But his grasp of geography was suspect at best

GRR! Ted, I am definitely bristled up, now! SO WHAT???
If part of the river is there, then it IS THERE!!
Speaking of semantics: he didn't say the whole river was contained in WV, DID HE????

He certainly knew a lot about geography, sir! He wrote songs about Alaska, Africa, and did a TV special from Ayers Rock, because he had BEEN to these places, and more besides!

OOOOH!
Do NOT malign my hero!