Mount Airy, NC

What can one say, when one has been in Andy Griffith land..LOL.. Mt Airy is a small town at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The show Mayberry RFD, was based on this town, as Andy grew up here, it is really quite a hoot!!!! They have all the shops and eateries that were on the show, and many touristy shops where all sorts of memorabilia can be purchased for a price..but of course!!!!! Mike and I and the pups took a stroll along main street and wandered into the "Old North State Winery", which is a working winery in the middle of town. They have a restaurant upstairs, "Scuppernongs", where we had lunch and, yours truly had to do a wine tasting!!!!! Lunch was excellent and they allowed the pups to join us at our table..(in their doggie coach). Saturday took us on a ride to find the "Shelton Vineyards" ( are you getting a trend here..LOL).
What a beautiful spot, the Vineyard opened in 1999, and the area is just amazing. Mike and I enjoyed a wine tasting, and we are now the proud owners of a case of mixed "Shelton Wines", some red, some white. After all we are equal opportunity wine drinkers..:).
Ah, the "Mayberry Campground", what can I say, Mike put me in the middle of a field AGAIN !!!!! But no banjo's, so that was a relief. Actually it's not a bad spot, and it is on the site of the original house where Eng and Chang Bunker, ( the Siamese Twins) lived. The house is still standing and we met one of Eng's great granddaughters. Very nice people and the Campground is still a work in progress.
We are off this morning to Ft. Chiswell, VA...and the adventure continues.
From the road,
Jan and Mike

Meet our traveling Companions

I know, Mike and I have mentioned "the pups", and "the cat" in many of our blogs. We would like to introduce them to everyone. We have Sydney the wonder dog...Misty the pup who could... and of course Princess Dusty, the cat who rules !!!!! Sydney is a longhaired Doxie/Chihuahua mix, who was a rescue. When he joined our family, he wieghed a mere 1 lb 3 oz. Today he is 6 months old and his fighting wieght is 3 lb 8 oz!!!!!!!!!!!! Next is Misty, she is a Purebred longhaired Piebald Doxie. Misty will be 4 months old on July 3rd, she believes she is Sydney's BIG sister and watches his back...Dusty is a grey Barn cat, she has been with us for 7 years, and hasn't decided if she likes having to share her home. At anytime you can find, the dogs rough housing, Dusty swatting the annoying beasts or Mike and I, smiling at the antics. All have been traveling well and enjoying all the new smells and views.

Hope all have enjoyed meeting our family.

From the road

Jan and Mike

Asheville,NC

We spent the last 5 days at Wilson's RV Campground in Asheville. Now Wilson's is not what you (or I) would call a state of the art stop. But the Park backs onto the Broad River, and is a nice place to sit and relax, while watching the kayak's and canoes roll by. No stop in Asheville would be complete without a trip downtown and to the Biltmore area. Mike and I along with the pups, took a walk around the area (Dusty cat opted to stay in the air conditioning..now that's one smart cat!!!). We took off for a day trip to Sheffield Mines, so I could find some more gems, in the car went Mike and I along with the pups, after finding the Mine (not an easy task), we were told there was a 3 hour wait!!!!!!!!..suggest if anyone decides to go,be sure to arrive at 10 am when they open. So not being ones to be put off, we got back on the road and traveled to Cherokee,NC.

Alright now, in the middle of Cherokee, there is a CASINO!!!!!!!!!!!...Harrah's Cherokee, beautiful hotel and great casino. While Mike (bless his heart) entertained the pups, yours truly hit the slot machines. Actually walked away with $300.00!!!!!!! On the ride back to Asheville we took the Blue Ridge Parkway, what an incredible drive. The mountains and the valleys are breathtaking, and the views from the overlooks are amazing. Next day we were off to Black Mountain,NC. A great stop, an old town with great shops, and old architecture. The town is very pet friendly and we actually had lunch , with the pups sitting next to us.

We left Asheville this morning and are in Mt Airy, NC. Tomorrow MAYBERRY!!!!!!!!!!!

From the road

Jan and Mike

Camp Freightliner Gaffney, SC

We spent two days at the Freightliner Service Facility in Gaffney, SC. While there, the motorhome received its first service and Mike attended Camp Freightliner on both days. This was a great experience. It is an intensive and in depth learning experience, and one I highly recommend for anyone that has a motorhome built on a Freighliner chassis. Mike Cody, the instructor for Freightliner, knows the ins and outs of these pieces of equipment and shares it all with the class. Not only is Mike Cody a wealth of knowledge but he is also a great person to be with. The class costs $100.00 but they give you a great lunch each day and in the evening of the first day they invite you and all in your party to a great BBQ dinner catered at the training facility. The additional manual given to each attendee is excellent and follows the course as taught. In addition Mike Cody has a CD that he gives to each attendee that is specific to their chassis that has more information than you ever thought you would want to know.
From the road
Jan and Mike

Gaffney, SC

We have been in Gaffney,SC to get the coach serviced and for Mike to take a course at Frieghtliner. The only tourist attraction in Gaffney is the Peachoid, now what might that be you ask....well, it is a water tower painted to look like a Peach !!!!! We did hit some good eating places, of course we had to try "Harold's" in downtown Gaffney, we had seen it on "Diners,Drive-ins and Dives". It was very good and quite a hoot, its part restaurant, part Bar, part poolhall. The other stop was incredible, "the Highway 11 Restaurant is in Chesnee,SC. Approximately 6 miles West of the Frieghtliner Service area. The food is excellent and portions enormous, the service friendly and with a great southern smile. Gaffney is a stop along the road, not really a destination, however, most of us stop here for service at Frieghtliner ...so we will be back next year or so, to see our friendly service people and eat at Highway 11 once again.

Tomorrow we are off to Asheville, NC...

On the road

Jan and Mike

Jan and Mike

Dahlonega Georgia

We have spent this past week at the Etowah River Campgrounds in Dahlonega Georgia. The area is in the mountains of Georgia and the views are amazing. Dahlonega is the site of the first American Gold Rush in the 1800's and the main square hosts the Gold Mine Museum, the building is the oldest Courthouse in Georgia and has been maintained by the historic society. This is true small town Americana, the people are friendly and the shops and restaurants are wonderful. However, after the sun goes down, you can hear the Banjo's..and Deliverance seems a reality not a movie..On each Saturday between May and November, the town square hosts an Appalachian Jam Fest, musicians gather and play for the fun and entertainment of anyone who cares to gather. We also went Gold and Gem hunting at Crissons Gold Mine. We found some Gold,which was really cool and actually found gems, I am the proud owner of a Garnet ring, Amythest ring and a Sapphire pendant,which are being set by Mountain View Gems. This is also a great stop along the road. We met some great people and over this past weekend met a young couple from Boca Rotan. Brad and Hannah, they were tenting along the river and just enjoying themselves and the area. Tomorrow morning we are on the road again, heading to Gaffney SC and another adventure.
From the road
Jan and Mike

On the road

Hi all,
Well we finally made it out of Florida, but not without a first day disaster. As we were driving along nice nice,on interstate 295 in Jacksonville, we were rear ended, with such force, that the rear end of the Saturn is mangled and the tow bar looked like a piece of spaghetti. The guy that hit us was going about 75 on the bridge and BENT down to pick up a bottle of water. Needless to say, it wasn't a great day. We ended up spending the night in a parking lot at Camping World,and this morning had the tow bar replaced. The Saturn is drivable, but we can't open the hatch at all. Tonight we are in Perry Georgia, hooked up and comfortable, the dogs and cat are doing good, and other than some whining they are getting used to living on the road. We plan to head out tomorrow to Delonehga Georgia, where I plan to find enough Gold and gems to keep us going..LOL..
Oh well it is an adventure, and even with a few oops along the way, we plan to enjoy ourselves.
more to follow...hope everyone is well.
On The Road
Jan and Mike