Friday, May 20, 2022

Stone Mountain State Park N.C. May 12-19, 2022

 Day 12 Tuesday May 10, 2022 We had breakfast at McGrady's Cafe. A local country cafe about 5 miles from the campground. Then we went to Wilkesboro to the Walmart to pick up a few items including a small leaf blower. There is so much tree debris falling on our mats and awnings it will make cleaning up so much easier. Then we stopped in North Wilkesboro for a Latte and pastry. 


We saw the first deer this morning on our way out. Normally we see lots of deer during the week when there are not as many campers around. There a lots of squirrels, bird and noisy crows around. Never been anywhere where there was as many crows.


Day 13 Wednesday May 11, 2022 This morning we drove across the state line via The Blueridge Parkway to Galax, VA., to get a Latte and cinnamon bun at one of our favorite coffee shops. The Briar Patch Marketplace and Cafe. I filled up the Jeep with fuel and paid $4.09 a gallon. The highest I have ever paid for fuel.


Then we stopped at the local Verizon Cellphone Store to ask about my iphone battery. The last two mornings it has been acting weird. Our iphones are over 5 years old so the batteries are showing their age. The agent said they are not able to change the batteries in the iphones and the nearest iphone shop was in Winston-Salem. He checked our records and we qualified for a promotion that Verizon has for our particular plan. So we got two new iphone 13 for $0.00 after he applied a good customer discount and our old iphones trade in value. All we had to pay for was the new protective cover, new screen protectors and the programming fee for the new iphones. And our monthly bill will be $2.56 less. A good deal in our book.


Day 14 Thursday May 12, 2022 I think the crows were having a family reunion about 7AM this morning right beside our motorhome. We only have 12 reservations today so we put those signs out, had breakfast and then cleaned all the sites that were available that needed cleaning.


Forgot to mention that Tuesday night and Wednesday we had three “beadie eyed” furry critters get in the motorhome. I heard the first one in the trash can under the sink so I set my “Top Secret” mouse trap out and just after we went to bed the first one was a dead sucker. Then sometime during the night the second one bit the dust and then later the third one joined his buddies in mouse heaven. 


Day 15 Friday May 13, 2022 We had early morning rain and off and on all day. We have 48 reservations tonight but expect several of the tent campers to not show up due to the weather.


Day 16 Saturday May 14, 2022 Heavy rain again during the night and as expected several of the tent campers did not show up but a few did. Only 9 reservations tonight. We stopped and talked to a couple that lives about 2 miles from us at home. They were here last May when we were here. A little sunshine today but mostly light rain and cloudy.


Day 17 Sunday May 15, 2022 I call Sunday “Shift Change” because we have a lot of departures on Sundays by the people that still work for a living and then we have mostly some travelers and retired people come in for a few days. We had 19 reservations tonight.


Day 18 Monday May 16, 2022 Typical Monday, 16 reservations for today. We put out the reservation signs, checked and cleaned some sites and had breakfast. The maintenance crew cleaned the fire pits that we had not done. Later I cleaned several sites in the tent area that we couldn't get to yesterday. Beautiful weather today but we did get rain for about 15 minutes.


Day 19 Tuesday May 17, 2022 Lena heard a loud noise around Midnight at the campground dumpsters that are about 300 yards from our site. At 7:15AM we heard Ranger Hicks on the radio calling for some assistance with trash cleanup at the dumpsters. Bears had crawled into the dumpsters and threw several trash bags out and scattered trash all over the place. 


You can see the bear's paw prints on the side of the dumpster


We drove to Elkin this morning and got a Latte and pastie at the other location of MoJoe's Coffee Shop. This location is moving to the other side of Elkin in the Jonesboro area.


Afterwards we drove to the downtown area of Elkin, parked and walked around downtown taking photos of the murals they have. We had seen one several times in the past but never took the time to stop and photograph it. But walking we found several. One of the shop keepers stopped and talked to us for several minutes. I guess he recognized us a tourists since we were taking photographs with my camera and Lena with her iPad.


Lots of Vineyards in the Elkin area














1930's Gas Station on Main Street


On the way back to the park we stopped at a local convenience store to get some take out  fried chicken. They make good fried chicken and were very busy.  After we had lunch it was time to do laundry and get a few maintenance items done around the motorhome.


Day 20 Wednesday May 18, 2022 Friends from Bostic, NC came this morning for a visit. They have a motorhome very similar to ours and we share information with each other about maintenance and upkeep. 


We went to McGrady's Cafe for  a great lunch. Gregg, Judi and Lena got a breakfast meal and I got a BLT and homemade onion rings. They were the best onion rings I have ever had. Gregg and Judi really enjoyed their meal and said they would almost be willing to drive the 2.5 hours from their home to eat there again. They are planning to return sometime with their motorhome and stay in the park campground. He is a retired Colorado State Parks Ranger.


Day 21 Thursday May 19, 2022 Back to work today with 30 reservations coming in. We got all the reserved sites but two ready by 11:30 but will have to wait for the current occupants to leave to clean them. As we were returning to our site the generator/starter belt on the golf cart broke. I notified the Ranger on duty and he told us to get the John Deere Gator and use it. Later Ranger Hicks and Shannon came to check it and will try to find a new belt for it but it will probably be next week before it is fixed. We don't like the gator as much as the golf cart but at least we aren't having to walk to do our work. That would not work well as we have lot of ground to cover and need rakes, broom, trash buckets and trash pickup tools and our clipboards..


Our home away from home.


1978 GMC Royale




old ranger house 


View from site 90


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