It was overcast in the morning, so we hung out and mostly did book work and the kids played some math computer games. Don was able to finish up working around noontime. He had discovered that one of the camper tires had a slow leak, so he jacked up the camper to take the tire off. The camp host and some other guys were cutting wood down the road, so they cut him a hunk to prop the camper up on since the faulty tire was on the "high" side and the jack couldn't reach. Don then headed to the tire place for a $5 fix and he popped it back on.
Next, we all set out for a walk with the intention of going to the main ranger station for the park. I wanted to pick up a trail map for the hiking trails that are all around the park. It was a bit of a trek via the park roads, and about two-thirds of the way there it started pouring. We decided we were past the point of no return and kept on truckin. We made it to the ranger station and found it empty and locked. On a Friday afternoon. I guess this park really is laid back. We didn't want our rainy trek to be for naught, so we watched the ducks on the lake.
And played on the playground. Still in the pouring rain.
Kids had a great time, though Don did spin Gavin just a wee bit too hard on the merry-go-round. We were completely soaked by the time we got back to the campsite. Bernie smelled just wonderful. After some warm showers and hair dryers for the humans, we went into Beckley to Pasquale's Italian Restaurant. An old Italian guy, presumable Pasquale himself, greeted us. We had a nice meal and were stuffed to the gills by the time we left.
We took a drive on a long, windy, hilly road after dinner that left Gabriella not feeling so hot. She eventually conked out on the way home. Once we got back to the camper, of course she couldn't go back to sleep, so I ended up getting up with her a million times until I gave up and let her lie on the couch with me. She zonked out within two minutes.
September 21
We were all ready for adventure on Don's day off! And it was still pouring rain. We hung around the camper for the morning, then went back to Beckley to Tamarack for the afternoon. It is a huge touristy shop that showcases products made in West Virginia. We actually had a really good time. Even the kids enjoyed looking at everything - and touching, even when they weren't supposed to. There was a lot of glassware, pottery and handcrafted wooden stuff. Don said it was kind of like a fancy craft fair. We got some Christmas shopping done, the kids got some glass marbles and candy, we bought some special homemade sensitive skin soap for Bernie (to get rid of that lovely wet dog smell,) and I got my usual souvenir - a bottle of local wine. We had lunch there as well, which was okay, but not all it was cracked up to be.
On the way back, we had to make a stop at Food Lion to restock the fridge. Gavin talked to my mom on the phone the entire time we were in the store. When we got back to the campground, the rain had finally let up, so we went for a walk around the campground to explore all of the loops. The first loop, where we are, is all developed with water and electric hook-ups. The second loop is closed for the season, but has water and it looks like they're getting ready to run electric. The sites on the third loop aren't finished yet, but it appears they're prepping them for hook-ups as well. It is a great little campground, especially when it is this quiet. We saw lots of deer on our walk and a lone maple tree that had already changed color. These hills must be gorgeous when in full color.
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