Day
1 Monday June 4, 2018 We departed at 9:19AM for a short 4 day trip
to the Cliffs of the Neuse State Park near Goldsboro NC. We have not
camped here in about 35 years. We camped here for years, sometime
with my brother and his family, sometimes with other family and
sometimes just us. We started camping here in a tent, then a hardtop
popup camer and then a small 18' travel trailer. We just discovered
that last year the state has upgraded 12 of the sites to large full
hookup sites with gravel parking pad with a gravel tent pad/firepit
picnic table area. We came here in the car a few weeks ago to see if
we would be able to put our 40' mtorhome on any of the 12 renovated
sites and we discovered we can fit on any of the 12 just fine. They
also built a small cabin on three of the sites. The cabins sleep 6
with air conditioning and heat but no inside cooking or water but the
site is setup with a firepit and picnic table just like the regular
camping sites.
After
a lelisurely 1 hour drive of about 40 miles we set up in site 28 that
we had reserved online. The site was level so there was no setup
problems. The price is only $20 a night with our sernior citizens
discount which is a great price as most commercial campgrounds would
charge $40 or more for a full hookup site that would normally be a
smaller site with little or no shade around it. Here there are large
mature oak and pine trees everywhere. We can't get a satellite TV
signal but can get a few local over the air TV channels which is just
fine for us. There is a good cell phone signal so we can get Internet
service through our iphones. The streets are paved so we can ride our
bicycles.
We
talked to one of the park staff this morning just after we arrived
and he told us the campground will be closing later in the year so
they can tear down the bathhouse and build a new one. Due to the very
low temperatures we had this past January some of the plumbing froze
and burst in the walls of the bathouse and damaged the building. They
did a temporary fix and decided after studing the problem that the
best solution was to tear down and build new. We don't use the
bathhouses since our motorhome is totally selfcontained but we went
to look at the bathhouse and agree the best solution is to build a
new one. We think they should build the syle that is used at the
group sites at Stone Mountain State Park where there are individual
private shower rooms rather than a room for the men and one for the
women and a number of shower stalls in each.
The
man we talked to encouraged us to apply to be camp host after we told
him we were hosts at Stone Mountain State Park. They are needing host
here for several months each year. We might consider it for next year
as our “dance card” is kind of full for this year. Based on what
we know, the duties here are very limited but we think we would be
required to clean the bathouse daily so that is something we will
have to think about.
After
a couple weeks of rain and a bout with bad colds we were glad to be
able to set outside in the shade and relax for several hours. After
supper we rode our bicycles some before calling it a day. It is
really quite here as there are only two other sites and one cabin
occupied tonight.
Day
2 Tuesday June 5, 2018 Lena did a good walk before breakfast but I
slept in awhile longer. After breakfast we walked up to the Visitors
Center to take a look at the exhibits and to get an application for
the Camp Host position. They have some nice exhibits about the park.
The
Park Superintendent (Eric) taked to us for a few mintes and stated
they are still deciding on the duties of the Camp Host. This is the
first season of having hosts and he is a new superintendent so they
are still working out the ddetails but he gave us an idea of what
they have planned. We might apply for a month next year.
Later
in the day we drove to the nearby town of La Grange to get a few
groceries. It was a really nice day, we did some walking, riding
bicycles and reading and the weather was really nice.
Day
3 Wednesday June 6, 2018 Friends fromGoldsboro came to visit us mid
morning. I grilled hamburgers and we had a good visit. We realxed and
read until later in the day. I rode my bicycle some and then we
walked around the campground. There had only been 3-4 others sites
occupied each night since we have been here. There are 30 campsites
and three cabins in the campground.
Day
4 Thursday June 7, 2018 After breakfast we walked one of the trails
in the park that runs along the cliffs above the river. Lena slipped
on some leaves when stepping off of a step on the trail and fell flat
on stomach but did not get hurt – just a sandy face.
 |
| Trail |
 |
| Neuse River |
We
drove into the edge of Goldsboro for lunch at McCalls. They have a
nice buffet there and the place was packed today. Tonight there are 7
sites occupied. We have really enjoyed our stay here but we must go
home tomorrow. We have had great weather and been able to relax and
rest some and just be LAZY.
Day
5 Friday June 8, 2018 We packed up and departed at 9:55AM and
arrived home at 10:45AM.
