The Dingess tunnel and CB1100 gathering at Bluefield Virginia

[Clifton]

For some time I've been wanting to ride to Dingess WV through the tunnel (which is one of only two ways to get there). It's an old RR tunnel that was constructed to move coal back in the 1800's then abandoned some years later after a better route was found, so they utilized it for a second way to get to Dingess. It's about 3/4 mile long and traffic goes both ways, so you only enter if you don't see headlights coming. https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/west-virginia/bloody-mingo-dingess-tunnel-wv/
Dingess is in southwest West Virginia in the heart of Appalachia, let's just say "life is different" there. I was further south in Bluefield Virginia at a gathering of CB1100's last week so took the opportunity to ride through Dingess on my way back to northern WV. After maybe 1/3 through I snapped a pic then video'd the rest of the way through with my phone. Anyway I thought I'd share as I seriously doubt if any of you have been to Dingess, WV.







Might as well add a few images of the CB1100 gathering and day rides around southern West Virginia and western Virginia.

About 24 riders on CB1100's made it to Bluefield where we based at a Comfort Inn.





Russ brought Hank along.






This male cat made the Comfort Inn his home.



Couple pics from another day ride.

 

[Doc]

Looks very nice Clifton. And nope I ain't been.

 

[Clifton]

Thanks Doc!

 

[Robbi]

That looks brill.

 

[Wapping]

Thank you.

Those few pictures, when compared with the vast open scenery of your last report, show just how varied America is.

A couple of your last pictures could be in the Ardennes or Black Forest.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Thanks Clifton, always really interesting to see what's happening over your side.

 

[Clifton]

I hadn't thought of that Wapping but you're right the Appalachian area is very different from the dryer and open western US.

You're welcome, Paul. To be honest this is an area of the State I have not visited, only passed through in route to somewhere else. Coal is what drew people there and now that mining has stopped for the most part there's not much in the way of jobs so it's depressed. There are a few towns that are trying to rebound, Bramwell once boasted of having the most millionaires per capita in the US.





But abandoned and boarded up towns are the norm.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Nice one Clifton, thanks for sharing