Myrtle Beach Trip, June 23-26

 

Friday

We left home about 9:15 and was eating at River City Cafe at 2pm. We went on to the KOA and set up our campsite at cabin 25. David, Amy and Noah arrived about 4pm and while they set up their camp Amy and I went to the beach. We walked around for a bit and came on back to camp. Noah gave me a key fob that he wove out of nylon rip cord and I immediately put it on my key ring.  David Hylton cooked ribs, squash, asparagus, and beans for supper. We went to Broadway on the Beach after dinner and shopped awhile and then watched fireworks. While sitting here typing this blog, our neighbors brought us a bundle of wood they had not used because they were leaving in the morning. So far it has been a good weekend.

 

Saturday

This morning Amy and I decided to sleep in because we had such a long day on Friday. I was up first and went ahead and got dressed and went to Walmart. I got the groceries we would need for today and tomorrow. Came back got Amy up and started to cook breakfast. For breakfast, we had sausage, eggs, fresh apple, and strawberries. After we cleaned up the dishes Amy got dressed and headed to the beach. I stayed behind and continued reading the book, Good to Great by Jim Davis. After reading a couple of chapters I put on my swim trunks and made my way to the beach. Splashed around for a while with Amy and Noah and then walked for a while. I came on back to camp and I'm waiting now for the others to return.

Since rains were headed in for the evening, we decided to go ahead with our planned meal and just eat early. I started a fire with free firewood given to us by a neighbor who left early in the morning. While the fire was getting started I put the green beans in on to cook and they simmered for about 1 hour. After the fire had died down to only coals, I added one small stick to give off some flame, and then put the NY Strips on the grill to cook. We had NY Strip steaks, mashed potato, green beans and rolls. Sister brought some cantaloupe and we had fudge rounds for dessert.

After our meal, we all rode in David Hylton's Suburban to Barefoot Landing and walked around there for quite awhile. I went in the had store there, the Carolina Hat Company, and they have the hats like I wear now. The Key West Hat Company at Broadway closed last year. Amy and I had ice cream at the shop we like and we both had a hard time eating it before it melted.

Once we left Barefoot Landing we were all a little hungry but did not want a lot to eat. We talked the Hylton's into TGIFridays and Tennesse Whiskey Cake. Amy and I had a salad and split one of the cakes, it was really good. We left TGIFriday's and went to SteinMart and looked around until the closed at 9pm. We left and went back to camp and went straight to bed, we were all tired.

 

Sunday
This morning we had a light breakfast, just sausage biscuits and sliced apple and strawberries. Afterward, we showered and changed for church. Friendship Baptist Church was full this morning and the Pastor preached from James 1. After the service, we went to Paula Deens new restaurant and ate lunch. We had fried chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes, squash casserole, creamed corn and black eyed peas. We were all very full when we 'waddled out' of the place and I will recommend it to anyone. Amy and I went to Tanger Outlet and shopped around for awhile. After shopping it was after six and raining, so we decided to go see Wonder Woman at the theater. After the movie, we went back to camp and noticed a lot of tents across the road. After looking around more I noticed the familiar setup of a scout camp. I walked across the way and struck up a conversation with the adults and they were a Troop for Statesville NC and was spending the week in Myrtle. I offered them the unused firewood we had and they said they would send a scout over to pick up the firewood in the morning. Amy and I turned in for the night and were exhausted.

 

Monday
I was up early this morning and started packing up the camp. Fortunately, the rain had stopped but the ground was really soaked. I asked Amy is she wanted to walk on the beach and she did, so we drove down and parked. We walked and picked up seashells while watching the sun come up. It was a beautiful sunrise and we enjoyed watching God create artwork in the heavens.

 We shared our breakfast with the Hyltons and it consisted of eggs, bacon, sausage, and rolls. After breakfast, the Hyltons left for home and we continued packing up. A scout from the camp across the road came by and picked up the extra firewood I had offered and he had to come back, after being reprimanded, to say thanks.

After we checked out, we left for Tanger outlet on 501 and shopped there until about 1pm. We ate at Bojangles and left for home at 2pm. We got home with only making one stop at a station in SC and arrived home around 6:30pm.

Mt. Airy N.C.

This was our first Day Trip of 2017 and we had fun. We drove to Mt. Airy N.C. after breakfast on Saturday, April 15th. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive and it is through beautiful farm country. Take 58 to Stuart VA and then get on Rt. 8 South. A few miles out of Stuart you take a right on 103 and that takes you all the way into Mt. Airy.

The first place we visited was the Andy Griffith Museum. It was small but had a lot of artifacts from his shows. I really liked reading a news clipping they had framed on the wall and I even took a picture of it. Outside the museum is a bronze statue of Andy and Opie that was donated by a cable TV channel. Amy and I had our pictures taken with it. In the basement of the building was two huge murals painted on the walls to represent Mayberry. They also had some other artifacts from characters on the show. In another building, they had a room dedicated to Thelma Lou and her career. It takes a little over an hour to go through the museum.

 

       

After we finished touring the museum, we headed over to Main Street. As we were walking along, the 'Deuptys Car' came by and blew his siren, that was cool. The first place we ran into was 'Snappys' and we were able to walk right in and get a seat. If we had waited a few more minutes we would have had to wait in a line. We both ordered the famous pork chop sandwich and it was good. While we were eating I noticed the bird houses that were hanging up and they had wrapped them in Coke Can Siding and I thought that was really ingenious. After we ate, we walked up and down Main and stopped in many shops. Amy purchased a Christmas ornament for the tree and we both ate an ice cream cone as we were leaving. We purchased the ice cream from Opies Candy Store next to Snappys.

 

 

We left around 9am and returned home about 3:30pm. We both had a good time. We will probably visit again without going to the museum, unless they have something special going on. Thanks Mt. Airy for a good day.

Smith Mountain Lake 10/28/2016 (Backpacking Test)

Mailing Address:

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE STATE PARK
1235 STATE PARK RD
HUDDLESTON  VA  24104-9547

Phone Number:

Information:  (540)297-6066

NOTES:

• Site 29 is a good site but all the park in sites are good ones.
• There are no lights so be sure to bring lanterns.
• The tent pads are fine gravel
• There are enough trails there so that you can hike a different one each day for a week. Several of them you would have to drive to the trailhead
• The outdoor recreation area is a short drive away

Friday, October 28, 2016

I started the morning by going to the gym. I wanted to see what my pack weighed and to get a head start on training for the spring. I stepped up on the scales and the read 263 pounds!! I stopped to calculate the weight and then it hit me like a ton of bricks, this is what I weight three years ago when I went to Doctor Millers office. I was carrying 37 pounds on my back and that represents the weight I have lost since July of 2014!! I was ecstatic, to say the least. Well after I got over the excitement of what I had done, I stepped up on the treadmill and started walking. I walked for 24 minutes and I could tell it in my hips. Will need a lot more training before I decided to head out into the woods for two days!!

Well, we left Friday about 3pm and headed to the Lake. I took us about 1 hour and 20 minutes to get there from the house. We checked in at the Visitor Center and it cost us $26 for one night. We drove around and picked the tent site all the way in the bottom of the campground. 

 

We set up our tent and started supper. We had chicken and rice and all w had to do was add water. After waiting 10 minutes we ate the chicken and rice with some french fried onions and sweet tea. Afterwards we had an ice cream sandwich and made smores in the fire.

 

 

We turned in around 9pm and went to sleep. We were both restless during the night but slept OK. Saturday morning I was up at 6am and started a fire so Amy and I could keep warm. I read some of the Minor Prophets, had a cup of coffee and got Amy up around 7am. She had eggs for breakfast and I had oatmeal. 

 

 

 After breakfast we decided to take a hike and we walked 4.3 miles in just over 2 hours. Here are a few pictures of our hike.

  

  

After our hike, I broke camp and then went and took a shower. After Amy had changed we headed to Lynchburg. We picked up Louise and took her out for her 93rd birthday, we ate at Cracker Barrel. While there we were able to see Nicole for a bit and that was great. 

 

Myrtle Beach KOA, September 16-18, 2016

Myrtle Beach KOA, September 16-18, 2016

Friday 16th

   We left home around 1pm and drove to Rockingham to fill up our gas tank and empty our bladder. This time we came in on 501/22/31 and was at Walmart at 5:25pm. We picked up a few groceries and headed to KOA to check in.

   After unpacking the car, Amy was ready for the beach. We walked to the beach and watched the ocean for a few minutes and then headed back to cabin.

   For supper we had spaghetti, real fries and garlic toast. After we cleaned up Amy helped me hang the tarp. This is a new 11'*11' that I picked up at Harbor Freight.

   We started a fire and started a LIVE broadcast over Facebook, that was fun. We then made some smores and they were good. Afterwards I cleaned up for the night and Amy read a local paper.

  

Saturday 17th

   Coffee first thing this morning. Then I got Amy up and we took a walk along the beach. We walked for about 3 miles and we were both hungry when we got back.

   I made scrambled eggs with bacon, sweet potato hashbrowns and toast. After breakfast I we showered and changed. Then we went bowling and that was cool. After bowling we came back and rested awhile.

   We then took another walk, this time we went north. We walked up to the Bowery and eat ice cream at Peaches Corner, it was good. My knee was hurting so I used the Uber app to get us a ride back to the campground.

   We thought we would go see a movie (Sully) but it was sold out. We then went to Victoria's Secret and Amy picked up some lotion at no charge.

   Stopped by Walmart and got hot dog buns then started supper back at camp. We had hit dogs, potato salad and cole slaw.

   After supper we played putt putt at Jungle Golf Amy won.

  

Sunday 18th

   Up early this morning, lots to do. I cooked breakfast this morning and Amy washed dishes. We had scrambled eggs, sausage, pancakes and apple butter. While Amy washed dishes I started taking down camp. Folded our new tarp, which worked nicely, and it is a 11 x 11 tarp. I then packed the camp bag

• two folding camp chairs
• 1- 11'x11' tarp
• 4 spools of rope for tarp
• 1 small extension cord
• 1 outdoor extension cord with 6 outlets on it
• 1 queen size air mattress
• 1 air pump for mattress
• Fire poker and shovel
• 2 seat cushions

   After the dishes were done I started on the kitchen box and after I had it all nicely packed it was time to remove the strap that holds it to the table. Well I had put the cast iron pot on the table part of the box and when I removed the strap it toppled over onto the ground. The only thing that had broken was the two coffee mugs we had purchased last year. Well we repacked it and started putting the stuff in the trunk.

   After we got everything but suitcases packed we showered and changed for church. We put suitcases in car and went to the office and checked out. We had time so we decided to go to Dunkin Donuts for coffee and of course a donut. While we were there Amy and I saw the news about the terrorist bombings in NY and NJ. We did not know anything about it since we had not TV or radio at the campsite. Afterwards we went to morning service at Friendship Baptist Church on 6th South Street and the pastor preached a message on Psalms 122:1 about being at the house of God.

   After service we headed to 21st North and ate lunch at River City Cafe. One of Amys relatives had bragged about the place and she said it had the best burgers in town but that it looked like a shack. She was right on both counts. The place looked really run down but in reality it was very clean and efficiently run. The burgers were really good as well.

  

   We left there and headed for home. We came in and left this time on Route 22 and it was a much easier drive and cuts 10 minutes off the drive time.  On the way home we stopped at Sparkys (overpriced) and McArthurs Farms. McArthurs Farms was really nice and prices were OK. In Rockingham we had to stop at the BP instead of the Citgo because Citgo was out of gas. The BP was OK but the bathrooms were not as nice. Met a nice Sheriff Officer at the BP that was telling me to be careful heading home.