West Virginia, North Bend Rail Trail

Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip -- Day 6:  Last day of the trip, I'm outside of Parkersburg, West Virginia driving country roads looking for a good place to park for the North Bend Rail Trail.

Roadside parking that hopefully won't annoy the locals

The cities founder's obviously had high hopes

There's not much left in Petroleum, an unincorporated community in Ritchie County, West Virginia.  The railroad left in 1988. Its post office closed in 2002, but it still has a ZIP code of 26161.  The community was named after a nearby creek, Oil Spring Run, where oil naturally occurs.

I make the best gorp!
(Quaker Oat Squares are the secret)

Perfect spot for lunch

Dogs barking tough until I get close

The scenery is wonderful

My first exposure to Alex Jones and Infowars from a crazy local
stuffing leaflets in the trail info box

It's always a relief to see the car after a long ride

My route

That's a wrap -- now let's go home -- only 9 hours away.

State:	West Virginia
Date:	2013-11-01
Route:	North Bend Rail Trail
Distance:	30 miles, WV-47 to mile marker 22