Crossing on FR802 Babcock State Park
Horse Crossing on FR802 Babcock State Park

Further down another outlook.

View Along FR802 Babcock State Park
View Along FR802 Babcock State Park

My wife, the boys Mother...

Maria

Twin pines...

Twin Pines on FR802 Babcock State Park

Finally we said "Good-Bye" to Babcock but we'll be back...

Babcock State Park Entrance

The first turn on our route to Beckley pointed us down Old Sewell Road.  The entrance to the road gave the impression of a hard-packed gravel road.  I routinely drive these roads so was happy for the less-traveled option.  Soon the road got a little rough with some washed out sections, but still nothing too rough for me or the Commander.  Still further, it started to get a little more challenging.  I would say it reached the point where high-clearance and soon 4-Wheel Drive would be in order.

Commander Goes Offroad - Sewell Rd LandisburgCommander Goes Offroad - Sewell Rd LandisburgCommander Goes Offroad - Sewell Rd Landisburg
Commander Goes Offroad - Sewell Rd Landisburg

And it deteriorated from there.  We came to a short section that had some shallow ruts with water and mud.  Still it was not bad enough to be concerned.  Remember, the Commander we purchased has the full off-road package with all available skid plates, low-range transfer case, electronically activated front and rear limited slip differentials, and an experience driver at the wheel.  (You know - "Professional Driver on Closed Course - Do Not Attempt").

I went through the first set of such ruts and the front wheels caught the left ruts and the rear wheels caught the right ruts.  We crabbed through and lost no traction.  There wasn't any point where I was concerned that we'd get through, however graceless our aspect might have been.  It did concern some passengers that the drop off the right of the trail was a little steep but we never were in danger of going that way.

Next we came to a slightly rougher section but beyond it was good solid road with no ruts.  I went ahead but the ruts were deeper and more criss-crossed than the last ruts.  There was little grace, it was a longer stretch, and a fair amount of discomfort crept into the passenger cabin.  But I must quickly add that again, though the skid plates were christened, we never lost traction, never lost control, and broke nothing.

It did become clear that this was as far as we would go.  Ahead, the road was gated.  A bypass existed so I got out and took a look around the corner.  The biggest mud-bog I have ever seen waited for us and it looked too long and too gnarly to even consider - alone as we were without recovery gear or even off-road tires.  The mud again had defeated me, though at least this time, I had the good sense not to tempt fate further.

So I returned to the steely silence of the Jeep and made a 180 to begin our trip back to pavement.  That also meant renegotiating the two stretches of mud again.  That promised to be interesting though I had little doubt we'd get through.  I was more concerned about my popularity with the rest of my family.

We went back through the two muddy rut sections much the same way as before, with minimal drama and no carnage.  I drove the rest of the way out to the road.  I stopped at pavement to inspect the vehicle.  Everything was in one piece, no dents, no missing mud flaps, no broken parts.  A fair bit of mud on the passenger side though...

Commander Goes Offroad - Sewell Rd LandisburgCommander Goes Offroad - Sewell Rd Landisburg
Commander Goes Offroad - Sewell Rd Landisburg

I am sure there are many that already know this.  But for those left that do not, let me be the first to tell them that the Jeep Commander Overland is a very competent off-road vehicle. I would love to see what it can do with a little more clearance, some offroad tires, and....

Coming back to reality, I redirected our route to Beckley over pavement.  We did take the back way as consolation to the aborted "short cut" that the off-road route promised.

Crossing over Glade Creek

We stopped at Chilis for lunch, then sought and found the Exhibition Mine Museum, Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia.  The mine exhibit was closed for major renovation, so we went to the Youth Museum.  We got a guided tour of the recreated Mountain Homestead.

Ted and Tom at the Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaBeckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

General Store at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaGeneral Store at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
General Store at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
General Store at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaGeneral Store at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaGeneral Store at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Carriages at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaTed and Tom on the Carriage at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Ted and Tom on the Carriage at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Carriage at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaTed and Tom on the Carriage at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Barn at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Loom at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Loom at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaLoom at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaSpinning Wheel at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

View from Window at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Building at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Plow at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Still at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Flowers at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaFlowers at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Flowers at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Door at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaDoor at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Spreader at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Woodshed at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Porch on House at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Building Detail at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Items in Main Room in Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaView from Main Room in Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaHearth in Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Room in Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Wood Stove in Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Wood Stove in Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Dining area in Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Upstairs in Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaView from Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Upstairs Room in Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Upstairs Room in Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaUpstairs Room in Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaUpstairs Room in Home at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Barn at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaBarn at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Sharpening Stone in Barn at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Guide in Barn at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaTrap Grown into Wood at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaJack at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

School House at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Carriage House at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Still Life at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaStill Life at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Carriage House at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

School Guest Book at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

School Room at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

School Room at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Hearth in School at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaSchool Room at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaSchool Room Quill Pens at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaTom, Ted and Maria in School at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaBell in School at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaBell in School at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaBell, Book and Blackboard in School at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Hearth in Schooll at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Bell, Book and Blackboard in School at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

View from School at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaView from School at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Ted and Tom at School at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Yard at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaYard at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Yard at Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Next we visited the interactive exhibits in the main building.

Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

Beckley Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia

With this we got back on the road.  We made a stop at a Frozen Custard shop on the way to the highway.

The drive home was uneventful.  We drove straight through with only a quick break just south of Clarksburg, WV.

It was a very full four days.  We learned a lot about the state we call home.  We didn't see a fraction of what this area has to offer, but certainly filled the time very well.  I recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in the history of West Virginia and who loves the outdoors.  The price is right and there is nothing to disappoint!

Activities

July 2, 2007 July 3, 2007 July 4, 2007 July 5, 2007 (top of this page)
Road Trip, Charleston WV Geocaching, Off-road to Thurmond, More Geocaching  New River Gorge, Long Point Trail, Fayetteville Fourth of July Fireworks  Babcock, Offroad, Beckley, Trip Home)


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