Rally detours. Or how I turned the spring rally into a three week road trip

As every Chinook Rally comes around I look to see what cool places along the route I can visit. Many of you have done this for years. It is somewhat new for me and the chance to learn and experience always gives me a rush. Especially if I get to fill in a few new states on the map!

Heading out from Maryland, my usual first day, five hour ice-breaking drive, stops in North Carolina. I lived in Charlotte for three years in the late ‘80s. Love the state. Kerr Lake or Jordan Lake are my best stops to launch a road trip. Can usually get one of my favorite spots for sunset on the lake if I reserve early enough.

As I troll Instagram and Facebook I copy and keep links of places I may want to visit someday. I organize them in Google Keep by states, sometimes by categories. It helps me figure out routes and possible stops along the way. This rally helped me check Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky off my state's visited map.

Often what states have to offer is a surprise. North Alabama has almost 60 waterfalls. Kentucky is home to the largest cave system on earth. On some of my saved places I’ve done homework. Other times I just wing it along the drive.

My background as a journalist motivates me to share video, photos and observations on social media. I try to share tips on how to get there, what you’ll see, costs and pitfalls. I usually post these on the Chinook Facebook pages and my personal FB and YouTube @tvsmurphman.

This trip I scoped out some free, first-come, first-served campsites in the country’s newest national park, New River Gorge. I stayed at a Cracker Barrel in Beckley, West Virginia and drove to investigate in the morning. Free does not equal desirable. The “Army Camp” site was 2+ miles in on a paved then gravel road past houses. For a while a neighborhood dog stood guard to prevent me moving. When I finally got to the site, it was nice enough, but primitive. The river was nearby, but not worth the bumpy drive in. The “Grandview Sandbar” site had an easier drive in, but the narrow hill down with no turn around looked too much for Cecilia to take on. I’ll be skipping stays at these campsites.

Chasing waterfalls, exploring caves, hiking to stone natural bridges, gazing over scenic overlooks and quiet, stargazing by the fire are part of what makes hitting the road in the Chinook so appealing.

There is good and bad to be found along the road. All of it is an adventure.

Take some pics of the cool places you and your Chinook visit. Email to me with some background to include in our next newsletter. Email to: chinooktrailblazer@gmail.com

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Rich