Stone Mountain State Park NC - Days 22-28

Day 22 – Tuesday April 19, 2016 Today was our day off so we drove to Elkin for breakfast at McDonald's. While there we used their WiFi to catch up this blog and catch up on other internet needs. Later we drove to the Historic Downtown area to checkout the area. We browse several Antique shops including the Elkin Antiques Collectible Mall. Just out of the downtown area there were some large closed furniture and textile factories. We saw a brochure for a brick oven pizza place and planned to eat lunch there but they are closed for lunch the first part of the week, so we went to Royall's Soda Shop. Lena got a hamburger and I ordered two of what the menu called their Famous Hot Dogs all the way except for slaw. I didn't see what made them “famous”. They came with the slaw I didn't want and the wieners and chili were just warm not hot as expected of they had just come off the grill. But rather than complain I ate them.

On the way out of town we stopped at Walmart for a few groceries. Some of you may have seen the You Tube videos or photos that are emailed around the internet of “the people of Walmart”. Well we saw one today. Rather than describe what we saw, let me just saw the man needed a “plummers's shirt” really bad..

We returned to the campground and read for a couple hours and decided to ride around the campground to see if the maintenance crew had repaired to water leak in loop B. They had fixed it and are waiting to cover up the hole to see if it leaks anymore. We stopped and talked to some of the campers as we made our way around.

We have seen and or talked to campers in the campground from several states including North and South Carolina, Ohio, New Jersey, Missouri, Florida, Virginia, New York, California, Indiana, Minnesota, Vermont, Connecticut, Washington and others. Also England, Toronto, Ontario and Nova Scotia Canada.

Day 23 – Wednesday April 20, 2016 Our second day off so we had a late breakfast and drove to the lower parking lot to hike up to Stone Mountain Summit from the other direction. We hiked to the summit last Wednesday from the upper parking lot. We are trying to hike all the trails so we can better explain the trails when we are asked about them when we work in the Visitor's Center on the weekends.

This was much more strenuous of a hike than from the other direction. The climb was steeper so there were lots of steps but we made it in an hour. We had a snack when we got to the summit before heading back down. I counted 620 steps – not all in one place but were built in areas that were steep to help with the climb up and to help with erosion of the trail.

A few of the 620

Lena making her way to the top

More steps

View across the mountain

View from the Summit of Stone Mountain

When we got back to the parking lot a man that passed us on the trail was a little confused as to which parking lot he was in. He thought the trail was taking him back to where he had parked his car, which was in the upper parking lot. We offered him a ride since we were going right by there on our way to the campground. He gladly accepted.

After resting for a short while we decided to go to Sparta and eat at Brown's Restaurant. We usually eat there at least one time while in the area. It is always good. When we left the parking lot we spotted another coffee shop on a side street called Sparky's with a sign stating they had the “Best Coffee You Have Ever Tasted”. So we decided to give them a try. After trying it we decided they came up with that slogan and not their customers. I asked for a double shot of espresso and I could barely taste any coffee. Lena said hers had no coffee taste and was barely warm. Mine was so hot I could not hold the cup until it cooled off some. Both coffees were made at the same time by the same person. We overheard him telling some ladies in the shop that he had worked in coffee shops for years and also had a college degree in Pre-Law. We think maybe he needs to finish his law degree and try that for an occupation.

Would you take driving lessons with this instructor

Woodruff Primitive Baptist Church near Sparta NC

Near Sparta NC

Closer view

Blueberry and Cherry Pie from Mt Airy NC

Campground view from site 90

Some of you may have seen/heard about the new trend called Tiny Houses. These are complete houses that are only a few hundred square feet. About 7PM a camper from North Dakota stopped at the contact station to check in pulling a Tiny House on wheels. I asked him about it and he said it was a “hellva dog house”.

Day 24 – Thursday April 21, 2016 Back to our normal routine today. We had several reservations coming today so we put out the signs and cleaned and raked all the sites that needed it. We had to use my power pack to jump start another campers car this morning.

We had a light rain shower before dawn so everything was spotted today from the rain and pollen that is covering everything.

We rode through the campground several times and cleaned a few ore sites that vacated during the day. The Tiny House got a lot of curious looks and questions of the owners.

We called our oldest grandson to wish him a Happy 10^th Birthday.

Day 25 – Friday April 22, 2016 We awoke to rain this morning. We had lots of reservation signs to put out this morning so when the rain stopped about 9AM we began and worked until after 11AM cleaning and raking sites. We returned to our site, did some reading, eating and I napped for awhile. It rained off and on until about 4PM. We picked up the reservation signs for those that had came in today before we quit for the day to lighten our work for tomorrow. There are only 3 sites of the 88 that are not reserved or occupied for tonight.

The rain has washed the pollen off everything at least for today. Most the trees have leafed out now so the pollen is falling. We haven't seen the deer in several days, I guess they have taken a few days off.

Day 26 – Saturday April 23, 2016 We had about a dozen reservation signs to put put out and a few sites to clean and rake. As we were making our rounds we were stopped at site 58 by the camper that had just arrived. He did not have any power on his site so we reported that and a problem with a water hydrant on 57 to the maintenance crew.

Later I went to clean/rake one site that had just been vacated and I knew the person that had it reserved for tonight was already in the park. When I got to the site the man in the site next to it and his two young daughters were looking down into the fire pit on the site I was coming to clean. I got my trash bucket and grabber and walked over to the pit and the campers that had just departed had left 6-8 grocery bags of dog “pooh” in the fire pit. The man was explaining to his daughters how that was not good camper ediquite. The youngest girl (about 6) said “well it is not the dogs fault they just can't hold it”. How true. The campers drive right by the trash dumpsters on their way out of the campground and are supposed to dispose of their own trash.

Just before we went to the Visitor's Center to relieve Wilma for lunch an ambulance came in the park running lights and siren. A lady hiking one of the trails had broken her ankle. About 2 hours later another ambulance came in the park running lights and siren. A girl had fallen on one of the trails and was unconscious.

It was really windy this afternoon and several tents and canopies were blown down. I had planned to cook over a campfire but decided not to due to the wind. There are a lot of dry leaves around the perimeter of our site and I didn't want to cause a fire.

When I was making my last pass through the campground one of the campers had left his lights on on his motorhome and drained his battery so I got my power pack out again and gave him a jump start. This makes 3 jump starts in the last week.

Day 27 – Sunday April 24, 2016 After breakfast we put out the reservation signs and cleaned/raked a few sites before we had to go to the Visitor's Center to relieve Wilma during her lunch hour. We answered visitor's questions and sold a few items then returned to our site for a quick lunch. Then we clean/raked the reserved sites that had been vacated before the new arrivals came in. It was such a nice day we worked longer than we planned to. We had raked/cleaned 27 sites before we quite.

After returning to our site I started a campfire and got our small Dutch Oven out and cooked some smoked sausage, potatoes, squash, onions and zucchini over the fire.

Day 28 – Monday April 25, 2016 We only 5 reservations coming in today so we put out the signs and raked/cleaned a few sites. The maintenance crew was also out raking sites and cleaning the fire pits. We had cleaned so many yesterday it didn't take long to finish up. We had a fairly easy day. A few campers departed today so we cleaned those sites and they departed.

We relocated the Host wood pile father away from the fire pit and placed the wood between two trees to make the site look neater. And we added more rocks to the rock lined path down to the street toward the contact station that I had started last year.

Our Volunteer Campground Host Site

This was our last work day. The weather has been really nice the last few days and we have really enjoyed our month here. We enjoyed our time here last March but like April better and the new setup that is in place now. We hope to get invited back next year. Together we have volunteered 123.5 hours during the month. We will depart for home on Wednesday and a new campground host couple we start Thursday.  

Stone Mountain State Park NC - Days 15-21

Day 15 – Tuesday April 12, 2016 Today was our day off so we drove to Sparta to visit Backwoods Coffee Shop for a coffee and to use their WiFi. After catching up on all our Internet needs we walked across the street to the Alleghany Arts and Craft Co-op. This is a Co-op store where the artisans from the area sell their merchandise. We always like to browse the store and talk to the Co-op member that is operating the store The members takes turns operating the store for a day. If you are in the area and like quality hand made products this is a good place to shop. Lena bought a set of ear rings for a birthday present for our daughter-in-law. Then we walked down the street to the local hardware store to browse it. This is a really nice small town hardware store with a large variety of products. Not exactly like old time hardware stores but different than a Lowes or Home Depot.

The lady in the Co-op store recommended the Baywood Boys Restaurant across the street from the Co-op for good eastern style BBQ pork so we decided to try it for lunch. I ordered a Beef Brisket sandwich with baked sweet potato and Lena ordered the BBQ pork dinner that comes with three sides. One side was a salad that was as large as most salads you get when you just order a salad by itself. The plate looked like there was a half pound of BBQ on it. I ate my sandwich and some of the BBQ pork, Lena ate all she wanted and she filled a carry out plate with the remainder – enough for another meal. The BBQ was really good. They have several sauces you can choose from

The next stop was the Alleghany Meat Market to get some baby back ribs to cook in the dutch oven. One of the ladies at the park told us about the meat market. Then on to Lowes Food store for a few groceries before returning to the campground.

Day 16 – Wednesday April 13, 2016 We were off again today, so after breakfast we did some exploring of some of the back roads in the area. There are lot of cattle in the area grazing on green rolling hills. We drove up to Camp Cheerio which is a TMCA facility which overlooks part of Stone Mountain State Park. We can see some of the buildings from the park. After a couple hours of exploring we were getting hungry so we drove on to Sparta of a mushroom swiss burger at Hardees. We checked out a few more side roads and drove a few miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way back to the park.

After getting back to the campground I rode my bicycle around the campground before settling down to read for awhile.

Day 17 – Thursday April 14, 2016 We did our normal routine of having breakfast and then placing the reservation signs on the reserved sites and cleaning the sites that had been vacated. The weekend “rush” begins today. After lunch we rode through the campground a few more times and cleaned sites that had been vacated since this morning and picked up any trash we saw on the streets. For the most part the campers don't leave much trash on their sites. Sometimes there will be metal cans in the fire pits (We don't understand why people think a metal can is going to burn in the fire pit), a few pieces of small trash and almost always there will be a bread tie on the ground around the picnic tables. The thing that really makes us wonder about people is why they will set a hot cooking pot on the plastic tables. The tables at the sites are made of “2” x 6” boards made from recycled plastic. And several have large round melted places where hot cooking pots have been set on the tables.

About 6PM some friends of ours from Goldsboro checked in to site 51. We stopped by for a quick chat while they were setting up.

Day 18 – Friday April 15, 2016 Lots of campers coming in today so we had breakfast and put out about 50 reservation signs and got the sites cleaned and raked those that needed it and checked the bathhouses for supplies and maintenance issues. One of the campers told us about a shower head that was broke off in the ladies shower so we reported that to the maintenance staff.

About 4PM I started cooking my “almost world famous” ribs in the Dutch Oven. It takes 2 hours, so while they were cooking I did a ride through the campground while Lena prepared some side dishes for supper. Our friends came over about 6PM and we had a good supper. They had picked up a really nice blueberry and cherry pie for dessert from a shop in Sparta. We had that with coffee later. Yummy. The ribs were good but they were not as tender as the one we have been getting from Walmart. Based on the size of the bone I think these were from an older pig/hog. But they were still good.

Day 19 – Saturday April 16, 2016 We had breakfast and put out the reservation signs for today and cleaned and raked several sites before going to the Visitor's Center to work from Noon to 1PM. We returned to our site and had lunch. Then rode through the campground and cleaned and raked the few sites that had been vacated. The weather today was really nice.

Day 20 – Sunday April 17, 2016 After breakfast we put out the reservation signs and cleaned and raked some of the vacated sites. Most everyone will be leaving today. As we were making our rounds one of the campers stopped us and asked for help getting his car started. His battery was dead. I got the jump starter I purchased last year that I have never used and got his car started. This is a device that is about 4” x 6” x 1” that amazingly carries enough power to jump start a vehicle.

We went the Visitor's Center from Noon to 1PM to work before returning to the campground to cook a steak for lunch. About 2:45PM we checked the restrooms and found a problem in the loop A women's restroom that we reported to the maintenance staff and then started cleaning and raking the sites that had been vacated since this morning that were reserved for tonight. During that time the maintenance staff found a bad underground water leak in loop B. They decided to close that section down so it could be repaired tomorrow so we assisted getting 3 campers moved to vacant sites.

Finally we got a chance to go back to our site and relax and read for awhile. The weather today was the best we have had since getting here. I was able to wear a short sleeve shirt for the first time.

Day 21 – Monday April 18, 2016 After breakfast we put out the 7 reservation signs for today and helped the maintenance staff rake and clean sites. We had done so many yesterday there were not many to do. We went down to the 4 group sites to clean them. There were probably close to 100 people, including lots of kids, on the group sites this weekend and we were surprised we found less than a palm full of trash. Looks like the adults are training the kids correctly. Several times during the day as campers departed we cleaned and raked those sites.

On our last pass through the campground we met two couples from just a few mile from our home. Today was the warmest day since we have been here. I saw one man wearing shorts and no shirt laying out sunning and 9 days ago we had snow on the ground

Stone Mountain State Park NC - Days 8-14

Day 8 – Tuesday April 5, 2016 It was a cool 36 degrees when we got up. Today was our day off so we drove to Wilksboro for breakfast. Then we went to check out a campground in the area operated by Bureau of Land Management but we discovered it does not open until April 15^th. They have three that are located on the banks of the W. Kerr Scott Reservoir. This is the smaller one so they must not need it open as early as the others. From there we stopped at Wal-Mart to stock up on groceries.

We decided to go back via Elkin and stop at Cracker Barrel for lunch before returning to the park. Later in the day we walked around the campground. Last year we saw lots of deer in the campground but have only seen two as of today on our walk. I asked Ranger Hicks if she had given the deer the month of April off. She said she just had not let them out of their pen yet. (a joke)

Day 9 - Wednesday April 6, 2016 We were off again today so we relaxed and did some reading in the morning. About 2 PM we hiked up the Stone Mountain Loop Trail to the summit of the mountain. It was 3.5 miles round trip with some really nice views out across the mountain. The elevation at the summit is 2305 feet above sea level.

Old Cabin Chimney

Stone Mountain Summit

Stone Mountain Summit

The dogwood trees are just beginning to bloom here in the park and the other trees like maple and oak are just beginning to form their leaves. After returning to the car we drove through the park to the old Baptist Church and back. There were several people fishing in the creeks. We began to see deer and one turkey on the way back. By the time we had rode around the campground we had seen 31 deer and the one turkey. I guess Ranger Hicks decided to turn the deer out.

Day 10 – Thursday April 7, 2016 It rained a lot last night but the sun is out so it should be a nice day. We only have 8 reservations coming in today but will probably have some drive ups. It was a quite day for us. We did our normal routine of putting out the few reservation signs for today, checking for supplies in the bathhouses, cleaning a few sites, etc. The wind blew really hard later in the day. I worked on my crafts inside the motorhome. We did have a few drive ups for the campground.

Day 11 – Friday April 8, 2016 It was cold and windy again this morning. After breakfast I got the reservation list and we put them on the reserved sites, cleaned those that needed it and reported a problem with a water hydrant to the maintenance people. We have 40 reservations tonight plus those already here and what drive ups we will have. After lunch we checked and cleaned the sites that were vacated this morning, talked to some of the campers and then gassed up the golf cart. After supper I attended a Raptors program in loop A that was presented by a man from a nearby town. He had a Harris Hawk and talked about how the bird hunts and how to keep raptors.

Day 12 – Saturday April 9, 2016 We awoke this morning to 35 degrees and snow on the ground. At 8:15AM the sun is out and it is still snowing. We can look across the campground up the side of the mountain and the snow is just fogging down. I feel for the people here in tents. I hope they have good sleeping bags. The snow stopped about 9AM but the wind was still blowing over 10mph.

After breakfast we put out the reservation signs and then at noon we relieved Wilma at the Visitor's Center during her lunch hour. Even with the cold windy weather there were several people out hiking the trails. Later in the day we rode through the campground and checked the vacated sites and pulled the reservation signs for those that had arrived. Lena spotted a hawk in a tree in front of our site that set in the tree for several hours and occasionally groomed itself.

Day 13 – Sunday April 10, 2016 It was 31 degrees when we got up but the sun was out and the wind was not blowing so it looks like a better day weather wise. There were several here last night in tents – burrr.

After breakfast we did our morning routine in the campground before relieving Wilma in the Visitor's Center for her lunch hour. After returning to our site and having lunch we went to clean sites and pick up site tags of the campers that had departed. There was a lady on one site (traveling alone) that was having have trouble getting her water hooked up so we stopped to help her. She could not get the quick-disconnect off her water line inlet. She had just purchased the class B (van style) motor home and this was her first trip with it. After getting the water hooked up she still could not get water to her sink. I went inside and after checking everything I discovered the aerator on the sink faucet was clogged up and stopping the water flow. She thanked us for our help and we finished our duties in the campground and returned to our motor home to do some reading. It is amazing how much nicer the weather was today than yesterday – warm sunshine and no wind.

I made one more pass through the campground at 6PM before calling it a day.

Day 14 – Monday April 11, 2016 I got the reservation list and after breakfast we put out the signs on the sites and cleaned and raked several sites. The maintenance staff was also out raking sites and cleaning the fire pits. We had raked so many sites yesterday that it did not take long to finish all the sites.

Before I grilled chicken for lunch I went back around the campground to clean a few sites that were vacated this morning. I talked to a camper that had been a volunteer campground host here a few years ago before his wife developed Alzheimer disease. I reported another water hydrant that needed repairs.

After lunch I built a campfire so I could cook some cinnamon rolls in my small cast iron dutch oven. For my first attempt to do this they were good except I got the bottoms to hot. I need to move the grate up higher next time.

We did a couple more trip through the campground before calling it a day.

Stone Mountain State Park NC - Days 1-7

Day 1 – Tuesday March 29, 2016 We departed at 7:45AM for Stone Mountain State Park near Roaring Gap, NC. We will be working for the month of April as the Volunteer Campground Host, like we did last year for the month of March.

We stopped in Wallace to fuel up and get some breakfast before continuing on our way. Everything was just fine until 12:05PM about 2 miles West of Greensboro NC on I40 when the right front tire exploded. It sounded like a shotgun going off. We were in the right lane so I was able to pull over quickly to the emergency lane. I quickly got out and set up emergency cones and a reflective emergency triangle and then called our roadside assistance company, Coach Net, to get someone to bring us a tire and install it. By 2:30PM we had a new tire installed but when the service man got the old tire off we discovered the brake air line for that wheel was also broke. That required another call to Coach Net to have a second service man dispatched to get a replacement air line. It was 5:45PM before the second service man arrived. He quickly removed the broke line and took it with him to get a replacement. He returned and had the new line installed by 6:30PM so we got on our way.

View when we stopped

After getting tire off tie rod

We were told by the service company that they could crimp the broke air line and we could drive on to Winston-Salem to one of their shops there. The only problem would be not having brakes on that wheel. I did not feel comfortable doing that so we chose to wait and get repaired on site. I didn't know when I made that decision that we were third in line for the service man and it would be over 3 hours before he could get there. But everything considered we were fortunate to not have this problem in a remote area and also we had a good place to pull off and the blown tire was on the side to allow the service man to work away from the traffic.

Broke brake air line

If you don't realize how many 18 wheelers travel I40 outside Greensboro sit about 3 feet off the travel lane for over 6 hours and you will know. It seemed like one pasted every couple of seconds.

We arrived at Stone Mountain State Park Campground at 8PM and quickly got set up just as the last rays of daylight was fading away.

Day 2 – Wednesday March 30, 2016 After breakfast we went to the visitor's center/office to meet Ranger Hicks to get the keys we needed and get an update on the changes in our duties from last year. The park had hired some more help to operate the Contact Station were we worked last year from 4:30PM until 1 hour before park closing but the person quit after one day so she asked us to operate the Contact Station tonight. They have a new person starting tomorrow. We worked until 8:15PM checking in campers, selling firewood, ice and camper store items.

Day 3 – Thursday March 31, 2016 I grilled bacon for breakfast and from 10AM until noon we cleaned sites, talked to some of the campers and hung reserved signs on the 13 sites that were reserved for tonight. Having a park employee in the contact station will cut down the hours we have to work and allow us more time out in the campground. We are thinking we like the new procedures. It rained quite a bit during the night.

Day 4 – Friday April 1, 2016 After breakfast I got the list of reservations for campers coming in today. There were 54 on the list. We hung the reserved signs on the sites, removed those from yesterday and cleaned the sites that needed it. After lunch we did a restroom check for supplies and maintenance issues. I found a problem with a light so we meet Ranger Hicks at the contact station so she could call the maintenance crew. Later we rode through the campground a couple of times and stopped and talked to some of the campers, answered questions, etc. I talked to a couple of campers that had been fishing in the streams here in the park and they had caught several fish. There were several young children out enjoying their push scooters and other toys. We got another light rain shower during the night. The campground is full tonight.

Day 5 – Saturday April 2, 2016 After breakfast I got the reservation list and we pulled yesterdays reservation signs and put up those for today and cleaned the sites that needed it. We are definitely liking the new procedures compared to last year. Not that last year was bad, just we don't have to set in the contact station for 4 hours or so in the evenings and check in campers, sell wood and ice. Now we have more time to be out in the campground which is what the new park Superintendent wants. We relieved Wilma in the Visitor' Center from 12 to 1PM so she could take a lunch break.

Then we returned to our motorhome for lunch and relaxed. Later we rode through the campground a couple of times before dark to check everything before calling it a day.

Day 6 – Sunday April 3, 2016 Today started out cold and windy but warmed up by Noon when we went to relieve Wilma at the Visitor's Center for lunch. We answered questions about trails, etc., and sold t-shirts and patches. We returned to the motorhome for lunch and then put out the reservation signs on the reserved sites and cleaned several that had been vacated. Most of the campers leave on Sunday.

Day 7 – Monday April 4, 2016 We awoke to another cool morning but the sun was out and it soon turned into a beautiful warm day. After breakfast we removed the necessary reservation signs and helped the park maintenance staff clean/rake the remaining unoccupied sites. One of the staff worked on the golf cart we are assigned to help with the gear shifting. We had trouble last year and the same this year getting it to go into gear. He adjusted the idle speed and that seems to have solved the problem.

I got out our Dutch Oven and cooked a rack of my “almost world famous” ribs for lunch. Mummm they were good. We relaxed and read for awhile. I relieved Lance in the Contact Station from 4-5PM so he could eat. Then I cleaned a few sites that had been vacated before calling it a day.