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!

Day 10 & 11 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

Saturday May 16th is Bob & Tammy's wedding day! The wedding and the reception are being held at The Country Club of Petersburg. It is a private, member-owned club in Petersburg, Virginia, that features an 18-hole golf course 18-hole, par 72 course designed by Ed Ault (1969) with later updates by Lester George, tennis courts, swimming pools, a fitness center, and dining facilities. The club was established in 1921, it offers a full range of social and athletic amenities, including a clubhouse with a ballroom, lounge, and pro shop, and has hosted numerous state and regional golf championships, like the Virginia State Open and Amateur. 

The wedding was outside the clubhouse with shade from the beautiful tall Eastern White Pines. They created an elegant arch with linen and flowers sprays. The wedding guests were seated in white chairs with gusseted bows and flowers lining the walkway.

While the professional pictures were being taken, we enjoyed drinks and appetizers. From the patio, we could sneak a picture or two of the wedding party! 

The reception started with the wedding party entering followed by Mr. and Mrs. Jones entering the reception! The food was a well portioned buffet and it was delicious! Even before dinner was over, the party was well under way! 

It was a great time and we were lucky to see so many of our Yankee RV Tours staff and caravanners at the wedding and reception!

On Sunday May 17th, we enjoyed a quiet day. We have been staying at South 40 Campground. 

It is a family-owned campground just south of historic Petersburg. It offers the perfect setting for you to explore the beautiful state of Virginia. It offers a serene and relaxing environment, the wilderness stretches far from the main roads so you can let go of the hustle of the city. For the owners, pitching a tent, building a fire, roasting a marshmallow to perfection, making friends, and exploring this amazing country were some of the best experiences from their childhood.  As families grow and spread out, it becomes more difficult for them to find time for these simple pleasures.  That is why they decided to create the South 40 Campground in 2013.  

We took full advantage of the serenity today and hung out at the campground for the whole day! We have done so much running around, that staying put felt just right!

Our friends, Keith & Tammie Frazier, came by later in the day to see our new rig. They are considering downsizing from their BIG class A. We have not seen Keith and Tammie since they were in Cape Canaveral with us on a Yankee Rally.

Stay tuned for more #TwoLane Adventures

Day 8 & 9 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

On Thursday May 14th, we departed Fayetteville RV Resort enroute to Petersburg Virginia. Fayetteville RV Resort is actually in Wade, North Carolina. Wade was settled around the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad, it was named for businessman N.G. Wade and chartered in 1913. The town has its own Town Hall and the Wade Community Fire Department.

Smithfield was a "big" town we went through. Smithfield is home to the Ava Gardner Museum, Wild Bill's Western Town named Shadowhawk, and is situated along the Neuse River. If you are there at the right time of the year, you can enjoy the annual Ham & Yam Festival.

Ava Gardner was born in Smithfield and she became one of Hollywood's most iconic actresses during the Golden Age of film. Thomas Banks purchased the Brogden Teacherage building, the house where Ava lived from ages 2 to 13. Following Thomas Banks' death in 1989, Lorraine Banks donated the museum's collection to the town of Smithfield. In 1999, the museum purchased its current home, a renovated 6,400 square foot building in downtown Smithfield.

Following the occupation of Goldsboro, Sherman continued his march through North Carolina as he set his sights on Raleigh. While on the march from Goldsboro to Raleigh, Sherman and his men camped near Smithfield. Troops did only a little burning to the town but did ransack community buildings and the courthouse. While in camp on the evening of April 12, 1865, Sherman received word of General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. Sherman wired his congratulations to General Grant in Virginia and conveyed his belief that Lee’s terms of surrender were “magnanimous and liberal.”

Outside Smithfield you can stop and smell the poppies along 301 N. Too bad, they seem to be past their prime!

In Selma North Carolina there is the Stancil Oil Company Country Store. What a great representation of old time gas pumps! One of Selma's most famous residents was Lunsford Richardson, who was born in 1854 on a farm near Selma. He rose to fame as the inventor of Vicks Vapo-Rub. So, that means  Vicks Vapor-Rub was also invented here!

We crossed the North Carolina and Virginia State line. We are in the State "for lovers." All through Virginia, you can find all kinds of "LOVE" signs! 

We arrived at South 40 RV Resort, our home for the next four nights. 

We enjoyed dinner with old and new friends at Bob & Tammy's house. We have not seen Bob & Gretchen in a while! We did see Barbara before we left Florida. It was a great night of catching up with friends in a relaxing environment! 

On Friday May 15th, we had a quiet morning and met the folks from last night, with a few other friends added in for lunch at Nanny's BBQ. Talk about good "home cookin'" that is what this place offered! The place was whistle clean, staff very friendly, and the fried chicken was to die for. All the sides and fixing were delicious, too. My favorites were cabbage, yams and beans! But I did enjoy one small piece of fried chicken! This place is still a must stop here, when in Petersburg.

The wedding rehearsal & dinner were that evening too. The wedding is being held at the Country Club of Petersburg. The rehearsal dinner was at Roma Ristorante Italiano. We got to experience authentic Sicilian style cuisine, pizza and other Italian specialties. I think Bob knows everyone in this town! We enjoyed our meal in a private room and the owner came in to make sure everything was good. 

Tammy & Bob look great! 

We did get a picture of the four girls, plus one small photo-bombing flower girl!

 

The big and little girls tried to get ice cream, but the shop was closed already!

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 7 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

Wednesday May 13^th, we departed Santee State Park enroute to Fayetteville RV Resort in Wade North Carolina. We took I-95 over Lake Marion to get onto US 301.

Summerton was the first town we came to. I kept seeing signs and banners for Briggs vs Elliott. What is that all about? The Briggs vs. Elliott Festival is an annual community event that honors the landmark legal challenge to school segregation. Briggs was the first filed of the four court cases combined into Brown v. Board of Education, the famous case in which the U.S. Supreme Court in 1954 officially overturned racial segregation in U.S. public schools. The weekend-long celebration commemorates the anniversary of the case. The festival features a lively parade through downtown Summerton, guided historical tours of local civil rights sites, jazz music and a scholarship gala.

We saw many farmers irrigating their fields. This farmer was watering their corn using overhead sprinklers on a center pivot. The point of irrigation is to ensure the crop receives 20–30 inches of water annually, peaking during the tasseling stage. Effective irrigation management prevents moisture stress, maximizing yields by maintaining soil hydration until the kernels reach maturity.

The Town of Turbeville is located at the intersection of Highways 301 and 378. In 1840 Michael Turbeville bought 125 acres of land and built a home on this property. Sometime between 1870 and 1875, William, son of Michael, purchased 200 acres and built the first house in what is now the Town of Turbeville. His brother, Clem, likewise bought land and built. Their land was substantially covered with large pine trees; the brothers built a turpentine still which they ran for about 20 years. 

They also built a large store where they carried on an extensive mercantile business for an even longer time. During those years the community was known as “Puddin’ Swamp”. After the turpentine business was no longer profitable, the brothers put in a sawmill to cut timber. During this time a railroad was built through the area and began buying much of the timber. In addition to the freight cars on this line, passenger service was also added to this line. In 1898 the Town of Turbeville was recognized by the US Government, since it established a Post Office. The Town was laid out in 1912, lots were sold and businesses began to spring up. With the exception of the Depression years, Turbeville has thrived in spite of two fires, on in 1938 and another in 1970. Today Turbeville’s population has increased to 720 people with 321 housing units. Over the years volunteerism has provided the town and community with fire and rescue departments. 21st Century Turbeville has been characterized as “small town with a big heart.”

Sellers, South Carolina, is a quiet, rural town known for its small-town charm. It offers a peaceful atmosphere with a focus on local community, close to regional tobacco history and the scenic Little Pee Dee State Park. It is home to the historic Sellers Depot, a reminder of its past ties to the railroad industry, and the Sellers Raccoon Festival. The Annual Sellers Raccoon Festival is a community event featuring a parade, live music, food vendors, and kids' activities like inflatables. Traditionally held in mid-October on Main Street and features a "raccoon cookoff" and community fun.

Coming north, you do not see a million billboards for it, but once you arrive you know it is there… South of the Border! It is a famous kitschy roadside attraction and rest area located in Hamer, South Carolina, immediately south of the border between North and South Carolina. It sits at the intersection of Interstate 95, US 301, and US 501, and is widely known for its pervasive billboard advertisements and its Mexican-inspired mascot, Pedro.

An effort to re-establish the 334-mile-long South Carolina-North Carolina boundary that began in 1995 and was completed in 2013. When issues arose regarding the state boundary between York County, SC and Gaston County, NC in the early 1990s, the SC Geodetic Survey and the NC Geodetic Survey signed a Memorandum of Agreement in April 1993 to cooperatively re-establish the South Carolina – North Carolina boundary. The intent was to avoid a litigious dispute, such as occurred between South Carolina and Georgia regarding their boundary in the Lower Savannah River area. This contentious dispute cost the state $10 million and 26 years of litigation and negotiation, that involved the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress, to resolve 25 miles of boundary.

We arrived at Fayetteville RV Resort and got settled in and relaxed a bit. Later we met friends from Texas at Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom. Milt & Gaby are here in North Carolina working on her dad’s estate. It is a popular, multi-use craft brewery campus. It features an expansive indoor taproom, a huge outdoor patio, a dedicated dog park, a playground for children, a craft cocktail lounge, and its own resident restaurant.

We were so busy talking, I did not get many pictures. We all enjoyed craft beers or ciders and some awesome conversation. The resident restaurant is called Napkins. They also have a food trailer there called Schnitzelhouse. Which is right up Gaby & her brother’s alley, as both are very fluent in German! They enjoyed talking to the proprietor of the food trailer! Charlie enjoyed a brat from them. Gaby, Milt & her bother all ate traditional German fare from there. I went for the chicken wings from Napkins!

I will tell you more about the campground tomorrow. This is one of my favorite campgrounds to walk in! Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Days 5 & 6 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

Monday May 11^th, 2026, we traveled from Savannah Georgia to Santee State Park in South Carolina. We left Savannah on US 17 N. In Georgia US 17 is a 124-mile coastal route, often called the "Ocean Highway" or "Coastal Highway," running from the Florida border to the South Carolina line at the Savannah River. It is generally a two-lane road that is a scenic alternative to I-95. The Eugene Talmadge Memorial Bridge, named to honor the former politician, is a major cable-stayed bridge spanning the Savannah River, connecting downtown Savannah, Georgia, to Hutchinson Island and Jasper County, South Carolina, via US 17. Completed in 1991, it features a 185-foot vertical clearance, a vertical navigational clearance of roughly 185 feet, and a 1,100-foot main span.

The Savannah River begins at the confluence of the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers at Lake Hartwell in Northeast Georgia. It flows for over 300 miles, before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Savannah, Georgia. The Savannah River defines the border between Georgia and South Carolina.

Fun fact about that border. On June 29, 1977, an altercation between Georgia law enforcement officers and a South Carolina shrimp boat captain attracted national press and rekindled a controversy that would not be resolved until 1990. South Carolina and Georgia disagreed over the exact location of the boundary in the lower Savannah River, as well as ownership of several islands in that region. At stake in this border dispute was not only tax dollars but also potentially millions of dollars in federal aid. On June 25, 1990, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of South Carolina and awarded ownership of most of the islands in the Savannah River. Adding three thousand acres of land and seven thousand acres of water to the Palmetto State.

South Carolina features over 344,500 acres of salt marsh, the most of any state on the Atlantic coast. These marshes serve as a vital ecosystem that acts as a natural buffer against coastal storms and a nursery for marine life. These tidal wetlands are characterized by vast expanses of green smooth cordgrass, tidal creeks, and mud, defining the scenic landscape of the Lowcountry.

We turned off US 17 in Hardeeville Georgia onto 321. Just after Tarboro, we turned onto US 601. We followed 601 all the way into Orangeburg, SC. One of my favorite parts of traveling these two-lane roads is the sights we see. I love diving through the “tree tunnels.” In the south, the Oak canopies create stunning "tree tunnels," particularly where massive live oaks and Spanish moss drape over roads to form shaded, magical corridors.

Hampton County Courthouse is a historic courthouse building located at Hampton, South Carolina. It was built in 1878 and was originally a two-story structure constructed of brick laid in the common bond pattern in the Italianate style. In 1925, the courthouse was renovated and additional wings were added to the front and rear facades. Also located on the property are two small modern annexes situated directly to the rear of the courthouse, and a two-story brick annex.

Hampton is also the home of the world's original Watermelon Festival. Since 1939, Hampton County's most colorful crop has been celebrated with a Watermelon Festival, headquartered each June on the Hampton County Courthouse Square. It is South Carolina's oldest continuing festival. Cordele, Georgia, may be widely recognized as the "Watermelon Capital of the World," a title it has held since the early 1990s due to its high-volume production. The city serves as a major hub for growing, packing, and shipping over 200 million pounds of watermelons annually.

In Orangeburg, we saw the Veterans Memorial Park, which is part of the Edisto Memorial Gardens. It is a 175-acre site honoring South Carolina military members, dedicated on November 11, 2009. It features a 25-foot obelisk, granite, and water features, located on a historic 1865 Civil War conflict site.

We arrived at Santee State Park, our home, for the next two nights. Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures.

On Tuesday May 12^th, 2026 we enjoyed a relaxing day at Santee State Park.

Santee State Park is in the Sandhills of South Carolina on the western edge Lake Marion. Santee State Park is 2,500 acres in the heart of Santee Cooper Country. It has two campgrounds, 158 water & electric sites for RV or tent camping, 48 of them have 50-amp service. Two boat ramps that provide access to 110,000-acre Lake Marion, the largest lake in South Carolina. Ten plus miles of trails for hiking and biking. There are thirty modern cabins, ten are uniquely located on a pier over Lake Marion and 20 on the lakeshore.

On my morning walk, I found my favorite place at Santee State Park. It is by the lake when the lake catches first light. No motors. No voices. Just calm water and soft color through the leaves of the trees. It is earned by showing up early. It’s a view does not impress, it invites you stop and look. It reminds me that the most sacred places ask nothing from you.

This place was not built for checklists. It’s a place to relax, let your shoulders drop. Walk a trail without rushing. Sit by the lake and do nothing. When the wind died down, we enjoyed sitting out and talking to anyone who walked by. We even met a man from Buffalo New York.

Lake Marion is the largest lake in South Carolina and is centrally located within the coastal plain where it is bordered by five counties. There is over 500 miles of shoreline. Lake Marion is the uppermost of the two beautiful water bodies that comprise Santee Cooper Reservoir. Its head waters extend upstream nearly to the confluence of the Wateree and Congaree Rivers, where seasonally flooded, forested wetlands form the wildlife rich Sparkleberry Swamp.

The reservoir was constructed to provide hydroelectric power to rural South Carolina and to provide needed jobs for a depression ravaged state. Because of World War II, the completion of the project was moved ahead and Lake Marion Dam was closed before the clearing of Lake Marion was completed in November 1941. As a result, fishermen will find there are thousands upon thousands of stumps, dead tree trunks and live cypress trees. 

The 6.5-mile-long Diversion Canal connects lower Lake Marion to Lake Moultrie and provides a productive and weather protected area for anglers. The closure of Lake Marion Dam trapped a founding population of striped bass and a thriving population developed in the reservoir. Blue catfish and flathead catfish were introduced into the system in the mid-1960s. They have readily adapted to the Santee Cooper lakes system and today provide many anglers with the opportunity to catch the largest freshwater fish they will ever encounter. Largemouth bass and shellcracker fisheries also draw anglers each spring, providing unique opportunities to catch large fish.

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures as we head further north, before we head south again.