With Noah landing a cool paid internship this summer, we didn’t have to worry about who would be taking care of the house or his cat. After getting him through his driver’s license exam and driving to work with him for a week, we felt comfortable enough to head out on a month-long adventure. Well, at least as comfortable as a parent can feel.
By afternoon we were in the Appalachian Mountains with views like this one at Tennessee’s C.R. “Doodle” White Overlook.
Our first night destination was the Lover’s Leap Campground at Virginia’s Natural Tunnel State Park.
Upon arrival, we donned hiking boots and set-out on the Purchase Ridge Trail to find Lover’s Leap.
According to signage at the park, the name refers to a legend about a Cherokee maiden and a Shawnee warrior who fell in love and wanted to marry. Even though both tribes claimed this area as a hunting ground, laws forbade a marriage between tribes.
Forced to abandon their dream, the young lovers met in the dark of night and climbed the pinnacle. The next morning, as the sun rose above the mountains, the lovers leaped to their death in hopes of being united in an afterlife.
The cliff edge is now fenced to prevent a recurrence of the legendary leap.
Following the gorge trail, we glimpsed views of the railroad and natural tunnel below.
The trail ended at the visitor’s center where a chairlift drops down to the river and tracks. Beth is not a big fan of heights, but agreed to ride down. With only twenty minutes remaining before the end of their day, the operator didn’t charge us for the ride! With eye’s closed for only a little bit of the ride, Beth did great and landed safely at the cliff base.
Water erroded the limestone cliff here creating an eight hundred fifty foot long tunnel as tall as a ten story building.
This tunnel was man-made and provides the railroad access to the natural tunnel. The combination would be a great modeling project for a miniature railroad.
This coming weekend is “Rail Days” where the Norfolk Southern will stage trains in the tunnel and allow railfans to hike through and take pictures. Might have to put that on the calendar for next year.
We finished the evening at a community campfire led by a summer intern. The park even supplied sticks and all the ingredients needed for some-mores!
Our campsite was level with plenty of room and trees for privacy. At $41 with fees and taxes, it is one of the more expensive state parks, but with the facilities and activities available, we would do it again. (Update: There are chiggers here. The next day we both had welts that lasted for several weeks. Dose up with plenty of insect repellent before venturing out in this park).
A narrow-gauge steam engine from a local amusement park sits outside the visitor’s center where patrons can pose for a picture in the cab. Beth found a great combination of nature and railroads. I couldn’t ask for a better birthday present.
