Hey Folks: The weary traveler returns. West Virginia put a hurtin' on this old man. Hills like I've never seen, storms that dropped gallons of water on me in seconds yet a scenery that made it all worth it. I was unable to bike my entire route. I ended the trip a day early due to severe thunderstorms and (more realistically) no more legs. I threw in the towel and hitch a ride back to Seneca Rocks(~23 miles) near the crest of the longest uphill I have ever ridden, in one of the hardest rains I've ever been in. I didn't know it but was less than 3 miles from the crest with a 9-10 mile downhill after. Didn't really matter I had nothing left. Rest days are essential when pulling a load and climbing serious hills.
All in all it was an excellent trip. Got in some hiking, hung out with a bunch of motorcyclist (apparently there was a convention of them at Canaan Valley this weekend), saw some wildlife, ate lots of blueberries, views that take your breath away, even saw an old dear friend backpacking at Dolly Sods and another climber friend at "the Front Porch" at Seneca Rocks. I hope to post up a full report on crazyguyonabike with a lot of pictures. Here are a few to enjoy. notice the clouds in some of these...and these didn't drop any water on me.

top of a huge steep climb to Dolly sods


attempting to get into a picture at the Sods
http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/DSCN0031.jpg

sometimes the trail wasn't very good (Blackwater falls)
http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/DSCN0064.jpg

after a very long day in the saddle(80-90 miles). I was glad to finally see this trail
http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/DSCN0087.jpg

cool cemetery with windmills in the distant.
http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/DSCN0073.jpg

I have lots more pictures, stay tuned. Good to be back. I hope the pictures work.

Barry: like the bike parking at artscape. A year or 2 years ago I had to park in front of a parking garage and asked the parking attendant to keep an eye on it.