Revisions posted to the NC Parks Blog

I have inserted the URL's for the NC Parks website for each of the NC State Parks.  This will allow easy access to the Park page to see the complete information on the Park and to, if desired, allow for booking reservations for campsites and cabins.  In some cases, a Facebook page was available so that was posted as well.  If you decide to visit any of the Parks it is a good practice to check the Facebook page for current operating information and possible events taking place.  These Parks are a treasure of this state so enjoy them and help take good care of them. 

An added bonus is the links to some of the lodging I used and restaurants that I liked.  My mother used to say if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.  I have tried to abide by that.

NC State Parks- The wrap up!

I have been asked which parks were my favorites.  I must preface this by saying all of the parks were beautifully maintained by the Parks Service.  There is something there for everyone.  So I have broken down the parks into categories and all the parks aren’t mentioned.  Many of the Parks are small but wonderful for a picnic or a day hike.   A word of caution:  Most of the parks are very crowded on weekends in the summer.  Try to make your trip in the middle of the week and you will enjoy the parks for being less crowded!

Educational:  Fort Macon, Dismal Swamp - I am definitely going back to both to spend a couple of days.

Hiking:  all parks have it but the award goes to Gorges State Park but very difficult trails.  Must be a very in-shape hiker!  I am in no way a strong enough hiker to enjoy all this park has to offer!

Camping:  most have very clean campsites and bathrooms.  Reservations are easy.  At Lake James an attendant came by with firewood. $8 a bundle but no kindling so take a hatchet.  One bundle good for the night.  Beautifully maintained campgrounds.

Cabins:  some have cabins that are fully equipped with beds for 3-5 adults and fully equipped kitchens.  They are also heated and air conditioned.  $75 per night but 2 night minimum, this may vary on weekends.  

Boating Parks:  these are big parks wrapped around lakes.  Beautiful but too big to get my arms around what to do.  Riding around them was not interesting.  Lake James, Norman, Falls and Jordan.

Scenic rides to the parks:  the northwest corner gets my nod.  Elk Mountain, Mount Jefferson, New River and Stone Mountain.  I want to go back and stay at these Parks next summer.

Vistas:  Morrow Mountain, Chimney Rock, Mount Mitchell - sad to say I grew up in Asheville, NC and had never been to Chimney Rock.  It is well worth the trip.  Morrow Mountain…never knew there was a mountain east of Charlotte and the view is wonderful.

Disappointment:  Grandfather Mountain.  It has little to do with the famous mountain.  It’s off on the side at the bottom of the mountain with only wilderness camping.

A word of caution.  Some parks are very remote with no food or gas nearby.  I got to Lake James late and the attendant told me the nearest restaurant was 18 miles away in Morganton.  It was dark and the deer were out.  I always carry freeze dried camping food.  The nearest gas was in Morganton also.  After Labor Day service operations around these parks close for the winter even though the Parks are open so gas up.

NC State Parks - Gorges, and Crowders Mountain!

The last night on the road!

My night at the motel in Chimney Rock reinforced my feeling that I would rather be in my hammock.  At least I know who slept in my hammock last night.  I also know that it is clean.  I knew that I needed to get on the road because the trip to Gorges State Park is a very winding tiring trip and I had been looking forward to seeing this park for this whole summer.

Gorges State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/gorges-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gorges-State-Park-NC/181675748634403

My legs were like rubber from the hike yesterday day and now I knew that I wasn't doing a hike in Gorges, especially when you read the description of the various trails.  I would have to be happy with a drive through and enjoying the countryside.  The ride in took me through many of the apple growing areas and cider mills.  Roadside stands that were probably only open on weekends.  There was also a huge sunflower farm with a you pick it sign.  I did manage to find a family diner in Etowah for a hearty breakfast.  Had an excellent breakfast at The Dutch Cupboard.

https://www.facebook.com/TheDutchCupboard/

The Park has a gorgeous Visitors Center when you ride in.  There are limited roads to travel in the park.  The ranger assured me that the trails were very difficult which was a disappointment but not unexpected.  This is really a hiking, backpacking and primitive camping area.

Of the 8 trails only one was listed an easy and that was a 0.4 mile connector trail.  The others were listed as strenuous So I got my Stamp, enjoyed the view and will be there if I am in better condition next time.

Crowders Mountain State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/crowders-mountain-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/crowders.ranger

I am heading home but along the way is the last stop 

Crowders Mountain is just off of NC 74 near Kings Mountain.  This is mainly a hiking mountain with trails that take you to the summits of Crowders Mountain and Kings Pinnacle.  There is also a small lake for fishing.

The camping is all back country camping  requiring that campers carry in their gear.  The sites do have grills, tent pads and drinking water.  Pit toilets are also available.

For the really hearty there is Rock Climbing in designated areas.

THE PASSBOOK STAMP BOOK IS COMPLETE!

The ride home completed 625 miles over winding country roads and I was tired.  I stopped multiple times on the way home just to rest and find air conditioning since is was getting hot in the afternoon.

In a day or two I will be posting a summary and a list of my favorites.

  

NC State Parks - Chimney Rock

 Chimney Rock State Park

https://www.chimneyrockpark.com/

Not a typical park, no lake as such but very near Lake Lure, no camping, no cabins but the ride up is awesome and the view from the top is well worth the gate fee ($16).  

I couldn't check in to the motel until after 3 PM so I found lunch at a Japanese Steakhouse next to Lake Lure.  It is off season for tourists and I was told by a local that they couldn't even tell me which restaurants were open.  Seems that after Labor Day many close up shop and take a vacation.

I entered the Gate for Chimney Rock and for 3 miles it was a narrow winding road little wider than 1 1/2 car widths.  I was glad to be on the motorcycle except cars like to cut corners and there were a lot of switchbacks.  The ticket office was a breeze then another 3 miles to the top where it was a challenge finding a flat spot to park the bike.  There was no line at the elevator and I quickly reached the top.  There was an amazing view and there were 3-4 different short hiking trails to see different things.

The longest trail was 1 1/2 miles round trip.  Ha, I can do that!  I was already exhausted taking the steps down from the Rock to the trail to Hickory Nut Falls.  How bad could it be....it was up hill all the way with rocks, roots and few flat spaces.  The falls were well worth it and the trip back seemed much shorter. 

A little nap was in order and I had earned a rest.    I checked in to the Geneva Motel and Tiki Bar, not one of your better establishments and after dinner at the Tiki Bar settled in for Monday Night Football and rest

 

NC State Parks - Lake Norman, South Mountain, & Lake James

 I left home around 9:00 am in beautiful weather, cool in the morning and slightly warm in the afternoon.  The BMW R1200 GSA had its 12,000 mile service the week before and I was packed for both camping and one overnight in a motel.  Planning on multiple things means that I am carrying more on the bike than if I just decided to hotel it.  

So if I was just staying in motels then I wouldn't need the bag on the seat with the camping gear and I wouldn't need the cooking gear in the silver side bag.  But I do love sleeping under the stars with a campfire.  I did manage to prepare a route with only 20 miles of I-85 and the rest was beautiful rural 2 lane roads.

Lake Norman State Park

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

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-Norman-State-Park/138610022829838

The big lake parks are what you would expect.  Very much Boater centric with everything that you could want for a visit.  It only lacked cabins.  Camping, boating, hiking, biking trails and picnic areas.  It is a beautiful park even though the parks of this size overwhelm me and I can't really narrow down what I would do.  And if you are a boater you have it here.  Lake Norman is huge and only a small portion of it is in the state park.

I was expecting to visit 3 parks today so off to the next.

South Mountain State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/south-mountains-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/pages/South-Mountain-State-Park-NC/1457160581198077

This Park was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1975.  It has 14,100 acres with a 600 foot granite dome as the spectacular feature.  Plenty of picnic areas, Hiking trails, camping sites with some having electric or water.  RV sites and a dump station.  There are 17 miles of park streams that are designated trout waters.  You can even go rock climbing.  It was now 1:30 and I needed to find lunch and move on to my overnight camp.

For motorcyclists the road from Laurel Hill, NC to Morganton on old North Carolina 18 road is a wonderful twisty road that I didn't expect to find on this trip until much further west.  Well worth seeking out this stretch of highway.

So, it is Sunday and I am now looking for lunch in rural NC.  It seems that the Pandemic hit the mom and pop restaurants extremely hard.  It is hard to find one.  I traveled Old NC 18 for an hour with no luck so when I crossed into Morganton I ate at a Bojangles.  Would really love to find more diners with blue plate specials like meatloaf.  But I need to get on with it to set up camp.

Lake James State Park

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

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-James-State-Park/108106259211152

This park started as a small  park of 565 acres in 1987 but added much more acreage over the following years.  The area I was camping in was Paddy's Creek Area.  The campsites were spotless and since I needed a treed lot for my hammock the Rangers let me find the one I wanted and swapped my reserved site for it.  The campground attendant brought me a load of wood for the campfire ring and I made quick work of hanging the hammock.  Neighboring campers let me know that they had plenty of paper to start a fire but the wood delivered was bone dry and lit right up.  I spent the evening reading a book and sitting sideways in the hammock near the fire.

The 700 foot beach was beautiful as was the park.  I slept well that night listening to the leaves blowing in the light breeze.  The attendant said that they frequently get astronomy clubs bringing in their telescopes because there is very little surrounding light from towns.  It was very dark and great for sleeping with temperatures in the high 50's.

I got up around 7:15 and enjoyed my coffee and oatmeal while gradually packing up camp.  By 9:00 I was ready to go but the fog was thick and I waited another 45 minutes.  The route to Chimney Rock State Park was pretty short but very interesting.  I took I-40 West for about 18 miles to Old Fort and took Bat Cave Road toward Bat Cave.  This road is well publicized as a great motorcycle road.  I can vouch for that since it has very challenging twists and turns.  It winds a long way the connects with Rt. 9 which I took south to Bat Cave.  If you took it north you would end up near Black Mountain.  Rt. 9 is a different but still fun road with long sweepers and higher speeds.  Enough so that on weekends the highway patrol monitors this route.  It was a fun ride into Chimney Rock.

Last six parks will be happening soon!

 Yep, Got Basecamp out today and did the route to the final state parks.  I am going to take 4 days and enjoy the ride in October.  Should be good weather and the tourists seem to be gone until leaf season starts.

Busted trip - the plan has to change

I had planned in my trip plan #2 to add three more parks on my way home.  The parks were along I-40 and included Lake James, South Mountains and Lake Norman.  Well when I got to the bottom of Old Fort Mountain it was apparent that the heat was going to be a major factor today.  As I approached the Lake James exit the temperature was already in the upper 80's and it was 8:15 and I would have to hang around until 9:00 for the Park to open.  Stopping at each of the three would have thrown my travel into the afternoon and the high temperatures of the day.  I was already faced with facing the morning sun as I traveled east.  I decided to skip the parks and go home.

When I got to Statesville I was feeling the heat. From there I took the road to Mocksville and cooler secondary roads.  I then connected with NC64 in Asheboro on home.  I made 5 stops, a lunch stop, a snack stop and 3 stops where I stood in gas stations and  enjoyed the cool along with a Gatorade.  When I got home I felt like I was well done coming out of the oven.

All in all a great trip.  I will catch those other 3 parks in September when it is cooler.  

NC State Parks - Mount Mitchell

I spent the night with my college roommate Larry and his wife Renie.  Always fun visiting.  The next morning I left for Mount Mitchell.  20 miles down the Blue Ridge Parkway I realized that I left my Passport book at Larry's so I had to go back.  That corrected I would be on the Blue Ridge Pkwy all the way to Asheville.

Mount Mitchell State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/mount-mitchell-state-park

If you have never been up to the top it is quite a trip.  From the BRP it's 5 miles to the top with a very large parking area and then a beautiful 300 yard walk uphill to the top viewing area.  I didn't do the walk since I have done it many times before.  But as usual there was a crowd at the top.

To me what is amazing is that along with the motorcycles there is always a large group of bicyclist that climb this steep road to the top.

That is me in the foreground the 2 bikes next to me were a couple from Quebec and they were having a great time.  Today the views weren't good due to the blue haze but I did get a few picture off the Parkway on my way to Asheville.

Visiting friends on the road is something I love to do.  I also get to sofa surf.  I spent the afternoon visiting Lynn, a good friend from High School and that night I stayed at Judy's, she is always a great host.  I grew up with her and her brother Gregg and their parents were like second parents to me and my brothers.  We  had Dinner at Vinnie's on Hendersonville road and it was great.  Now it is sinking in that tomorrow it will be 97 degrees in the middle of the state and I am heading into it. Ugh!

https://vinniesitalian.com/

NC State Parks - Elk Knob, Grandfather Mountain

 I slept well until 7 am which is late for me.  I took it easy fixing coffee on my porch and taking my time.  Today was just 2 Parks then on to see my college roommate and his wife near Pineola.  Coffee done and bike packed by 8:30 and I was off to Elk Knob State Park.

Elk Knob State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/elk-knob-state-park

It was an easy morning but the first 9 miles were a bit challenging.  When I left High Country I turned left for the shorter route out to the main roads.  It was a pretty narrow gravel road with a shear drop-off into the gorge.  The rains had eaten away part of the road bed with barely enough room for a jeep to get by in places.  The most interesting sight was as I looked over the edge riding by a significant waterfall way down in the gorge.  It must have been 100 feet high but there was no way to get a picture.  The gorge was a significant drop from the road straight down.  I could see no way to get there for a better shot or any shot at all.  So I continued on.  This road ended up on Old 421 into Boone.  The Old road was great with lots of twists and turns then dumping me out on the new 421.  I stopped for breakfast in Boone then headed for Elk Knob.  The little twisty road there was through beautiful country farms and about 18 miles.  The mountain was very scenic.

Grandfather Mountain State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/grandfather-mountain-state-park#ParkOffice-1790

My last stop of the day was Grandfather Mountain State Park. Now don't get excited it is not what you think.  Due to my numerous screwups trying to find the office with the Park stamp I called ahead to clarify the location.  The State Park is not the same as Grandfather Mountain the tourist attraction.  The office is in a little strip mall across from a lumber yard on the Rt. 105.  It is 3 1/2 miles from the turn into the park.  The park is only a dirt parking lot and trails that lead up into the primitive camping area.  Very Rustic so don't expect to see the mile high bridge, that's down the road a ways.  So no pictures!

NC State Parks - Stone Mountain, New River, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, & Rendezvous (a new park)

Hot weather so it's time for the mountains.

This trip was planned out to be 3 days then became 4 days and stopping at 7 NC State Parks over 690 miles.  I had planned to add another 3 parks on my way home but the heat stopped me.

The week was forecast to be brutal with temperatures in the high 90's with high humidity.  I had been saving the state parks in the mountains for this weather since it is 10-15 degrees lower up there.  One catch though, I had to cover 180 miles in the ugly weather.

Monday I started to do a big loop.

 

The original plan was to visit Stone Mountain, New River Mountain, Mount Jefferson, Elk Knob, Rendezvous Mountain, Grandfather Mountain and head home.  Well, a text message had me continuing on to Asheville to see old family friends.  Now I can add on Mount Mitchell, Lake James, South Mountain and Lake Norman on my way home from Asheville.

Stone Mountain State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/stone-mountain-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stone-Mountain-State-Park/120464101302695

I left early from Cary in good 75 degree weather with a light breeze arriving around 11:30 at Stone Mountain.  

This is an extensive park.  Somewhere along the way I got lost and ended up in the camping area and RV Parking area which is very large.  I totally missed the ring road around the top so I will have to go back and spend the night there.

On my way out a young lady was doing a survey to find out where I came from and what did I see.   She was the photographer here.

The following parks were in a short distance. This whole area is very rural.  Not many restaurants, or gas stations but the scenery was special.  This is the Christmas Tree growing area of NC and the farms are high on the mountain sides.

This farm had what looked like large trees 8'+ and they have obviously had great weather  because everything looked healthy.

New River State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/new-river-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-River-State-Park/1625400354415622

The New River is a wonderful river coming down from WV and VA into NC.  it is ideal for canoes, kayaks, flyfishing and the campgrounds are extensive.  I should have spent more time here but since my trip was now extended to 4 days I felt the pressure to move on.

Mount Jefferson State Natural Area

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/mount-jefferson-state-natural-area

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mount-Jefferson-State-Park/233030143565066

By now I am in the upper western corner of NC next to TN.  The mountains were getting bigger and these parks were not far apart.  The ride up to the top of Mount Jefferson was beautiful with excellent pavement all the way to the top.  Then the special part was the view off the top.

The view off the top was the clearest that I had all day.  The temperature change was 5 degrees lower to around 77 and the roadway up was wide and easy with a number of switchbacks.  There didn't appear to have any camping sites but plenty of picnic areas and hiking trails.

Rendezvous Mountain State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/rendezvous-mountain

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rendezvous-Mountain-State-Park/146243292070303

This park is only 2 years old and it has just been listed.  The road to it is Rt. 16 which to many motorcycle riders is the road to the Back of the Dragon in VA.  That is the same Rt. 16 and a very nice ride to the Park.  There was only one problem!  My GPS told me to turn right so I did.  3 miles of broken pavement then 2 miles of progressively narrower dirt/gravel road with 3 single lane wooden bridges with no side rails.  I finally got to the end and NO PARK!

Yes that is someones driveway at the end of the road.  There were 3 houses here so this little piece of roadway looks better than the one I came in on.  The only option was to backtrack and continue down Rt.16 and see if there was another entrance down the road.  

5 miles down the road and 2 miles of backcountry road to the real entrance another surprise.

There was a small sign to the park on a post so no picture.  This was my first difficult technical climb on this trip.  I had to put the bike in Enduro mode due to the 2 miles up the mountain was very steep and the fresh gravel was deep and loose.  The view off the top was beautiful.  The park itself has no camping yet and the lone ranger said that he was hoping that they would start primitive camping in the next couple of years.  I really enjoyed the view.

That was my last stop of the day and I was off to the High Country Motorcycle Campground.  When I arrived I found that I was the only one there.  I had decided to take one of the Chalets so I didn't have to carry all my camping gear for one night since I was staying with friends the following nights.

http://www.highcountrymotorcyclecamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/High-Country-Motorcycle-Camp/1425480444405732

What more could you want?  A roof over my head, a good view and a 10 year old pack of Chili Mac with beef.  If I just had a baguette it would have been perfect.

Before I went to bed the guard dog came by.  That's Belle, she sat with me for about an hour.

Off to bed.

Planning for the mountains!

Yes, planning is ongoing!  The next trip will be to the Northwest corner of NC.  That would be the following:  Stone Mountain, New River, Mount Jefferson, Elk Knob, Grandfather Mountain and possibly Mount Mitchell.  That's a lot of state parks in one trip but I plan to do this over 3-4 days and one or two nights will be camping at the High Country Campground near Ferguson, NC.  

It's hot here in the flat lands of NC.  The days are in the 90's with high humidity so the mountains will be a treat with temperatures lower by 10 to 15 degrees.   I haven't picked the days that I leave since I am watching the weather for the afternoon thunderstorms.  If it is just rain I will go because that really doesn't bother me on the road.  If you ride a motorcycle, let's face it, you are going to get wet sometimes.

There has been a lot of flash floods around here with severe thunderstorms randomly striking.  I do love a good thunderstorm though.  I will be posting up as I hit the parks. 

NC State Parks - Jockey's Ridge, Dismal Swamp, & Merchants Millpond

Jockey's Ridge State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/jockeys-ridge-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jockeys-Ridge-State-Park/109512545734403

The Scarborough Inn in Manteo was cheap for tourist season and perfectly adequate with kitchen and dining area TV and room to spread out.  It was furnished with 1940's old family furniture probably found in a flea market.  Check-in was weird.  You entered a small room and there was a large kiosk with a big screen.  A person welcomed you and talked you through the check-in process and then a room key popped out of the machine.  This was very strange.

I was back at Darrell's for breakfast then off in rain gear to Jockey's Ridge.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scarborough%20Inn/176389289058301/

https://www.facebook.com/darrellsmanteo

This park is known for the tallest living sand dunes on the east coast.  I remember it well,  my mother let us run wild on the dunes as children and we stayed at the beach for a week.  Today it is known for the hang gliding off the the top of the dunes assisted by the prevailing winds.  It had stopped raining so under the shade of the tree in the parking lot I shed my rain gear and left for the Dismal Swamp.

Today was going to be challenging on the road with thunderstorm clouds hanging all around me.  I was hoping to avoid the rain suit since with the heat and humidity you would be dry from rain but wet from sweat.  It was a relaxed ride to the Dismal Swamp.

Dismal Swamp State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/dismal-swamp-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dismal-Swamp-State-Park/109496419076211

I don't think there were any camping areas but there were miles of trails and the rangers guided canoe trips through the swamps.  People that hike the trails are checked in and out so they could be sure no one was left inside.  There is a lot of Civil War history around this park and its canals.  There are also plenty of snakes and alligators so watch out!  

I will put this park on my list of parks to revisit and spend more time.  The waters were the blackest I had ever seen.

Merchants Millpond State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/merchants-millpond-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Merchants-Millpond-State-Park/107703955923786

It was only some 30 miles to the Merchants Millpond State Park so I decided to squeeze this in before I stopped for lunch.  The clouds were still building around me but luck was still with me.  I arrived there around 12:30.

Merchants Millpond has the distinction of having the northern and western most population of alligators.  They are sure of at least 3 living there because they tend to stay around certain areas like the boat dock below.  I went to the dock but given the ugly scum on the pond I didn't pursue an active encounter with a alligator.  It was time for my lunch and not the alligators!

It was 1:00 and I was starved with not many options.  Then I came upon Claudine's in the village of Rich Square.  Shortly after I sat down a gentleman by the name of Bobby Lassiter came over to me and said there was no need to eat by myself and he asked if he could join me.  Turns out his wife has her hair done every Thursday and today was her birthday.  Bobby had traveled some 10 miles from home just for lunch and to pick up his wife's favorite pie....Silk Pie a speciality of Claudine's.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Claudines-Restaurant/1009216885804518

Here's Bobby!

  

I had a hamburger steak with butter beans and coleslaw.  A great country meal.  We spent over an hour just talking and eating.  He farms 10,000 acres mostly with edible crops like beans, peanuts potatoes and some cotton and recently he was hired to raise 350 acres of "ice" potatoes or white potatoes for the potato chip company that we all know.  So if you are eating potato chips or Hancock peanuts you are probably eating Bobby's.

It is one of my great joys about traveling alone.  People will approach you and they always have a story that is fun and interesting to tell.  It was wonderful hearing about his life in this area, his wife and children.  On top of that he bought me lunch!  I will have to go back to meet him at Claudine's for some Silk Pie.

The next hour was spent dodging thunderstorms and I was extremely successful, managing to only get rained on for 30 seconds and I dried off quickly.  So no rain suit for this trip.  I arrived at my cousin Eliza's in Rocky Mount around 3:00.  We had a great visit remembering our youth in Asheville and rehashing all the old family stories but before I could go she had to have a picture. 

 

It was just an hour's ride home from Rocky Mount and the trip was uneventful on the road.  The eastern NC State Parks from Pilot Mountain & Morrow Mountain east have been completed and I will be heading west for the remainder of the summer to cooler weather and 13 more parks.  Now I have to work on my route to these parks.

 

NC State Parks _ Goose Creek & Pettigrew

 Yes, I am still at it.  I have completed visiting 24 NC State Parks and took off around 9 am to add another 5 to the list.  Today I plan to visit Goose Creek, Pettigrew and Jockey's Ridge before spending the night in Manteo.  It was not supposed to be a very hot day but the humidity was up there.  My first stop would be in Washington, NC, sometimes referred to as Little Washington so people don't get confused with DC.  If you are a a local person then you stop here to eat at Bill's Hotdogs.

https://www.facebook.com/billshotdog

It seems like it's been there forever.  Around the corner is Pam's Place also a great place to grab a bite.  I spent 30 minutes eating and visiting with a gentleman that had to give up his Harley because of the weight and a torn bicep muscle.  I am feeling it on the weight side.  He said his Harley weighs 850 lbs.  The BMW R1200 gsa is around 565 lbs.  My gear probably raises the weight to around 600 lbs.  But I too, feel the weight.

Goose Creek State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/goose-creek-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Goose-Creek-State-Park/106082589423118

The weather was still good in the high 80's and I was off to Goose Creek State Park.

This is a fairly small park with RV parking, camping and some of the nicest cabins that I have seen in a park.  It's a well maintained park that looked to have plenty of room for RVs  in this age where many parks are booked up months in advance.

The only problem with this park is the location.  It is about 19 miles from Little Washington in the middle of a very remote area.

As I head down the road to the next park -  Pettigrew State Park I realize how remote the area is for these small parks.

Pettigrew State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/pettigrew-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pettigrew-State-Park/143511962328512

When I got to the next park I was so annoyed that I didn't even take the customary picture of the entrance.  I don't even remember the entrance.  This park was probably no more than 40 miles from Goose Creek but it took me close to 2 hours.  I ended up on every no name road that disappeared into nothing.  The GPS was no help.  In fact, it got me buried deeper and deeper into the back country lost with no one to ask for directions and few road signs.  One of the many wrong turns was onto Canal Road "A" the GPS said that it was a straight ride for 11 miles to the Park.  It was paved and after 1/2 mile it wasn't then another mile the hard packed trail turned to sand.  But I forged ahead for another mile and the trail had now turned into a path but the end came when I came upon shrubs growing in the middle of the path.  I could see that the path was getting so narrow that I would have trouble turning around.  I tried 2 more roads/trails/paths with the full endorsement of the Garmin GPS.  Now I just wanted out!  So I tried the city locator function on the Garmin for Manteo.  It said it was 7 hours away.  This wasn't even funny because the heat and humidity was starting to get to me.  I knew what direction I needed to go so I pulled up the compass on the Garmin and headed north/northeast until I finally hit NC 64,  I drove 12 miles toward Manteo and stopped in a little town to see if I could find the park.  BAM, it was 5 miles away so I tried one last time.  I got there but had a certain amount of attitude when I talked to the Ranger.  She was very nice and explained that if I had gone to their website it clearly says DO NOT USE A GPS TO FIND THIS PARK.  

I rode down to the adjacent plantation that you could tour but did not go to the boat ramp on the lake.  I just wanted out.  No camping but some hiking trails and I am out of here.

It was too late to get to Jockey's Ridge tonight so I would catch it the next morning.  I needed a nap.  I was running later than I wanted because of the building thunderstorms.  I was crossing the Alligator River when lightning started flying and it was apparent that I was heading into it.  I pulled over and put on the rain suit.  Just in time.  It was still obvious that the thunderstorm was right over the NC 264 bridge into Manteo with lots of lightning so in Manns Harbor and took old NC64 north 2-3 miles to the old original bridge. It was a bad idea to cross a very high bridge over water in a thunderstorm because I would be the highest point on the bridge.   I was just getting rained on here but the view of the storm over the NC264 bridge was impressive.  Six miles later I was at the Scarborough Inn for the night and I had earned a nap!  The rains continued through dinner and I was lucky that  a pretty good restaurant was across the street.  Darrell's Restaurant was just the place for fried shrimp and a short walk from the Inn.  Tomorrow will be another day!

NC State Parks - Kerr Lake State Recreation Area

Kerr Lake State Recreation Area

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/kerr-lake-state-recreation-area

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=kerr%20lake%20state%20recreation%20area

I don't want to short change Kerr Lake because it is one of those giant parks wrapped around a significant lake with all the amenities you could ask for.  It is a major boating lake and my wife (Pattie) spent many days here in her youth racing catamarans.  The lake is sprawling across NC and Virginia.  Major camping areas with over 500 campsites spread over 6 areas and that's not counting the group camping areas.  I didn't spend much time here like Falls Lake it is so large that it is hard to take it all in.  I think you really need a boat to do it justice and boats, kayaks, and canoes can be rented there.  So if you are going to spend a week this is a great place to do it. You would never get bored.

NC State Parks - Medoc Mountain

Medoc Mountain State Park

It was a beautiful day in the high 70's and low humidity.  The Medoc Mountain would be hard to recognize as a mountain.  It got its name from the Medoc/wine making region of France and at one time in the 1800's was a successful winery.  

It is now a very unique State Park.  It has a large assortment of mountain bike trails, camping like many parks but what makes it different is the significant telescopes that are used on some organized viewing nights.  It looks like a great place to introduce the kids to this aspect of the parks.

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/medoc-mountain-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Medoc-Mountain-State-Park/143986618945769

The indian heritage of the area is explained in the visitors center

They even have their pet corn snake that you can handle.

So the park is unique in what it offers to the visitors and well worth visiting.

 

Trip aborted!

So I thought I would take a ride today and catch 2 more State Parks,  I checked the tire pressure and headed to the gas station.  This would be an easy 1/2 tank trip, about 180 miles.  It was not to be!  The gas cap was stuck again.  So I was a mile from home so I decided to go home and take it apart and see what the problem was then fix it.  It was pretty clear once the cap was disassembled.  There was a sticky white goop on the latching mechanism (that's the silvery metal piece at the top of the fill hole).  I cleaned it with WD40 and dried it off.  I used a light mist of penetrating oil and again removed the excess.  It seemed to work smoothly now so I was off to the gas station again.  The cap gave a clear click when actuated at the pump and opened.  It was noon now.

I had lunch then decided to gas up the Suzuki DR650 so when I go it’s just a matter of which bike to pick.  It was in the high 80’s now so I will wait for another cooler day.  Hopefully the problem has been fixed.

NC State Parks - Cliffs of the Neuse

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/cliffs-neuse-state-park

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cliffs-of-the-Neuse-State-Park/107544112602229

 It's the tail end of the trip with one more Park to visit.  The weather has been great with rain all night last night but it was clear and dry when I left the Day's Inn.  I spend quite a bit of time at Fort Macon and was taking a leisurely ride home.  It took about 2 hours from the coast just off of RT. 70 to get to the Cliffs of the Neuse State Park.  The joy of traveling to the parks on weekdays is that there is no one there.

I guess I didn't believe that there were really cliffs in this part of the state but sure enough the park has a beautiful overlook and picnic area right on the edge of the cliff.  From up here there was a great view of the river as it winds its way toward the Cape Fear River.

There is an abundance of camping space with facilities.  The trails also lead down to the banks for the river.  Makes me want to bring a fishing rod with me next time.

It has been a busy 3 days but I have enjoyed all of it.  576 miles and lots to see.  At all the stops the people went out of their way to be helpful.  They always asked how long I could stay and then would show me on the maps what areas were the best places to see.

The NE corner is the next trip then I go west!