Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Bandits Roost COE, Wilkesboro, NC

Bandits Roost COE, Wilkesboro, NC

Arrived Monday morning early after a 30 mile ride from Stone Mountain and there were very few empty sites that were available for a week. We had reserved site A43 from the Internet and did a fabulous job of picking a good site again. In the afternoon we went to the laundromat, the air conditioned one with the wanted poster on the door. While waiting for the clothes we walked next door to the hot rod shop an was very impressed.

Wednesday morning we moved from A43 a 30 amp site to B71 a 50 amp site because of low voltage.

Thursday we went for a couple hour walk from the dam, then rode to Vanderpool's in Boone to visit Jim & Joanne, John & Lu went to the Mellow Mushroom for lunch. Rained on the way home.

Sunday it has been raining the last few days late in the afternoon so we haven't been walking the nice trail between the campground and the dam, but around and around the park interior roads. Today we went in town and walked on the Yadkin Greenway and other parts of it that are complete.


Monday, June 23, 2008

Stone Mountain State Park, Traphill, NC

Stone Mountain State Park, Traphill, NC

Monday 16 June 2008 We arrived early after about a 20 something ride from Warriors Creek in Wilkesboro up routes 268, SR1099 to SR1002 to Trarphill the best and direct route. There were a lot more people coming and going in the campground than I would have thought for the first if the week. The deer are thick here saw a heard of 16 plus more in the field down the road
Tuesday 17 June 2008 Cooled off nicely last night. Buddy & Patsy arrived at noon from Charlotte, NC, caught up on there travels, visited the Visitor Center, and had hand dipped ice cream at the Country Mountain Store down the road.
Wednesday 18 June 2008 Nice and cool this morning when we started our hike over and around Stone Mountain at 8:00 and we were back at 12:30 4.5 hours and enough steps to last for awhile.
Thursday 19 June 2008 Went for a nice walk we drove to the homestead parking area and walked Wolf Rock & Cedar Rock trail the views were as good or better than over the top of Stone Mt..
We went to Wal-Mart in Elkin the back way nice road and also found
Carol’s Restaurant on the way back to the campground.
Friday 20 June Jim & Joanne came by in the morning and we all went to lunch at Carol's in Austin, NC and it met all my expectations.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Warrior Creek COE, Wilksboro, NC

Warrior Creek COE, Wilkesboro, NC


Arrived Monday morning after a short 30 something mile ride, we first stopped at Ft Hamby a new COE park on the opposite side of the lake and decided we would rather stay at Warrior Creek or Bandits Roost.
It has been extremely hot, hope it changes shortly, a thundershower last night helped.
Lots of trails here, but to hot for mid day.
The Overmountain Victory Trail passes about 300 feet from our campsite and follows the route the the American Patriot army (900) took on their way to defeat the American Loyalist army (1000) at the battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina, in the fall of 1780. We walked some of the trail which has seen a few more footsteps since 1780 but we haven't made it to South Carolina yet.

Thursday June 12 We rode over to Boone and visited Jim & Joanne at Vanderpool's Campground. We at lunch at the Mellow Mushroom, http://www.mellowmushroom.com/ and highly recommend this place, the pizza was very good. There calzone would have been a challenge for even Troy to finish.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

New River State Park, Jefferson, NC

New River State Park, Jefferson, NC


We arrived here about 8:30 this morning only 30 something miles from Grindstone. The facilities are about 1 year old and are great.
There is a nice loop trail that leaves about 50 feet from our site and goes to the river access & tent campground which is super nice also.
It is Saturday and we are having to share our campground with 2 other campers, there are 20 sites in the RV section.

The wild roses are in full bloom and abundant enough along the trails to be really fragrant.

Met Bill & Sandra Roust who live in Sparta, NC, the only other couple in the campground last night.

Friday we went to West Jefferson, had the oil changed at the Ford dealer (best price ever), did some laundry, produce stand and lunch at Brick Stone Pizza & Pasta.

Saturday New River Festival was held at the park today, live entrainment, Jim & Joanne came over and we at lunch at Motley's Barbque.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Grindstone, Troutdale,VA

Grindstone NFS Troutsdale, VA

Thursday, May 22 Arrived at Grindstone early, it was only around 60 miles from Stoney Fork. I did a good job picking Site 45 (elevation 3915) of the Internet, you never know what it is going to be like until you get there, and this being Memorial Day weekend it wouldn’t be a good weekend to screw up.

Well when we got here the throw rugs by the door and kitchen area were wet, another leak but where, I had a good idea that it came from the flush line for the black water tank (big water pressure) after removing the side of the basement to get to all the good stuff, I could see where it was leaking but could’t get to it from there. After removing a few more things trying to get to it, I removed the recessed fire extinguisher holder and got to the anti siphon valve (plastic) that hat exploded. I have epoxied it back together and will put the pressure to it tomorrow. Tried pressure and seemed to hold.

I think this is a very nice park (remote) no cell phone service, there fore no Internet, we did manage to luck out with a spot where you could aim the dish down the road opening thru the trees, so we are set.

Great shower, second only to Gambrill

Friday, May 23 We went of a hike this morning on the Mt. Rogers trail that leaves from the campground, it is seven miles to the top, we made it three and turned around, maybe next time. This is one of the nicer trails that we have walked on good surface and not to steep.
The rhododendron buds are just developing here and as you walk up the Mt. the leaves get newer and newer any earlier and they would still be buds.

Saturday, May 24 It rained last night and is pretty wet this morning, went for a nice walk this afternoon,
Finally someone has a real dog a Black & Tan.

Sunday, May 25 This morning 50 degrees, walked 8 miles and 5 hours on Mt Rogers Trail, we were both tired this afternoon did nothing.

Monday, May 26 Did nothing this morning, the high is 69, rode down the road 603 towards White Top Mt looking for a place that the cell phone would work ended up parked at White Top Mt Baptist Church and had a couple of bars. A person could get lost here, don’t leave without the laptop again.

Tuesday, May 27 We went to Marion this morning and did laundry and grocery store, ate lunch at Smokey Joe's. At the Laundromat we met Pete & Janet from Bushnell FL who are also staying in this campground.
I also saw a strangely marked deer on the way back to the campground it had a lot of white blotches on it where it should be brown, must of cross bred with a cow.

Wednesday, May 28 It’s rainy this morning, we visited with Pete & Janet, and later this afternoon Sue and I drove over to Grayson Highlands State Park to take some pictures and check it out and I can’t wait to lead my trailer towing friends from Volney on 16 down US 58 to the park entrance. The fog was so thick up high, that is was a good thing the road had lines on it, when we got to the visitor center we had to hunt for it because you couldn't see it until you were about 20 feet away, just follow the cement walkway and it will lead you somewhere.


Monday, May 19, 2008

Stoney Fork NFS, Wytheville, VA

Stoney Fork Campground NFS, Wytheville, VA


Monday May 19 We arrived here around 11:00 am and I am impressed by this NFS campground, has everything except TV. The shower will blow you away the water pressure is so strong. My air card signal is as strong as it gets, it has a stronger signal than at home.
The trails that we have walked on were rather nice.

Wednesday May 21 There are 2 nice trails that leave from the campground a 1 mile and a 5 mile. The 5 mile, 7 Sisters trail runs along Little Walker Mt. an easy way to see the terrain is to click the picture which takes you to the album, then click view map.

This afternoon we did the laundry in Wytheville, when we returned Jack Wellington our neighbor invited me over to share his fire, Jack worked at Martin years ago. Later on when I was cooking the chicken David the camp host stopped by to chat, David a local boy from the next county over, he was telling me how dry it was here last year, he said he had gone fishing in the river and caught a nice channel cat, about 30" long and it had 4 ticks on it.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Lake Robertson, Lexington, VA

Lake Robertson, Lexington, VA

Monday, May 12 We arrived at Lake Robertson which is about 10 miles Southwest of Lexington VA. The road from Lexington (251) then (770) was a great road, kept your attention, not a road that Sue liked. It stopped raining before we got here but has been cloudy. There are some trails here and looks like some good photo opportunities when the sun comes out.

Tuesday, May 13 Today was a beautiful day temperatures around 70 and sunshine , moved to a better site where we could get satellite reception and that I can exit easily. Had to clean pine pitch off the truck hot water worked the best . We went for a nice walk this afternoon on Hawk Creek, Deer Lick, and Squirrel Run trails. Met a nice couple Levi & Zoe Norman traveling in Shelby’s class C

Wednesday, May 14 There were about 5 deer outside this morning grazing through the campground. It is rather cool this morning in the 50’s

Thursday, May 15 After our walk this morning we went to Lowes, Wal Mart and back to the campground.

Friday May 16 Rained some last night , today has been intermittent sunshine, went for walk around the lake. I know that it is Friday because there have been a few more campers appear.

Sunday May 18 Cloudy today, Sue did the laundry this morning, the weekend campers have returned home and we are almost alone again.
This has been a very nice campground, Barbara in the office and Ken & Bonnie the campground host made this a pleasant and memorable visit.
There were a group of Boy Scouts camped next to us, Saturday they all went for a canoe trip and that evening they were all either super tired or as well behaved as you could ask for.