Saturday, September 5

I went outside our motel about 7 AM to see what morning looked like in Mingo, West Virginia.

I decided that some of these people never see a sunrise, because the sun has been up a few hours before it comes over the mountain.

Will Fanning opened this motel/restaurant/pub on October 14, 2000. It was built after their house burned to the ground (same location) – a fire that took the life of his father. Will is from Dublin, Ireland, so named it BrazenHead Inn after an inn from his hometown.

I like the large front porch.

After checking us in the evening before, Will encouraged us to take time for a walk on the back of the property and enjoy the Tygart Valley River.

It was a beautiful morning to enjoy the sounds of the river.

There were many pretty flowers on the front of the property.

I didn’t ask who cared for the flowers, I suspect it may be his wife who was in Pennsylvania for the weekend to visit her dad.

About the time I took the above photo, I smelled cigarette smoke and looked around to see where it was coming from. Then noticed a man on the balcony enjoying the morning as well. After I said, “Good morning”, he was quick to reply and respond to my questions. He was a coal miner from a few hours west of the motel and was here with his son, a friend and his son to go trout fishing. It was fun to meet a “real” downhome, pistol-packing, West Virginia coal miner. His West Virginia accent was so strong I had to listen carefully to follow what he was saying.

By the time I returned to our room, Cerwin was ready for the day. We knew there would be a light breakfast in the restaurant at 8 AM, so we packed the RAV4 then went inside to enjoy bagels and coffee.

We met a couple from Virginia who were doing the same thing we were – discovering West Virginia. The coalminers and their sons were also there, so we got acquainted with them a bit more.

Will showed us around the uniquely decorated room and told us the history of some things. We were sorry that things weren’t routine due to COVID, because he and his wife play in a band that entertains their guests each weekend. I think it was a combination of Irish and bluegrass music. The restaurant has been closed since everything was shutdown in March.

We left the motel about 8:30 and headed over the mountain to Dunmore to look up the place where Cerwin, our sons, some grandsons, and a few friends used to hunt.

We went by Cass Railroad where there was a line of people waiting for a coal-powered, steam engine ride. We had ridden this train several years ago.

These deer were in the shadows, but Cerwin immediately recognized that the one in the back was a nice buck.

I cropped a photo so you could see him as well.

We stopped for this pretty photo shoot just before arriving at the hunting location.

We arrived at the hunting “lodge” about 10 AM and were surprised and pleased that Sandy was home. She and Dave are now divorced – but she still lives in the church they turned into a house. (Her kitchen area is on the pulpit.)

They lodged hunters in the Sunday school rooms. She no longer hosts hunters, but sometimes considers renting that area.

She continues to raise hunting and tracking dogs. These two are her originals: Oliver and Isobel. They are parents of some of the others. Oliver does not wear blinders on his eyes, it is a shadow from one of the cross pipes. 🙂 I think she said they are eleven years old.

She has about 20 dogs and all were baying and barking when we drove in. She rescues dogs and told us that one in this pen (a Bluetick Coonhound) was so thin and deteriorated that she didn’t take her to the vet for a few days because she didn’t expect her to live. However, she is now healthy due to Sandy’s love and care.

I forget why she has these puppies, but they are so cute and not the usual breed that she cares for. I think they are a poodle mix.

These four were quite noisy. 🙂

From there we went to the Ranger Station to travel up the mountain where Cerwin went hunting a few times. He was surprised to see a blacktop road. The last time we were here it was a bumpy, dirt road.

Partway up the mountain there is a good fishing spot.

At the top there is a rest spot for the Allegheny Trail.

These deer were on the road ahead of us when we stopped at the Allegheny Trail marker. I think our windshield or the shadows messed with my focus, because I didn’t get a very good picture of them.

Then it was time to go back to the ranger station.

I love the old barns in West Virginia.

Our next stop was at a restaurant in Marlinton where we enjoyed lunch on a restaurant deck – overlooking the Greenbriar River. I will tell you about that and our visit to Cranberry Glades in my next post. The red arrow marks where we started our day (motel)