Our next stop was Claytor Lake State Park. We have camped there several times and enjoyed every one of our visits. On our last morning I saw about 8 deer running through the woods as Blondie and I walked on one of the several hiking trails.
Early morning at the Claytor Lake Marina
Claytor Lake Marina
Swimming beach at Claytor Lake State Park
Swim platform at Claytor Lake State Park
Moon rising through the trees
The Redbuds were blooming all through the woods in the park.
Our mountain journey continued at Virginia’s Natural Bridge where we walked along the nature trail beside Cedar Creek to the Natural Bridge and Lace Falls. The bridge and trail are privately owned and beautifully maintained.
The arch is 215 feet high, 55 feet higher than Niagara Falls. It is 40 feet thick, 100 feet wide, and is 90 feet between the walls. Highway 11 crosses over the bridge.
George Washington surveyed the bridge and the surrounding area in 1750. What is believed to be his initials can be seen high up on one of the walls.
The warm, sunny spring day was perfect for walking along the nature trail.
Natural Bridge, Virginia
Small waterfall beside the trail at Natural Bridge, Virginia
The trail next to Cedar Creek
Blondie got to play in the creek
The trail ends at beautiful Lace Waterfall
The Lost River flowing from the mountain
Another small waterfall in the creek
Relaxing at Lace Waterfall
View of the bridge as we returned from our hike
Waterfall on Cedar Creek
Survey Marker with George Washington’s initials from 1750
Wildflowers were blooming all along the trail
I think this is Dewberry
Moss surrounds this wildflower growing in the rock wall
Perriwinkle
Daffodil beside the trail
Yellow wildflower beside the trail
Wildflowers beside the trail
We camped for 2 nights at the Natural Bridge KOA, about 5 miles from the Natural Bridge.
Many of us who grew up in the 50’s and 60’s have fond memories of watching The Andy Griffith Show. I loved watching Andy and Opie walking down the path with their fishing poles at the beginning of each of the older episodes. It was this image that was chosen for a statue in Mount Airy, North Carolina.
Mount Airy is the birthplace of Andy Griffith. A walk down Main Street is like walking through the fictional town of Mayberry. Just a few blocks from Floyd’s Barber Shop you can visit Wally’s Service Station and the Mayberry Courthouse.
After breakfast at the Snappy lunch (famous for their pork chop sandwich) we visited the Andy Griffith museum which contains exhibits from Andy’s long acting career. In addition to playing Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry, he was in several movies and later played TV’s Matlock. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2005.
Andy and Opie on the water tower in Mount Airy, NC
Downtown Mount Airy, NC
Old Menu at the Snappy Lunch in Mt. Airy, NC
Snappy Lunch in Mount Airy, NC
Andy Griffith Statue in Mount Airy, NC
The Andy Griffith Show
After the museum we walked through an exhibit about Chang and Eng Bunker, Siamese twins who settled in the area and raised their families in the 1800’s. We couldn’t leave town without stopping at Wally’s Service Station for a look around. After driving by Andy Griffith’s home place we drove north on Highway 52 for a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Wally’s Service Station in Mount Airy, NC
Goober Says “Hey”
Darlin Truck in Mount Airy, NC
Goober says “Hey!”
Mayberry Courthouse
Andy Griffith’s Home Place in Mount Airy, NC
We turned onto the Blue Ridge Parkway at Mile Marker 199 in Fancy Gap, Virginia and continued going north. After stopping to take a short hike we arrived at Mabry Mill to discover that none of the facilities on the parkway are open until May 1. No worries. I was able to take pictures from the parking lot.
Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
Pilot Mountain from the Blue Ridge Parkway
Getting ready for a hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Spring trees on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
Stream on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
At the Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
We spent 2 nights at the Mayberry Campground in Mount Airy.
Our first stop on our spring road trip was in Appling, Georgia at one of the Corps of Engineers Campgrounds on the shore of J Strom Thurmond Lake. For three nights we enjoyed the peace and tranquility of our lake front campsite.
Looking at Winfield Campground Site 10 from the lake
View of J Strom Thurmond Lake from Site 10 at Winfield Campground
The lake was just a few steps from our campsite
When it is springtime in Georgia the Wild Dogwoods and Carolina Jasmine add splashes of white and yellow throughout the woods.
Wild Dogwoods
Wild Dogwood
Carolina Jasmine drapes many of the trees
Wild dogwoods bloomed all through the woods
A small Wild Dogwood
Carolina Jasmine was in full bloom
We took a short drive to Harlem, Georgia to visit the birthplace of Oliver Hardy. He was born there in 1892 and moved to Milledgeville, Georgia with his mother after his father died. He attended the Military College of Georgia there and the University of Georgia for a short time. There are images of him all through town and in October the whole town celebrates with a Laurel and Hardy Festival.
Oliver Norvell Hardy was born in Harlem, Georgia in 1892
Even the water tower in Harlem honors Oliver Hardy
Laurel and Hardy Museum at Harlem, Georgia
One of the many displays in the museum
Mural of Laural and Hardy in Harlem, Georgia
Mural of Laural and Hardy in Harlem, Georgia
On Saturday we took a drive to Modoc, South Carolina to meet with friends Bill and Carol who are work campers there. We had a great time catching up with them and making some new RV friends.
After spending the winter catching up with chores at home and dreaming about wandering, we made our maiden voyage of 2014 just one state over from Georgia to South Carolina.
We started our short trip with 3 nights in Columbia watching our grandson play in a soccer tournament. It was so much fun to watch him play and cheer from the sidelines with his parents and sister.
On our way home we spent a rainy night at Hunting Island State Park. Our first visit there was over 30 years ago in our tent camping days when our kids were little. We have been wanting to return there ever since we got the fifth wheel. Hunting Island is located about 42 miles from I-95 at the end of Hwy 21. The drive takes you through beautiful salt marshes, across rivers and sounds, and through several towns including Beaufort (if you are driving a big rig, take the truck route instead of going through downtown Beaufort).
The campground has about 200 sites, some of them right next to the beach. Our site was located in a loop with the sites surrounded by tall trees and palmettos. A short walk from the RV took us to the dog friendly beach in front of the campground.
The rain let up a little so we drove to the lighthouse to explore. The Hunting Island Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in South Carolina accessible to the public. A short path in front of the lighthouse leads to the beach.
The Hunting Island, SC Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in South Carolina which is open to the public
Hunting Island, SC Lighthouse
Beach in front of the Hunting Island, SC Lighthouse
Dunes in front of the Hunting Island, SC Lighthouse
The Beach at Hunting Island State Park Campground, SC
A narrow paved road winds through the campground at Hunting Island State Park, SC
Wandering Dawgs 