Rayland Marina to Moundaville WV

Day 6:  Thursday, August 18, 2015

You can monitor our trip at the link: Second Winds Progress Live  

We awoke to a cloudy cool morning but with a positive weather forecast.  For the first day on this trip, there is a minimal chance for rain.  We prepared a hearty cheesy scrambled egg, bacon, toast and V-8 breakfast.  It promised to be a great

Entering the Pine Island Lock

day.

After completing our typical morning chores around the boat, we were under way at about 9:00.  We encountered our first lock about 3 miles from the Rayland Marina.  We contacted the Pine Island lockmaster and he offered that he would have the small chamber ready for us when we arrived. We cruised in and pulled up to a

Stationary Bitt

floating bitt over which we dropped a spring line notified, the lock master that we were secure and ready for the decent. At the same time, a large barge pulled into the large chamber in preparation for the drop. The small chamber is 600 feet long and the large chamber is 1200 feet in length.  Both are 110 feet in width. 

Below the dam, we entered the first stretch of water that is charact

Wheeling Suspension Bridge

eristic of a river with shallow sides and shoals.  Up until this point, we have been traveling in pool waters backed up behind dams.  I am not sure how far we traveled before we entered the pool for the next dam, Hannibal Dam.

About 7 miles below the Pine Island Dam, we came into Wheeling, WV. Wheeling is a really interesting historical town.  The first thing that we saw was the historic 10^th Street Bridge built back in 1849.  According to the guide book it was the first bridge built across the Ohio. It is 1,010 feet in length and was an important link in the National Road.  There was immediate controversy raised by the state of Pennsylvania because the bridge was too low for the steamboats to pass under. Pennsylvania decreed that it should be torn down or raised up but the US Congress intervened, stating that the bridge was essential for national security.  The story of this bridge is fascinating to me and more is available at Wikipedia Wheeling Suspension Bridge.

We moored at the Wheeling town wharf and walked on their beautiful river walk/bike path for about a mile and ended up at their Center Wheeling Market where we had a wonderful white fish sandwich for lunch.  This market is at the center of their restored historic district.  It was built in 1850 and houses not only the Central Fish Market but artists’ stalls, a number of special eateries, and small shops selling local crafts. It was originally designed as an open market in the neo-classical style.

Second Wind at the Wheeling Wharf

Back on the water, we had a light following breeze so we decided to raise the sails and ride quietly for a while.  That worked for about 30 minutes until the wind became light and on our nose, so we started the motor and headed on downstream. 

Just south of Wheeling the scenery changes dramatically from the shore lines with rusty sometimes noisy factories to total vegetation.  For the next 10 miles, we saw very little in the way of human habitation.  We did pass a few small towns but the industrial complexes were nonexistent.  There are roads on both sides of the river so we did periodically see cars and trucks through the trees.

At around 5:00 we arrived at Moundsville, WV where we landed and moored for the night.  We tied up to the public dock and were greeted by 4 white ducks and a mallard who are the town’s welcoming committee.  When they realized that we had nothing to offer as gifts, the moved on to some small children who were willing to share their bread.

The town of Moundsville is famous for two interesting things.  They have the

The Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville WV

prehistoric Grave Creek Mound which was originally 69 feet high and 295 feet in diameter.  The mound was built by the Adena people and used as a burial mound.  Early excavations uncovered two log tombs and other burial artifacts.  Grave Creek Mound

Just across the street is the West Virginia State Penitentiary completed in 1876.  The huge gothic style institution was built after West Virginia seceded from Virginia.  It is built of hand

West Virginia State Penitentiary

cut sandstone that was quarried locally. The state used prison labor in the construction.  It was closed in 1995 but is open for tours.   WV State Penitentiary

We walked back to the boat and spent the remainder of the evening sitting in the cockpit reading and watching the day fade away.  We were in bed by “cruisers midnight” or 9:00.