The first few miles below Gauley Bridge were hampered by fog, sideways downpours, and logging trucks appearing from nowhere. Several island sites were seen near Kanawha Falls which should prove fruitful. We kept on Route 60 towards Charleston for quite awhile. The trip is relatively uneventful, and mist net sites are fairly easy to come by between coal tipples, dense residential neighborhoods, industrial factories, and "backstreet" Appalachia. A highlight near Montgomery is the Isle of McDonalds, the restaurant chain has taken advantage of a large triangular swath of median at a busy intersection so that patrons have a commanding view of traffic , the river, and an infeeder while feasting on bovine delicacies.

Downstream in Charleston we searched the capital grounds in hope of a park-like reflecting pool of some sort to net. Though a few fountains can be found, we aborted the idea, headed past the "Drug Emporium" (whatever that is) and into Nitro. The east side of the river around Nitro was not exciting, but we managed to find what turned out to be a fairly good Mexican place. The west side appears to be better habitat on the topos.

Northwest of Nitro we turned back after finding an excellent site, though guarded with attack geese. The sporadic electrical storms still lingered and rain occurred occasionally throughout the night. As a result, no netting was attempted.

June 6 was spent organizing this website as well as a number of other minor logistical related "things". A cold spell has set in with the 5:00 pm temperature only 57°F. Our National Weather Service linkup tells us of record lows in the 40s tonight as well as tomorrow night. Today we will give some gear a shakedown and perhaps net out campsite for a few hours for lack of anything else to do. We may recon the opposite side of the river from Charleston to Point Pleasant tomorrow then abort back to our offices until better weather.

JC

Below: our humble encampment on the second evening.