NC State Parks - Lake Waccamaw

Lake Waccamaw State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/lake-waccamaw-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake%20Waccamaw%20State%20Park/109284162423087

A bit about the geography of the Carolina Bays:  https://www.ncpedia.org/carolina-bays

This is one of the largest Bays, not named for the body of water but for the Sweet Bay, Loblolly Bay and Red bay trees growing here.  This is where I would spend the night, but first I needed gas.

For 30 years I carried a pretty complete tool kit and never needed it. The last 5 years I quit carrying it. So I am at the Sunoco in Waccamaw and the gas cap won’t open! The lock on the gas cap is electronic and allows it to be opened for 30 seconds after the bike is turned off. I have heard of this happening but in 8 years of the FOB bikes I have had..no problems. When I packed the bike I had way too much weight on the left pannier so I tossed the tool kit in the right one to balance it. It was a trip saver. I needed both Allen and torx to loosen the ring and pop the gas cap up. Weird things can happen. If you are traveling alone, carry a tool kit. If traveling in a group make sure someone has a tool kit.

I booked a room with Ginger and Terry in their B&B for the night and what a treat.  They have a beautiful garage apartment that is very comfortable with everything the traveler would need.  The location was great since you could walk to the famous local restaurant called Dales's Seafood.  After a long day on the bike it was nice to have a little walk and dinner on the lake shore.

http://dalesseafood.com/

The AirBnB is called Ginger's Place and they couldn't have been more welcoming.  I spend a good amount of time on their porch getting to know them.  I seems the lake is less a tourist lake and more a residential lake.  It is absolutely stunning with 9,000 acres of water and 14 miles of shoreline.  

The park has plenty of primative camping in the area of the campground there weren't many trees that I could swing a hammock from for a good nights sleep so it's a good thing I booked a room.

Like the other lakes there were plenty of warning signs in the State Park about the animals.  Pictures of the various poisonous and non-poisonous snakes.  Plus here, as you can see in the photo, is the alligator.  Yes, the canal next to the lake had alligators in it.  I was assured by Ginger that there was no record of anyone being attacked but I assure you I would not be going swimming there.  I didn't ask how many people and gone missing.

Terry and Ginger were transplants from Indiana and Ohio and have been at Lake Waccamaw since the mid-90's.  It sure looks like it agrees with them.

This is one of those stops that you know you will return to visit.