I have been road tripping to the small towns of West Virginia and Virginia over the last few days. Coffee, craft beer and hunger pangs are generally the decision makers of where I will stop and what I will see. Places of historical value that may result in artistic photo opportunities or natural wonders also factor in but they do not weigh as heavily as the three previously mentioned.
Bramwell’s historical centre was my first stop. This quiet little village is in the coal mining district and used to have the largest amount of millionaires per capita in America. Some of the most well known houses have been restored giving you the feeling of having been transported back in time. Even the fully functioning post office still has its original brass post boxes.
My brain almost believed it was in the 60’s as I stepped into The Corner Shop Diner, fully equipped with an old fashioned soda fountain, the kind of experience you cannot find just anywhere. The wood paneled shelving and flooring hasn’t changed for almost a century. It was designed to be a pharmacy (some old medicines hide in one corner) but often pharmacy’s had soda fountains and served food.
I sat down in one corner overlooking the quiet crossroads through the large display window and enjoyed my first taste of a root beer float. It has a familiar flavour, I eventually tied it down to Wicks bubblegum. Having ice-cream floating on top of my soda made me feel the intense joy of a six year old again. This was accompanied by a hotdog with the works plus french fries. I watched a short storm from the safety of my window and when it blew over, I was able to find my feet to continue my wandering.
At the old train depot, I observed an American couple hauling a full size shop window mannequin from their car and proceed to position her strategically around the train cars and on benches for photos. This amidst rain pouring down as the heavens opened up again and gave us a taste of West Virginia’s four seasons in one day scenario. I have heard of and experienced travellers with mascots for their photos but this certainly takes the prize for most out there.
Next little town, apparently West Virginia’s coolest small town, is Fayetteville. Dotted along the main road are signs for every adventure sport your heart can desire – rafting, paddle boarding, rock climbing and mountain biking. This is the closest town to the New River Gorge where all the action happens.
The gorge is deep and by way of an engineering feat, the New River Gorge Bridge, either side is connected and not isolated from the other. The height of this mega steel construction is just short of the Empire State Building. Even with no real fear of heights (come now, I’ve been parachuting before) I experienced some deceptive vertigo upon glancing down from the viewing platform north of the bridge. Perhaps I am hungry?
I wanted to taste the local craft beer at the Bridge Brew Works Brewery but alas, I picked the wrong day to arrive for a tour. So instead it was a toss up between The Secret Sandwich Society and Pies and Pints, both of which have the local craft beer on tap. It was a tough decision, both have such wonderful alliteration that just roll off your tongue as you say the names but Pies and Pints won because it obviously stated what I wanted…a pint.
Sounds very “America”