Tunnels and Castles - Ride 12/12 to cap off 3 days of riding
Dec 12, 2020 19:20:05 GMT -5
via Tapatalk
Post by Randy_R on Dec 12, 2020 19:20:05 GMT -5
I was fortunate enough to ride 3 days in a row and capped it off with an interesting one today. Today the group was Larry, Doc, Mike F, Allen and Clayton, and myself.
Larry guided and said he was taking us to three tunnels - the unfinished tunnel near Boisvien , the one with River going beside it near hwy 52 past old 52, and the little one in the guys front yard near Tug River. He did get us to those plus a bonus one later in the ride report.
The day started with us turning off Windmill Gap onto Old 52. Approx 1/4 mile on old 52 the Castle Nut came off of Larry’s commander that Doc was driving. I’ve never seen that before but it sheared the cotter pin and spun the nut off on the first turn of old 52. We found the nut and washer and thanks to Allen’s tool set we got the Commander back going. Very lucky.
Flash to 3pm. We had eaten at the Gas Station off Spearhead at Trailhead ATV resort and was headed back. I mentioned I wanted to see Ellkhorn Tunnel. It could be our 4th for the day and last time I was over there was maybe 2007.
We turned off Coaldale Mtn rd onto Scenic ridge rd (really a trail)and never saw the tunnel. Ended up going to the end of road into a nice locals yard. He told us Elkhorn Tunnel was concreted but could still be seen. Just go back to the last turnoff. We went back but couldn’t find the Elkhorn tunnel.
Now it gets odd after we turned around and went back to the mud bog (deep and slimy)turnoff:
- Mike F decided to check his wheels and his Commander was kicking off its Castle nut. Sheered the cotter pin and tore all the axle threads up. Never could get cotter pin out of center of a shaft.
- while Larry, Doc, and myself were walked looking for the tunnel a blue Subaru pulled up on the muddy trail/road. I knew it was a hunt lease guy getting ready to tell us to leave. I told the guy we were looking for the Elkhorn Tunnel. He responded “I am too!” Very odd. Come to find out he’s a Mercer County Attorney writing a book on the history of the Area. He wanted to find and photograph Elkhorn Tunnel. They tunnel originally opened up coalfields in this area. Anyway he found the tunnel while we kinda fixed Mike’s SXS. Attorney then showed us how to get to the tunnel.
Odd day definitely. It’s gotta be a 1 Billion to one odds of seeing two Castle Nuts come off and randomly having someone show up in the woods looking for a random deserted tunnel you are looking for at the same time.
Ended the day headed back with constant radio talk of checking Mikes left nut. He was concerned with it coming off again. The radio talk was hilarious if you didn’t know the subject.
This is Elkhorn Tunnel #1 that was electrified in 1915 and replaced in 1950. The round entrance “building” is the water tank building. The tunnel was covered in flat concrete to the left.
thetunneldiaries.com/2013/05/27/elkhorn-tunnel/amp/
shinbrierwv.com/coaldale/return_to_coaldale_photos_-_buddy_french
Larry guided and said he was taking us to three tunnels - the unfinished tunnel near Boisvien , the one with River going beside it near hwy 52 past old 52, and the little one in the guys front yard near Tug River. He did get us to those plus a bonus one later in the ride report.
The day started with us turning off Windmill Gap onto Old 52. Approx 1/4 mile on old 52 the Castle Nut came off of Larry’s commander that Doc was driving. I’ve never seen that before but it sheared the cotter pin and spun the nut off on the first turn of old 52. We found the nut and washer and thanks to Allen’s tool set we got the Commander back going. Very lucky.
Flash to 3pm. We had eaten at the Gas Station off Spearhead at Trailhead ATV resort and was headed back. I mentioned I wanted to see Ellkhorn Tunnel. It could be our 4th for the day and last time I was over there was maybe 2007.
We turned off Coaldale Mtn rd onto Scenic ridge rd (really a trail)and never saw the tunnel. Ended up going to the end of road into a nice locals yard. He told us Elkhorn Tunnel was concreted but could still be seen. Just go back to the last turnoff. We went back but couldn’t find the Elkhorn tunnel.
Now it gets odd after we turned around and went back to the mud bog (deep and slimy)turnoff:
- Mike F decided to check his wheels and his Commander was kicking off its Castle nut. Sheered the cotter pin and tore all the axle threads up. Never could get cotter pin out of center of a shaft.
- while Larry, Doc, and myself were walked looking for the tunnel a blue Subaru pulled up on the muddy trail/road. I knew it was a hunt lease guy getting ready to tell us to leave. I told the guy we were looking for the Elkhorn Tunnel. He responded “I am too!” Very odd. Come to find out he’s a Mercer County Attorney writing a book on the history of the Area. He wanted to find and photograph Elkhorn Tunnel. They tunnel originally opened up coalfields in this area. Anyway he found the tunnel while we kinda fixed Mike’s SXS. Attorney then showed us how to get to the tunnel.
Odd day definitely. It’s gotta be a 1 Billion to one odds of seeing two Castle Nuts come off and randomly having someone show up in the woods looking for a random deserted tunnel you are looking for at the same time.
Ended the day headed back with constant radio talk of checking Mikes left nut. He was concerned with it coming off again. The radio talk was hilarious if you didn’t know the subject.
This is Elkhorn Tunnel #1 that was electrified in 1915 and replaced in 1950. The round entrance “building” is the water tank building. The tunnel was covered in flat concrete to the left.
thetunneldiaries.com/2013/05/27/elkhorn-tunnel/amp/
shinbrierwv.com/coaldale/return_to_coaldale_photos_-_buddy_french