Charleston WV #13 - The long & winding road

March 11 2020

The YMCA of Kanawha Valley in Charleston WV was our sixth and last stop on our 6 state pickleball tour making West Virginia state number 13. Getting there was much harder than it should have been, but more on that later. When we pulled into the parking lot of this fairly new and well built facility, we were feeling like we were going to be the champions despite Barb's back problems which had been plaguing her the last couple of days. We were wrong. We were defeated multiple times, and it wasn't due to our play, but the skills of our opponents. The courts were on the gym floor and the area behind the base line was limited on both sides; one side with a curtain and the other with bleachers. The overall facility was fantastic, one in which the community should be proud of and support. We had a good time with the group there even though they schooled us on pickleball skills. Above is Dave & Ann, and below is Dan & Kathy.


Now for the description of getting there which I call "The Long and Winding Road." Anyone who has used Google Maps or Apple Maps for directions likely has a story of how they were misdirected. This is ours. 



 This is how Google took us. I had not seen this overview since I was working from a map that had much more on it initially and I was simply following the turn here, turn there directions. This route took us up into the hills and back down again. 


This is the road after our first left onto Walker Rd. As you can see, there is not much road. We felt as though we were on someone's drive rather than a road.


This is where we should have turned left, and would have had we not been obedient to the Google voice. It is the first left off of Hillcrest Dr. If you look back at the original map, it's that section of road that connects to the end of the yellow shaded road saving us miles and stress.

Location: YMCA Dr, Charleston, WV 25311, USA

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