It has been less than 48 hours that I have been on this trip but I already feel like I have done so much more. Today we started off with one of the places I have been looking forward to the most, Cathedral Cafe.
Located deep in historic Fayetteville,WV this place just oozes charm out of ever nook, cranny, and book. In the picture above you can see it off in the distance. I had to take a picture of this cool little theater though. We will be back to this road later in this post.
Stepping in this morning just made me smile right off the bat. I ordered up a simple coffee and flaky French Toast croissants with a side of sausage. The cashier, I didn't catch her name because she did not throw it and I did not ask, made my day even better by complimenting me on my Discover (shameless plug) Washington Capitals. ROCKING THE RED even in Mountaineer country. The food was amazing and hit the spot. Just what I needed for todays cluster. I will explain in a bit but first inside the Cafe and food.
After such a great start today was going to be awesome. I just knew it. Plugged in the directions for the trailhead and off I went. Nice winding road down to the Cunard River Access Parking area. Once I again I missed the trailhead I was going to do first. I wanted to do the Kaymoor Trail (listed as moderate for biking/hiking) it was a good 12 miles round trip. I was excited but went right by and ended up near the start of the Southside Trail (listed as easy for biking/hiking). Since I was there was just going to do the Southside Trail and then break for lunch and do the Kaymoor. I mean no problem. Locals would have probably told me I was insane, especially considering what bike I was on. An REI 3.1 ADV gravel bike. Not a mountain bike. Hear me out though. The stuff I had read and the pictures I had seen showed a relatively flat track for Kaymoor and it was supposedly harder than Southside.
We will get to my mistake shortly but first a wonderful but tough ride on Southside. Tough in that I am not use to muddy and occasional rugged shit. Loved that I was riding on old mining rail tracks. Railroad ties and tracks littered the landscape as you can see in some of the pictures. But I managed to get all the way down the trail and back. So from Cunard River Access to the town of Thurmond. A grand total of 14 miles or so in 2 hours and 38 minutes with an average speed of 5 mph. On the way back saw a couple deer. Tried to take pictures of one and she took off like a bat out of hell. But overall it had some tough parts but I managed and enjoyed it. It was a challenge.
So after Southside Trail I took a break at the Rav4. Ate some lunch was feeling good. Went to take my trash out and hit the bathroom. Side story here. I find it both funny and very sad that the National Park Service has to put locks on the toilet paper dispensers. Just sad. Also they now have what I am calling "kid guards" in the toilets. Cross bars about 3 feet down. My only guess is for it to keep little kids from falling into a whole shit load of gunk.
This is where things go sideways. Got back up the road to the Kaymoor Trail parking. Took my bike off and hit the trail head. Seemed okay at first but then got down right insane. Let me first say I am not a mountain biker but if people are riding this stuff full on they have to be a special breed of insane. I kept telling myself it will open up on to a wider path that was in the pictures eventually. I am pretty sure that was most likely 5 miles into this trail, I did not make it that far. I made it 3.5 miles. When I stupidly somehow got my bike down a steep embankment, I walked it down, only an insane person would ride down that spot, to turn a corner and see what looked liked a 100 steps up a 45 degree angle or something. It was just clearly NOT a biking trail At least I would not have called it one. I have no idea why they put biking on the maps. I honestly don't think anyone could bike the whole thing.
I am most likely wrong here and super in shape MTBers probably kill it. For me the stairs ended it. I turned around and began the sad long trek back. It was long and painful. Lots of hiking and some small biking parts. 7.03 miles in all from car to steps and back. It took me 2 hours with an average speed of 3.5 mph. I own this fuck up. I obviously don't know what moderate means. I do now. I will say this. That trail would kick my ass just hiking. Here are a few pretty pictures of Kaymoor.
Adding to todays misadventures as I started up the Rav4 to head back to the Airbnb to get some much needed shower attention I noticed the fuel gauge. I managed to find a gas station with just under half a gallon of fuel left. I never learn.
Now we finish the day off with some good stuff. I had no idea where I was going to eat dinner so off to Yelp I went and after looking at a few placed I decided on Wanderlust Creativefood. OH MY GOD!!! This was amazing food. You go in looking and it looks like some hipster coffee shop but the attention to detail in this food is amazing. The gentleman taking orders was a former Va Beach native I would later learn was super nice and helped me decide on my choice of meal for the evening. The lamb burger, with goat cheese, pickled red onion and a seasonal jelly. Came with a side of fries.
I do not know much about food other than I am willing to try stuff wherever I go. And let me tell you this was amazing! SOOO good. Even the french fries were just perfect as they were. There was no need for any condiment. They were just perfect!! It was a great find!!
After that wonderful meal I wandered around the corner to this awesome little ice cream shop, The Stache, for some well earned dessert. I had the Maple's Nut and it was a perfect end. A wonderful maple walnut ice cream. Was super yummy!
Another day done. Monday I head off towards Kentucky. It is actually mostly a travel day with a few stops along the way. Time permitting we will see what trouble I can get into. The trip is about to hit the camping portion. Two KOA nights followed by a night inside a National Park then another KOA night. What this means is there could be far less fun blog from the Wandering Dorks. Come on you know you love this stuff. Okay maybe you do not but whatever. Enjoy your Sunday!!
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