Goobers Gone Fishin'
Since we spent a week in Mayberry, we had a little time to look around. The first thing we found was the grave site of Eng and Change Bunker, the famous Siamese Twins of the 1800's. We found it in a country Baptist Church cemetery that adjoined the RV Park to the east. Kila told us that land was originally part of the Eng & Chang Bunker farm and was donated to the community for the church. After the cemetery research, we rode into Mt. Airy (Mayberry) and walked around town to see what we could see. Lastly, we looked at a couple hiking destinations and chose Hanging Rock State Park.
This is the Baptist Church where we found the famous grave site. You can see the large stone marker just to Gari's left in the frame below.
The historical marker out front.
Eng and Chang's resting place.
Close in on the marker stone.
We wandered into downtown Mayberry (Mt. Airy) and found lots of small town charm.
We found a Bluegrass band picking out tunes in the public square.
Eatery on Main St.
Sculpture in a small city park on Main St.
Lots of Mayberry references in town.
The Earle Theater downtown.
This building housed the Mt. Airy History Museum.
Mayberry souvenirs.
Russell Hiatt, the man who inspired the character Floyd the Barber, passed away while we were here at the age of 92. His son vowed to keep the barber shop open, and open it was the day we visited.
A peek inside Floyd's Barber Shop. There were lots of photographs of the old Mayberry cast hanging up.
Spur found Leon's.
A memorial wall to all war veterans from Mt. Airy. Each name from every war going back to the Civil War were here on the wall.
Here comes Sheriff Taylor! I didn't think he was a drinker, but he's going over the yellow line! Citizens arrest!
Remember Emmett's Fix It Shop? There it is!
There's the Sheriff's Office, Foley's Market and Howard Sprague's City Clerk Office.
Remember the Darlins? Here is their farm below, man could they play some Bluegrass music!
Below is the Darlins's old truck
We found the Mayberry squad car down at Wally's Service Station.
Goober's tow truck
We asked for Goober at Wally's Station, but we were told that he had gone fishin' for the weekend.
Spur used the phone at Sheriff Taylor's desk, but didn't pay for the toll call....
...and he ended up in the pokey!
On a tip we found this "late model" Mayberry Squad Car way down at the end of Cherry St. near Riverside Park. Grandma Josephine left me her 1967 Ford Custom 500 four door sedan, just like this squad car. I would love to still have that old car!
On a day that it didn't rain we rode out to Hanging Rock State Park. Below is the nice Visitor's Center.
We hiked out to Hidden Falls and Window Falls first. It turned out the trail to the falls is part of the Mountains to Sea Trail, which starts in the Appalachians near Pigeon Forge, NC and ends at Jockey's Ridge sand dunes in Nags Head, NC.
There is Gari below at the Hidden Falls.
A Skink I think.
On the way to Window Falls Gari photographs the wild Rhododendrons that were everywhere.
Gari walks out on a granite backbone to get a mountain view.
There's the view Gari was after.
Gari making her way down to Window Falls.
Steve is just below the Window.
There's the famous Window at the falls.
Window Falls.
Gari enjoying the close up view of Window Falls.
Gari getting a shot of Steve at the falls.
Steve went way up close!
Around the corner we find a second waterfall which is also a part of Window Falls.
The recent rain has made the falls flow large.
Gari rock hopping her way down to the second falls.
Steve reaching for the water underneath the second falls.
Looking back on the way back up the trail.
Next hike is the famous Hanging Rock.
A few shots from the top.
I would say that's Steve and Gari out on that rock, but that would be crazy!
A spectacular view.
Looking back from the point at Gari crouching to get a photo from under the scrubby pine tree.
More views.
Steve out on the point. It was very windy up there!
The three girls out on the point.
Hold onto your hat!
Now this woman is truly nuts!
That is the point we were on, photographed from below. One great big granite rock!
By Wednesday 5/11 we should be all the way to the coast in Elizabeth City, NC.
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