Part 1

We have successfully crossed 600 miles of the US. We began our day on schedule. It was a pretty morning to start a great adventure. About 50 miles into our trip we turned westward towards West Virginia. As we were approaching Clifton Forage, VA we started seeing snowfall. The snowfall continued to increase and stick…
Concern brimmed within the vehicle that maybe the weather had shifted and WV was expecting more snow storms than predicted...well one should hold their breath as long as they can. Snow dissipated after about 10 miles and clear skies opened up over us as we entered West Virginia.

I have never followed I-64 all the way into WV. It was very interesting watching the topography change throughout the mountains and along the whole trip so far. My parents had to put up with my continuous analysis of the rock types and whether they were metamorphosed or not. As we passed through coal country my Appalachian Studies course came through fairly significantly. They were careful to keep the cannon ball inside me so that I would not get too worked up over the environmental and social issues surrounding the mountains. While driving along we did pass coal seams along the road.

It was easy to stay awake throughout West Virginia. I-64 from Chesapeake to Charleston follows the edge of the Kanawha River. Great old and new industry/factories with billowing steam were up and down the river, coal and gravel piles, barges, and many two story square-frame houses were below us as we passed by.

Kentucky was surprisingly uneventful. We rolled quickly from the mountains to the bluegrass. Horses were grazing the hillsides some cattle between the stables too. Around this time, our conversation led us to go over the state capitals and provinces of Canada. REAL EVENTFUL!

Dad and I discussed the War on Poverty and the beginning of governmental health care legislation in the 1970s. The land continued to get flatter and our gas mileage increased slowly. We were reminded it was Saturday several times mainly because traffic through Charleston, Lexington, and Louisville was smooth sailing.

Indiana had a great sunset tonight. The sun was forever on the horizon and only houses dotted the skyline. I will miss my folded mountains, but look forward to being in the shadows of the Rockies.

Tomorrow the states get larger and populations farther apart.


…almost two whole Virginias will fit into Kansas…

…fun sighting of the day: Chrysler Silverado called the Coal Miner Special…