Gribblenation

Recently, I did an explore trip in Central North Carolina.  There were a few items for my Carolina Crossroads project that I wanted to get photos of - but like many road trips, there were a few surprises! This trip took me from our home northeast of Charlotte and out to Chatham County and back.  It was a mix of churches and freeways, antiques and old bridges, backroads, and old country stores.  You can find the entire photo set on flickr, here . I didn't gain any new state highways as I've done them all before - and in some cases, I had passed a few times and finally took some photos or even returned to take some more. Lower Grace Stone Church Have you ever driven past an old building that you know has been there a long time - it sticks out compared to the rest of the landscape - and wanted to stop?  The Grace Lower Stone Church would be one.  I've often driven past this historic church on our way to the North Carolina Zoo.  (Sometimes, we take the backway...

At around 10 am on New Year's Day, my wife says, "OK everyone - get dressed. We're going on a roadtrip. Oh, and wear warm clothes." The dusting of snow as we drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway was a great part of the trip. This is how some of my family's most interesting adventures begin.  You see, after a long holiday break - the kids out two and a half weeks of school, my oldest and I got sick (stomach virus) on Christmas day in Virginia, among other things - we just needed to get out of the house, and we did just that. My wife didn't tell us the destination - all I knew was that it was about two hours away and it was 28 degrees there.  So, I knew it was the mountains, but she wisely put the destination in the GPS before I got in the car. With that in mind, we headed on various routes to US 321 south of Hickory.  And with all four of us starving, we decided to get lunch. After a quick Yelp! search and a phone call to see if they were open - we headed into Do...

Virginia is for Lovers at the Buchanan Swinging Bridge The final day of the road trip saw us head back south and home to Charlotte.  However, we did make a few stops, specifically Natural Bridge State Park and the town of Buchanan, Virginia. Route: I-81, US 11, I-81, US 11, I-581, US 220, I-73, NC 68, I-74, Business I-85, I-85, home. For the full photo set on flickr - head here . Traffic wasn't too bad on 81 and the scenery this Sunday morning was very pretty. Getting to Natural Bridge State Park from I-81 South involves a unique left-hand exit. US 11 was a common theme along I-81 - weaving in and around the Interstate - almost inviting you to take a trip back in time.  We exited off the Interstate twice to follow US 11 - to Natural Bridge State Park and then Buchanan. Virginia's Natural Bridge State Park Natural Bridge is a beautiful site that demonstrates the power and wonder of nature.  Privately owned until transferred to the Virginia State Park System in 2016, Natura...

Union cannon near the site of Pickett's Charge Day Three saw Colton and I head north into South Central Pennsylvania and Gettysburg.  It was the most enjoyable part of the trip, and we also saw a wide variety of things. Route: I-81, I-70, MD 66, MD 77, US 15, PA 116, PA 16, US 11, PA 163, MD 63, US 11, I-81. For the entire day's photo set on flickr - please head here . There's a lot to do and see in Gettysburg.  Compared to Antietam - it is more tourist-oriented, and the crowds can be overwhelming.  On this pleasant May Saturday - Colton and I did not feel overwhelmed or rushed by tourists.   When I visited in October 2001 - you could schedule a guided tour, but I thought it was in advance.  I recall how I should have done it that year and would the next time.  I thought Colton would be good with a tour guide a few years from now; however, after a quick call to my wife and some begging from Colton, I changed my mind and said yes. It was certainly worth...

Cannons at Antietam. The second day of our adventure had us continuing through the Shenandoah Valley into West Virginia and then over to Antietam and Harpers Ferry.  It was my first visit to both locations in over twenty years, and I was looking forward to returning. Route: US 11, I-81, WV 45, WV 480, MD 34, MD 65, MD 34, WV 480, WV 230, US 340, WV 51. For a full set of photos from the second day of the trip head over here . Interstate 81 had its moments on the drive north, but it wasn't too bad overall. Our first stop would be at Antietam National Battlefield .  When I first visited in October 2001, this was my favorite of the battlefields I visited that year (Manassas, Gettysburg, Antietam). So I was excited to go back and share the trip with Colton.   Currently, the Antietam Visitors Center is being rebuilt, and a temporary one is open across from it.  After taking in the film - narrated by James Earl Jones - Colton and I began to do the self-guided auto tour...