Summer Half Over - So a short Wander!!

My summer in WVa is about half over already! My how time flies when you are relaxed and chilled!! With some really gorgeous views to soak up!

Also have done just a bit of exploring! Granted I did sit on top of Cheat Mountain for about 36 days! And it was glorious! It seemed that summer was never going to arrive in WVa! It was almost cold several days, had lows in the upper 30's! Rain came through at least 3 days each week it seemed. And they were some pretty good t'storms!

 But I enjoyed them! I've always had a soft spot in my heart for t'storms!! 🐸

And when the storms and rain have passed, and things dry out some....and the evenings are peaceful....you just have to have a nice fire!!

 The past few days I went on a drive around the area to get out and see some more of the mountains. I headed to a little hamlet named Helvetia. It was settled in the mid-to-late 1800's by Swiss descendants. Very small, way back in the mountain valleys, lots of the original buildings still being used. Just such a grand place to slow down and go back in time. There is no cell service there. If you have internet, it is satellite from what I could see. Some of my new friends here allowed me to park on their property, and it was gorgeous!

 

 

I loved the place! It was so peaceful, beautiful & just refreshing! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Helvetia the little store has been in the same building since the beginning of the last century! And the masks hanging that are used for the feast of getting rid of "Old Man Winter" just really make the place!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Post Office is also in the store...and it has been a long time since I saw such a small Post Office! But I think it is great that there are still places where you truly take a step back in time when you come upon these little jewels of the past!

And to be able to still see and step into the past in such a way is so reassuring! That there are still folks that like this way of life gives me a bit of hope for this fast paced society that we seem to live in today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The library was in a very old building. And a very well kept up "old" building! There were more shelves of books there than I expected to see and the open hours tickled me....I believe it was Wednesday & Saturdays from 1100 - 1600! Such a place!

 

 

 

And right next to the library was a small building that I think was one of the original homes. It is the museum for Helvetia, with a lot of items and history in a very small space! But to see things that are over 150 years old and still in actual usable shape is just amazing!

I stopped in Pickens, WVa also. It seems to actually be smaller than Helvetia! But they are known for their "Maple Festival" each year.  So they have their spot in the mountains here also!

Then on the way back to Elkins stopped in at Holly River SP. Really nice area, very well kept up, large campground, swimming pool, lots of open area for kids to run, cabins that can be rented, a nice office/gift shop and even a restaurant there!

One more stop along the road back...the WVa Wildlife WMA & Recreation Area. As with most of what I've found in WVa...it is clean, well kept up and has a nice gift shop with small "cafe" available. The park it self is a wildlife watching area with path ways....but, if you have a hard time with walking, you might just want to sit and watch from the entrance...no vehicles are allowed past the parking area, all is on foot! So needless to say, I didn't get to wander through there.

So I'm back in Elkins til "payday". Visiting some friends, doing laundry, working on several things also that I hope to have done & out to everyone in the next few weeks.

So for now, I hope to see some of you out here in the woods!

Until that day...

Be Safe, Travel Easy & To The Woods!

C'ya!