Day 17 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

On Saturday May 23rd we took it easy. It was a raining off and on kind of day. We just did a bit of shopping and found a few unique places near Lumberton NC.

North Carolina is home to eight federally or state-recognized tribes: Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony and Waccamaw Siouan. Southeastern North Carolina, along the Lumbee River, is the homeland of the Lumbee People.  The ancestors of the Lumbee came together in the shelter of this land hundreds of years ago - survivors of tribal nations from the Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Siouan language families. 

The ancestors of the Lumbee were recognized as Indian in 1885 by the State of North Carolina. In 1956, Congress recognized the Lumbee as an Indian tribe while denying the People any federal benefits that are associated with such recognition. Eventually, on December 18, 2025, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which included the Lumbee Fairness Act in the amendment. This will allow for federal benefits and services to the Lumbee people. With over 55,000 members, they are the largest tribe in North Carolina and the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River.

Lumbee tribal headquarters are located in the small town of Pembroke, NC. The tribal territory and service area comprises four adjoining counties: Robeson, Scotland, Hoke, and Cumberland. The tribal housing complex, also known as ‘The Turtle’, houses most tribal services. We found a unique housing development, Warriors' Way Veterans Village. The village is located in the Rowland Community. This neighborhood houses ten veterans. We found it refreshing that the homes were set parallel with the road, giving the homes much more yard and space from their neighbors. When the Lumbee Tribe of NC officially opened the village on May 26, 2022, the event was extra special for 5 veterans who received keys to a home in the community. The ceremony featured a Flag Ceremony as well as a Memorial Day Service as part of this special occasion. An all-Veteran Parachute team, All Veteran Group, opened the event with a parachute drop-in. 

We also found the Southern Spirit Boys & Girls Club. The Lumbee Tribe owns and operates seven Boys & Girls Clubs. Southern Spirit is one of these clubs. The tribal Boys and Girls Clubs provide a positive place where their youth can go to celebrate their culture and community, to enjoy healthy fun with their peers, and to learn new skills and self confidence under the guidance of responsible adults. The Boys & Girls Club of the Lumbee Tribe is a youth guidance organization dedicated to promoting the educational, vocational, social and character development of girls and boys ages 6 to 18. The Boys and Girls Club offers programs that build self-esteem and develop values and skills during the critical period of growth. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. 

Next to the Boys & Girls Club is the Southern Spirit Nature Trail. The dedication of the Southern Spirit Nature Trail was on December 19, 2023. The Southern Spirit Nature Trail is a community walking path, designed to promote healthy living. Built by the Lumbee Tribe, the 0.5-mile loop trail features a covered pavilion, walking loops, and an outdoor gathering area.

Just past the Nature Trail is Lumbee Tribe's Hilly Branch Veterans' Duplex Camp Henry. It is still under construction, but the first duplex is completed and it had its ribbon cutting on May 14, 2026. This housing serves to provide safe, stable, and permanent housing solutions for those who have served the country. They are not yet inhabited, but they will be soon!

A bit further on 301 South, there was a large burned out section on pines. It was not there when we headed north on 301 North for the wedding. When you opened the window on the car, you could still smell the burnt fragrance. 

It certainly did not look like any controlled burn we have seen. In a controlled burn, they only burn the underbrush, not the complete trees!

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 16 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

On Friday May 22nd, we traveled from Littleton NC to Lumberton NC. In an earlier blog, I told you that Lake Gaston used to be an Outdoor World. The give-away to us was the name of the road as you enter the campground, Outdoor World Drive. Outdoor World was acquired by Equity LifeStyle Properties, the parent company of Thousand Trails, in 2006. The former Outdoor World resorts were integrated into the Thousand Trails and Encore campground network, allowing members to access these locations through updated contracts. Today, ELS owns or has an interest in over 450 RV resorts, campgrounds, and manufactured home communities across North America.

We departed Littleton on NC 903 and 158, we turned off 158 onto 903, but we missed the 2nd turn onto 903 and shortly we were heading back into Littleton from the south. Maybe we really wanted to see the town... one more time!

We got back on track and stayed on NC 903 this time! 903 runs us right into US 301 in Halifax.

Our first stop today was for diesel in Wilson North Carolina. But, while in Wilson you have to make a second stop was at Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park. Actually, it is more than just a park... It is an outdoor museum. 

What is a whirligig park? Just what it sounds like, it’s a public park featuring 30 large, kinetic sculptures. The sculptures are made from recycled materials by folk artist Vollis Simpson. The park showcases Simpson's whimsical, wind-driven creations, which are made from salvaged road signs, bicycle parts, and industrial scraps. It's a community-driven project that transformed downtown Wilson. It is now a popular destination for art, music, and family activities. 

Who is Vollis Simpson? He built wind machines since he was stationed in the Mariana Islands, during World War II. After the war, his continued interest in wind power prompted him to build several other large windmills. One of those powered a heating system in his house. 

He found great joy in mounting such diverse materials on pieces of industrial machine parts. Simpson crafted huge, highly kinetic sculptures whose parts move with the slightest breeze. Some of his wind machines have been on view at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. He was a farm machinery repairman who began creating these sculptures, in earnest, after his retirement using found objects. He was 94 years old when he died in 2013. Ironically, that was the same year his whirligigs were designated North Carolina's State Folk Art. 

We were a bit too early for a beer, but right across the street is Casita Brewing Company. Ryan and Mahalia Witter-Merithew launched Casita Brewing downtown Wilson. From day one it felt like home to us. So when Mahalia decided to sell, we jumped. We didn’t found Casita, but we’re honored to carry it forward. Becky (the wife) brings the pure beer joy, Steve (the husband) brings the technical side, and Eric (the son) drives the brewhouse with creativity and chemistry.

Beer was always running in the background—back-yard hangs, college nights, pool-side afternoons. Becky’s love started young, watching her dad tap a keg after mowing in the blazing Texas heat. My hook was the science:  believe it or not although wastewater treatment and brewing beer produce far different results, the processes aren't all that different. Eric picked it up, too—chemistry major, fermentation science minor from Appalachian State—ready to brew beers that make folks sit up and notice. Whether it’s a crisp lager or a barrel-aged stout, beer here is more than a drink—it’s a bond, a conversation starter, a tradition that pulls people together.

We drove through the heart of Tobacco country today, there were fields everywhere. But what always interests me more, is old neon motel signs. This one was in a mowed field, but no old buildings around it. It is almost as if the building vanished and someone wanted to keep the sign. It is located next to the Tobacco Farm Life Museum on US 301.

In Dunn, North Carolina at the corner of Broad and Clinton, there is this awesome mural on the side of Heart and Hammer Tattoo Company. I could not find anything on who painted it or any more about it.

There was a horse farm that certainly had its patriotism on full display with full-size American flags on every post. I wish I could have gotten a better shot, but it was a pretty amazing shot!

We arrived in Lumberton NC and I always remember the water tower in Lumberton. The iconic water tower is highly recognizable to travelers and locals for its vibrant, patriotic red, white, and blue American flag design.

Our home for the next two nights is the KOA Journey here. Keeping a travel diary helps. Charlie asked if we ever stayed here before... I said yes, in August of 2019 on our way back to Florida.

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 15 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

Thursday May 21st was finally a cooler day in Littleton. We headed out to see a few more local attractions, as it is our last day here. But we will definitely be back!

Our first stop was the Lake Gaston Dam & Day Use Area. It is east of where we have been camped. The Lake Gaston Dam was completed in 1963 and is located in the small town of Thelma, North Carolina on the Roanoke River. 

The lake was formed when the Virginia Electric Power Company built the dam to generate electricity for Dominion Resources, which owns the lake. When water is allowed to pass through the Gaston Dam powerhouse, the station’s four generators can produce up to 55 megawatts each, or a total capacity of 220 megawatts. There was a big youth group with buses in the parking area and in the day use area, so we could not get to the other side of the dam.

We went into Roanoke Rapids and got groceries and fuel. On our way, at the corner of E 14th Street and Roanoke Avenue, we passed a building that was being torn down, but they left one wall up with a beautiful mural on it. I know why they left it! It was painted by local artist Napolean Hill. It is a prominent piece commemorating civil rights pioneer Sarah Keys Evans on the Roanoke Canal Trail. Across the county, and especially in this area, you can find the roots of this culture beautifully captured in the vibrant murals by Napolean Hill. Don't confuse this Napolean Hill with the American self-help author and con man of the same name. Who is best known for his book Think and Grow Rich (1937), which is among the best-selling self-help books of all time.

Near the brewery, there is this mini-log cabin, is the best way I can describe it. I learned that this is actually the Person’s Ordinary Museum replica. So naturally, we had to see what the Person's Ordinary Museum was. Person's Ordinary is a historic inn and tavern located at Littleton. It dates to the mid- to late-18th century, and is a 1 1/2-story frame dwelling, three bays wide and two deep, with a massive exterior stone chimney at each end. 

It is the oldest landmark in the Halifax County town. It was once a tavern owned by Thomas Person. Active in the Regulator movement and in time a prominent Anti-Federalist leader, Person was also a planter. His nephew and adopted son, William Person Little, inherited Person’s plantation, which took the name “Little Manor.” The town of Littleton, in turn, took its name from “Little Manor.” The town’s first mail service originated at the ordinary and Little served as the first postmaster.

Person’s Ordinary, in operation by 1770, was a stagecoach stop between Hillsborough and Halifax. It became a popular stop for many travelers. In 1925 the old inn became the property of the Warren County Board of Education. In 1957 the Littleton Women’s Club leased the building from the school board. The school used it for a shop. 

It’s been used as a post office in the past. In 1954, it kind of fell apart when Hurricane Hazel came through, and the Woman’s Club back then had a project to restore it. They were renting it from the school system for $1 a year. Finally, the school system wasn’t using it anymore and said you can have it, so now they own the building. If the Woman’s Club ever folds it will go to Halifax County. The group meets at the site and opens the building at times for tours. The Littleton Woman’s Club was the driving force in ensuring the historic site remains standing. The club hosts fundraisers and relies on grant funding and donations to preserve the building. The offerings for Person’s Ordinary have come from as far away as Oregon. Over the last five years, approximately $45,000 in grant money allowed the club to put on a new roof and renovate the Person’s Ordinary flooring. Future projects are already in the planning stages for Person’s Ordinary.

Yes, we had to make one last stop at Timber Waters. We met a wonderful elderly gentleman, Mr. Mack. He is a regular at the Blue Jay Bistro or Timber Waters for his one beer a day. He is a 10th generation Littleton NC resident. He is known as the official, unofficial mayor of Littleton. We bought him a beer yesterday and he said he would repay us today. Not if Charlie can help it! So, we went in early, enjoyed our beer and paid for one for him for today too! Enjoy your beer, Mr. Mack! 

It is going to rain this evening, so it's a good night to finish up blogs and get things put away for our move tomorrow.

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 14 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

Wednesday May 20th was a laid back day, so I am using this blog to share the story of the quiet town of Littleton, North Carolina, and some lesser-known facts about its past. Surprisingly, much of its recent revival traces back to one humble man.

Lumber trucks still roll through downtown Littleton, carrying timber from nearby forests to a paper mill east of town. They pass straight through, stopping only at the town’s single traffic light. Not long ago, those trucks moved through a nearly deserted downtown. 

Like many small towns in North Carolina and across the country, Littleton had been losing population for decades, dropping from about 1,000 residents in 1960 to just over 600 in 2023. Most downtown businesses had closed, and the last train passed through in 1982. Although Lake Gaston attracted vacationers, most travelers bypassed Littleton. Today, however, Main Street is lined with parked cars and thriving businesses filling once-empty storefronts.

Ed Fitts, a 1957 graduate of Littleton High School, grew up in the town and later earned a degree in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University. He built a successful packaging company that became one of the nation’s largest suppliers of fast-food containers. Ed and his wife, Deb Fitts, often returned to Littleton, and it was painful for him to watch his old school—where he once played football for the Blue Jays—fall into disrepair. After selling his container business, the couple opened a winery in Napa Valley, which they sold in 2019 so they could focus more fully on Ed’s hometown.

Ed and his wife, Deb, set out to restore both the school and the town. Over the past eight years, their efforts have helped transform Littleton into a destination. They have opened an upscale restaurant, a brewery, a coffee shop, and a wine store. They also renovated the former high school, converting part of it into the Lakeland Cultural Arts Center, and founded a private K–6 school that offers scholarships to students in need.

One of Ed’s first major projects was saving his old school, which had sat vacant since 1973 and was close to demolition. The building is now home to Littleton Academy, which opened in fall 2022. It began with grades K–6 and adds one grade each year, with plans to become a full K–12 school by 2029. Fitts believes that a strong educational system is essential to a healthy community. Many students attend Littleton Academy on scholarship, giving them access to a high-quality education regardless of family income.

The former Lakeland Cultural Arts Center, now called the Acorn Center, is a world-class theater in Littleton. First opened in 1978, it has survived for more than 40 years through the dedication of volunteers. With support from Deb and Ed Fitts and the Ed Fitts Charitable Foundation, the theater recently underwent a major renovation and expansion. The new Ed Fitts Amphitheater, part of the Acorn Center complex, now hosts outdoor concerts and performances throughout the summer.

The foundation’s first completed business project was Daphne’s Coffee Shop, which opened in December 2020 and was named after Ed’s mother. Since then, other projects have followed. Over the past six years, the foundation’s projects have brought new energy and optimism to Littleton. The Ed Fitts Charitable Foundation has played a major role in this transformation. It renovated the Lakeland Cultural Arts Center, Littleton Academy, Bloom Space Entrepreneur Center, Main Street Mercantile, Daphne’s Coffee Shop, the 5-Star Blue Jay Bistro, and The Fix Salon, and it also helped bring the Roanoke Valley Veterans Museum to town.

You will not find Ed’s name prominently displayed around town—not on the school, the arts center, or the restaurant. One of the few visible signs of his impact is the Wi-Fi access funded by the Ed Fitts Charitable Foundation, which helped bring internet connectivity to a rural town that had previously been overlooked in broadband expansion efforts. As consultant Stacey Woodhouse observed, “In every small town, there’s somebody who made it. But the difference is, they don’t come back to help.”

Littleton also features public art that celebrates its history and culture. Karen Harley, a Haliwa-Saponi artist, was commissioned by the Ed Fitts Foundation to paint a mural on the gymnasium exterior representing students and school activities. 

Harley also painted the mural on the exterior of the Roanoke Valley Veterans Museum. 

We also visited Timber Waters Brewing Company, again, and learned more about how it began. In March 2024, construction was nearly complete, with plans to open by early June of that year. The brewery was Ed Fitts Charitable Foundation’s latest project, adding to its growing list of efforts supporting Littleton’s revival. According to Ryan, the brewery uses a state-of-the-art system in which the grain is not seen again after it goes in until it comes out at the end of the process. Timber Waters now distributes its products throughout the region.

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures.

Day 13 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

On Tuesday May 19th, we took some time to explore the area. We have never been to this part of North Carolina before. I read a bit about Eaton's Ferry. In the early 1900’s, Mr. Charles Eaton saw a need for a ferry crossing along the North Carolina and Virginia border. He built a ferry that would connect the two. The ferry was a small barge that crossed the Roanoke River powered early on by a pack of mules with rope pulleys. Later the ferry was motorized, and could carry up to 2 vehicles. The crossing was retired due to the creation of Lake Gaston, which flooded the river valley and necessitated the construction of the bridge. The Roanoke River ferry operated up until the Eaton's Ferry Bridge replaced the historic ferry in 1962. 

The dam created Lake Gaston with over 20,000 acres, 34 miles long, and approximately one and one half miles wide. It has over 350 miles of shoreline. The lake was formed when the Virginia Electric Power Company built the dam to generate electricity for Dominion Resources, which owns the lake. 

On the way back from the lake, we passed this sign. you know me, I just had to find out more! Ridgeway Cantaloupe Festival is an annual event. The festival includes live music, great food, vendors, and of course, their world-famous cantaloupes and a cantaloupe 5k Run! 2026 is the 12th running of this summer-time classic. It offers a rural and flat 5k route. It's a USAT&F certified course, too! Today, Richard Holtzmann still grows cantaloupes in Ridgeway, just like his ancestors did. After a six- to eight-week growing season, the fruit is ripe. Then, an old metal sign appears at the end of the family’s driveway: “Richard Holtzmann & Son. Ridgeway Cantaloupes.” For 45 years, their cantaloupe cart has stood by the same produce stand, beneath the shade of pecan trees along US Highway 1. 

I also wanted to check out Medoc Mountain State Park. I love the views from these high places! It is located in North Carolina's eastern Piedmont region. What I learned upon our arrival, that Medoc Mountain is not really a mountain at all! The ridge of Medoc Mountain stands at 325 feet tall and offers no view! It is, rather, the core of what was once a mighty range of mountains - Medoc Mountain is what remains after millions of years of erosion. The eroded peaks were formed by volcanic action during the Paleozoic Age, about 350 million years ago. 

The mountain and surrounding land have long been used for agriculture. The high ridge and the slopes of Little Fishing and Bear Swamp creeks are the only places in the area that have not been extensively cultivated. A grist mill operated in the area until the late 19th Century. In the 1920s, a Boy Scout camp was built on the summit of the mountain and, a few years later, lumbermen cut the mountain forest for timber. In the early 1930s, a deposit of molybdenum was discovered near the summit. Exploration of the site occurred then and again in the late 1960s, scarring the land though no significant mining operations took place. 

For many years, local residents used the area for hunting, horseback riding and hiking. Numerous old roads and trails passing through the woods are evidence that these forests have long been enjoyed. In 1970, citizens proposed the creation of a state park in the area. In 1972, the Division of Parks and Recreation surveyed a five-county area for a suitable site and recommended Medoc Mountain and the surrounding land. The first parcel was purchased in October of 1973 for the establishment of the park, and by March of 1975, over 2,200 acres had been purchased. Medoc Mountain State Park has now expanded to 3,700-acre pine and hardwood forest interlaced with more than 10 miles of hiking trails. 

To mix the old with the new... There is an old tobacco barn near the main picnic shelter and newly renovated camping spots with FHU (water, electric, and sewer.)

On our way back from Medoc Mountain, we spotted Halifax County Motor Speedway sign in Brinkleyville NC. This track used to be called Clary’s Speedway. The Halifax County Motor Speedway is a quarter-mile in length. The track configuration is an oval in shape and has a red clay, famous in North Carolina, dirt surface. It was listed for sale in late 2023. Former owner Michael Wells listed the facility to shift focus entirely to his other businesses. Following its final active racing season in 2024, the 3/10-mile track on 28-plus acres of real estate was sold for $500,000.

We truly love driving on the two-lane roads of America and I love to see a farmer hard at work, moving equipment from one field to another on the roadway.

Can you guess where we stopped on the way back to the campground from our travels? If you guessed a brewery, you were right! We stopped at the best brewery in Littleton, Timber Waters. Timber Water Brewery is the perfect spot to unwind and raise a glass to life's adventures. 

What can I say, besides being an awesome brewery, it is a pillar in this community. How are they a pillar, you ask? Nestled in the heart of Downtown Littleton, they are more than just a brewery – they are a gateway to adventure and a force for positive change in our community. 

Their passion lies in crafting exceptional beers that capture the spirit of our community. We proudly source ingredients from North Carolina farms. We also recycle all our spent grain to farmers in the area for feed. This commitment to local sourcing ensures every sip is a true taste of home.
 
They are a Brewery with purpose. At Timber Waters, they believe in giving back. All net proceeds from their operations directly support education in our community through Littleton Academy. 

They are joined in this venture with other purpose-driven local businesses like Blue Jay Bistro, The Acorn Center, and Main Street Mercantile in working towards a common goal: helping Littleton Academy thrive and uplifting our community through education. Their motto, "Stand Tall, Make Waves," embodies their commitment to creating outstanding brews, unforgettable experiences, and positive change.

Stay tuned for more #TwoLaneAdventures

Day 12 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

On Monday May 18th, we traveled from Petersburg Virginia to Lake Gaston in Littleton NC. We traveled on US 301 for most of the drive, except the small portion when we left the campground and turned to wrong way... my fault! 

Unique to Emporia, Virginia is Disc Golf. Emporia is known as the Disc Golf Capital of the World and home to Dynamic Discs and the Dynamic Discs Open that takes place every April in Emporia. Jeremy Rusco, founder and CEO of Dynamic Discs started his business for a class as a student in the School of Business.

There are more than 300 LOVEworks signs across Virginia. Emporia has used the slogan,"Virginia is for Lovers and Emporia is for Nuts" in many of their Peanut Festival ideas. With that said, Emporia is the perfect place to display a LOVEworks sign made of peanuts. Virginia's annual Peanut Festival is a family-friendly event in late September. The frstival features a carnival, live music, parade, car show, food, arts & crafts, and educational exhibits, with free admission. 

We have been here once, but going in the opposite direction! We crossed from Virginia back into North Carolina.

In the town of Weldon NC, you will find the Weldon Mills Distillery. It is an award-winning, small-batch micro-distillery, recognized nationally for its high-quality craft spirits. 

In less than a decade of operation, Weldon Mills Distillery has achieved extraordinary results. They have been recognized as the #1 small-batch micro-distillery in America.

Originally founded on the scenic banks of the Roanoke River, the business is shaped by many defining elements: a naturally beautiful landscape, pristine river water, and people with an unrelenting drive to succeed.

The Millhouse, their tasting room and event center, is in a historic 1892 corn mill right on the Roanoke River rapids. Visitors can catch a trolley from the historic tasting room to the production facility. Unique for RVers, they are a harvest host too!

We arrived at Thousand Trails - Lake Gaston. I will tell you more about the campground later. I will tell you we quickly learned it used to be an Outdoor World campground. We let ourselves in the gate and headed to site 64, our home for four nights.

After we got set up and rested, we headed into Littleton NC and made our first of many stops at Timber Waters Brewery. Tonight, Charlie has the Littleton Lager and I had a Honey Ale. More about the brewery in another blog!

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!