Panther State Forest - West Virginia

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Heading north through North Carolina and Virginia, on course for the Virtual Cache HBC..Who? just over the border where the 77 freeway ends near Bluefield WV. After driving all day I had a nice walk around the campus of  BLUEFIELD STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE which earned me the West Virginia Souvenir. Todays camp is Panther State Forest, a remote location some 60 miles in back country road that winds through coal mining communities. 

"Take me home country roads" Narrow tree covered, sometimes only one car wide roads along rivers and creeks where in some places the asphalt has been washed away. I finally arrived and check in with Ranger Sam at the camp office. Sam proceeded to had me a pile of magazines, brochures and flyers, oh and a map. He said he would bring
some fire wood up when he closes the office. The campground the was just a row of about 7 sites just off the road nestled on Panther Creek. I got set up and Sam stopped by with the wood. It was very peaceful with the sound of running water and thousands
, millions of Cicadas. 

After I ate dinner, grilled chicken with salad, the sun fully set, the fire flies came out. Hundereds of them dancing through the air, it was quite the show. Just as I was wishing I was staying more than 1 night, the rain started and it was a down pour! 

It rained all night through the morning. Having no internet, I packed up and headed to the camp office. I wanted to see if the rain would stop long enough to hike the overlook trail. But Wifi was down and the ranger on duty said the rain will last all day. So I headed back out the way I came in until I got a cell signal and mapped directions to Pikeville Kentucky to earn my next state souvenir. 

👀photos

Kings Mountain South Carolina

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I had an uneventful drive from Alabama to South Carolina "In my mind I'm going to Carolina ....." -JT a state I have never been before.  I was able to get the State Souvenir at the South Carolina Welcome Center Rest Stop in Fair Play SC. Only 12 more states to go! The campground was not very full, and the ranger station was closed when I arrived. There was nice tree cover at my site that let in just enough sun light and break the wind, which was picking up. 

The light rain turned into a down pour over night and it was rainy for the rest of my stay. Everything got wet, but I figured I need this in preparation for camping in Washington later this summer. So I went on with my adventures. I was up early the next morning, broke camp to go get a North Carolina cache. I was real close to the border, so I looped around and pulled into the North Carolina I-85 Welcome Center Rest Stop and earned the NC State Souvenir! Returned to the campground and checked in to the office.  After getting set up again, I pulled out my NW rain gear and set off for a bike ride to the

Kings Mountain National Military Park, about 3 miles down the road. The virtual cache at the park, called Furgeson's Folly, has you take the 1.5 mile walk around the battle site and answer 8 questions about the battle between Patriot Forces commanded by Col. William Campbell and the British Forces, commanded by Patrick Furgeson who fell in the battle. Ever wonder if Furgeson had won? 

I returned to camp and hunkered down in RAMVAN. The rain continued until the next morning when I set off for West Virginia. Until then, I leave you with a link to photos of Kings Mountain. 

 

Pell City, Alabama

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Moochdocked at Carla's for 2 days. I was able put a dent in the local cache population, catch up on Laundry and spend time with my daughter and her special someone! 

Thanks for cooking me a hot meal and the father's day card. 💛

Photo's of my visit