MountAiry – Mayberry still is alive

 

Oops – Something from spring

After Charleston we stopped in Raleigh NC for a few days. It is hard to be so close and not want to visit my sister and her family. RV space is most always available in the State Fair grounds and it is so convenient to family. In addition to always feeling very welcomed Les and I traveled downtown and visited the newly renovated North Carolina Museum of Natural Science. They have great exhibits and a live PBS / School room broadcast was going on. In another room a tracking device was being surgically placed in a snake. This snake was then going to be returned to his natural habit and tracked. While the surgery was happening the surgeon and assistants were answering our questions. Very cool! A visit here is free. Downtown is great to wander around in with great historical buildings, coffee shops, cafes and craft beer pubs.

The Smith clan never fails to entertain, with interpretive dances from great niece Meredith, Carolines bright blue smiling eyes, wonderful meals and conversation (Allison; you can make those pastries anytime!)

We are very comfortable with the Raleigh to Delton trek, but in all these years (20 for Les more for me) we have never taken time to stop in MountAiry. Today it is time.

First stop is Mayberry Campground. Big and spacious, very easy to park and connect with lots of Brady space. It is also a very pretty drive from the highway. We had beautiful views of Pilot Mountain Knob, valleys and passed the burial site of Eng & Chang Bunker (Conjoined-twins born 1811, that became plantation owners and business men in the area).

These guys had a crazy life.  You'll need to google them for yourself

Just after a spring rain shower

 

 

MountAiry is known as the birthplace and home of Andy Griffith; actor, writer, and star of the “The Andy Griffith Show”. Mount Airy, his friends and neighbors were used as Andys inspiration for the show. Even today you can feel the unchanged homey feel to this little town. Now don’t get me wrong. This is a working town with businesses and industry. It just hasn’t done anything to change or modernize downtown. We walked into the Blue Bird Diner for lunch. The décor is what all out those 50 style restaurants are trying to be. It is so sincerely southern and authentic ( just go with a burger, grilled cheese, chips and a real shake { you can’t expect this diner to be something it isn’t}).

Don’t skip this treat……Take a tour of the area in Barneys squad car!!!!!!!!!!! It is a replica but so what it is still a Ford Galaxy 500! During our tour, we were driven to the granite quarry, shown many churches and building made from this homegrown granite. We were taken down main street, by Floyds Barber Shop (Floyd still works there!), Snappy Lunch, Andys childhood home and more. Now sure, you could walk or drive to everything – but we are in Barneys squad car and all its awesomeness. The tour was made so much more engaging with our drivers storys. Rawley (72 years old), was born and raised in MountAiry, went to an all black school and church. He played and sledded with Andy as a child, started the first volunteer rescue department in the county (which had white and black volunteers together). Several years ago the street signs had all been redone. Rawley noticed that one street had been misspelled to be the spelling of his last name. He asked the mayor about it. She feigned surprised but never had it corrected ( true or not it is a charming story). We didn’t just get a tour we had a personal history glimpse of life in a small southern town. It was only an hour tour, but it will rate as the top guided tour we have ever enjoyed.

 

Don't miss this this tour

Our guide Mr. Rawley

Home town star - I think so!

This really is a beautiful small town

The company that provided the building materials

granite for everyone

 

This town has had citizen fighting for freedom from the begining

Thank you all!!!

After or before your tour take some time to just enjoy this town - no replica can feel like this

Now, I have been told I have a big mouth but........

(NC Natural history Museum)

 

 

You could spend more time here going to the Andy Museum, visit the Donna Fargo exhibit, shop at Opies Candy store and looking at the beautiful homes (this really is a pretty town).  Oh, and most of the tobacco farms have been made into wineries. but we are ready to get back to Michigan so the next morning we are headed North.

 

May 2012 (oops posting out of order)

 

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