So, our last days at the New River Gorge and Summersville lake were mellow. The wife was not feeling well on Sunday. Good day for it to rain. On Monday she was feeling better but not great. I wanted to visits the place on the highway where we use to stop for breakfast during climbing trips to the New. It was closed down, out of business, gone. Across the street there is a new Wal-mart strip mall and a Bob Evans. Probably what killed the local eats place. So, we ate at the Bob.
Then we went back to the cabin and we waited a little bit for the clouds to clear. I loaded the boats and we were off to the lake. First we put in at the Summersville Lake marina and paddled. The landscape is wonderful but at the same time boring. It is a lake with trees going up a ridge. There were no birds or wildlife to be seen. So, we paddled back to the marina and put the boats on the car and drove to the ramp near HWY 19. From there we paddled under 19 to Pirates Cove and to the Summersville Lake climbing area. I showed my honey the area where we use to cliff dive. Then we paddled on up the lake for a mile and a half or so, then back down to the ramp. We got some great pictures.
On a side note, reading things posted on official boards is a bad thing. We use to always cliff dive off the face betweens Pirates Cove and the Coliseum climbing area. It is straight along the lake and has several ledges at various heights to dive or jump and the water is between 30 and 50 feet deep. We would climb early and spend the hot part of the day climbing and diving watching out for boat wakes and no care about who saw us. It was wonderful. So, we are at the marina and my wife reads a notice that cliff diving/jumping is illegal. Now, I can’t dive without worry of who might see me and the fact that I am a fairly lawful guy. I have a paladin complex or something. So, my wife got some shots of me climbing from my boat with full intent to down climb the route but I was on the ledge getting ready for the down climb and lost my balance. That is why she has a picture of what looks like someone about to fall and a large splash. Really, I would not have jumped if I had not lost my balance. Really, that’s my story and I am sticking to it. I would have done the climb barefooted if I had intended to dive.
Then we tried to have dinner at the Acropolis but, it appears that it is out of business. So, we hit Applebee’s fine dining establishment. Then home to the cabin.
Tuesday, we hiked down to the Summersville Lake climbing area and spent the day swimming. We put our stuff in dry bags and took to the water. No sooner than I started swimming my camera fell out of my pocket. Good thing the water is clear. It was down about 12 feet or so at the edge of a crack between two rocks. I swam down and grabbed it then tied it to my shorts. Good thing it is waterproof and shockproof. Check, Olympus camera is fully tested and working great. We took photos and swam and saw wildlife. I had some balance issues while on the top edge of swimmers rock and managed to fall off into the water. I should have that balance problem checked out.
After a full afternoon of swimming I took the wife on a tour of the Coliseum area and then we made the hike out. After we showered and got our dinning duds on we were off to Fayetteville to find food. That evening we had dinner at Pies and Pints. Good beer and great pizza. Then back to the cabin to go through our photos of the day and to do some packing. Then it was off to bed.
Wednesday was an uneventful drive home. The next few days were rest and work around the house. On Friday we saw "The Dark Knight" and then went to a friends house in the evening to watch Machine Girl ( www.imdb.com/title/tt1050160/ ) ( Trailer - www.youtube.com/watch ). Nothing like Japanese gore cinema. Saturday was dinner with the mother in-law. Now I am back at work bored and bruise.
The End – Honeymoon over…….
