TYGART LAKE STATE PARK, W. VIRGINIA

Instead of giving Clarksburg a second look, we decided to head for Grafton, W.Virginia which is the turnoff point to Tygart Lake State Park. At only 20 miles, it saves the longer drive into the Appalachian Mountains where stops are few and shoulders narrow.  I enjoyed seeing old barns and shooting them from the window,


They are kind of an endangered species.

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Road signs warned that the road was rough. And they were worse than this in many places.


No mention of an extremely narrow one-way to get to the park entrance. One car wasn't quite close enough to the curb and it was almost a choice between, should we hit the car or ruin our mirror on the telephone pole? A three-inch clearance is scary, but we scooted by.


The road into Tygart Lake was rough as well.


And the distance was supposedly 3 miles off the highway. Well, if you count the first sign of human activity it might have been 3 miles.  Navigating hilly, hair-pin turns, with a few  peek-a-boo peeps of the lake and marina through the trees; at least two miles of cabins, then, finally, we find the camp ground. Three miles?  Nope!


The "good" spots, and  few of them, were taken. Not exactly level as you can see this guy has four boards under one wheel and he tried for five under the other.


This is hill country, nothing is level here.


This sign is sort of mystifying since all the garbage cans are open without covers? Raccoons can easily pull over a plastic can and check out our garbage. So far, we've seen a wild turkey, deer, ducks and a chipmunk.


It took an hour to get set-up for the night because the terrain is uneven, narrow, and difficult to maneuver with recent rains adding deep muddy ruts.  But, it is, in the end, wilderness, and beautiful and peaceful.


These older campgrounds were never built for such as we. We have no right to complain. Adversity is what makes you remember, and we won't ever forget our trip to Tygart Lake. Kind of makes me remember how critical we, of Murphys, are of flatlanders moving to the mountains for the clean air, and rural atmosphere, who then complain about lack of shopping and narrow, unmaintained roads.  Same thing. We do have to keep things in perspective and remember you give up certain creature comforts when you are on the road. For me?  Gladly. It is a great lifestyle.

SOLEDAD IS A PRISON, BUT NOT HERE.

With my Sheriffs Department background, Soledad brings to mind the prison by that name. But, here, at Soledad Canyon Thousand Trails, is the true meaning of the Spanish word, solitude. It fits this quiet, peaceful site that meanders across the Santa Clara River with approximately 800 sites--- without feeling crowded.

I spent time in the beautiful hot tub. Its cool here, and the pool is closed for repair work.

When we move to a new place, it is our habit to walk the park, see where everything is located, and just get a feel for the place. We noticed a lot of tree work going on in several sections of the park. Old giants, laid down for a final rest.

Beauty still, in its rot and decay.

Like all Thousand Trails, they have multiple activities for kids and adults. Tennis, basket ball, several "kiddie"  playgrounds and picnic areas, horseshoes, an arcade, miniature golf, a couple of outdoor amphitheaters. This is the first TT we've seen with an old tractor for kids to climb on.

We heard coyotes our first night, but literature warns hikers about cougars in the area. On our walk we saw the fattest crow and a few other birds. In Palm springs our walk around the site was 3 miles. Here, it felt like the same distance with just one circle around the perimeter.
 Events here are bus trips into Los Angeles on Thursdays and Saturdays to visit Olivera Street,  the Getty Museum, the Queen Mary, a farmers market, Hollywood, Union Station, Sana Monica, Venice Beach and so on. A continually changing menu of things to see and do.  And, you don't have to drive.
Planned events at the lodge vary with the time of year. We already see flyers for the up-coming St. Patricks Day Corned Beef and cabbage dinner for 99 cents. The big lodge has a huge dance floor and restaurant.
People come up out of the smog filled cities and can enjoy this restful, peaceful place at Soledad Canyon.