Gribblenation

Last Saturday, I headed back down to Charlotte for the weekend. I went to the Panthers game Sunday, they lost. But on Saturday, I rode around again with Steven. This time into South Carolina and along the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway , also known as SC 11. Before I share with you SC 11, one note. Near milemarker 95 on I-85 in South Carolina, there is a over a century old family cemetery within the median of the interstate. If you are headed Southbound, you can tell by how the median extremely widens. Look at the top of the small hill on your left and you should be able to see the cemetery. Now for SC 11. When discussing the trip with Steven before I headed down for the trip, he wasn't very thrilled with the possibility. By the end of the trip, that mindset had changed. Heading south on SC 11 from Gaffney begins uneventful. A few car dealerships and other business start of the ride. However, not long before Cowpens National Battlefield, the highway becomes more rural

Dad is in town for the weekend. So on Saturday, we went down to Wrightsville Beach for the day. Route: I-440, I-40, US 117/NC 132, US 74, and US 76. Nothing really spectacular about the route down. Although I was surprised to see the amount of guide signs on I-40 that only listed the route number and no control city destination. I guess it's our small slice of the west. Not sure why I-140 currently ends at I-40 instead of continuing to what will be its terminus at US 17 anyways. We accessed the beach at the Masonboro Inlet Parking Lot...which also happens to be the end of US 76. The beach was great. Waves were four to six feet as Tropical Storm Gabrielle was a few hundred miles off shore. If it wasn't for the endless hype about the storm (we really need therain) around these parts. You would have no idea that a storm was off the horizon. Blue skies and slight ocean breezes were dominant. Yes, the waves were a bit rougher and would get stronger as the day went

As those of you that may follow this blog know, I like to hike. But also, I enjoy history. So yesterday, I went east for a little of both. I took a drive to hike at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park and toured the Bentonville and Averasboro Battlefields. Route: I-40 to US 70 to NC 111 various backroads to Bentonville and Averasboro Battlefields and home. Nothing really big to write about for the trips there and back. The Clayton (US 70) Bypass is on a fast-track that is for certain. Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is located south and east of Goldsboro. It's not a large park. There are four trails within the park, each are a half mile or less and don't require much difficulty at all. There is - in the summer - swimming, boating, fishing, and camping available at the park. The park gets its name for the sand cliffs (some as high as 90') that line the Neuse. To my knowledge, the best way to view the cliffs is from the river. So someone, that being me, needs to learn to