Day 4 - Floyd, VA to Hickory, NC

The Oak Haven Lodge in Floyd doesn't offer a free breakfast, so we headed into town to the only breakfast restaurant.  Apparently everyone else had the same idea because we grabbed the last table.

It's pretty much impossible to eat healthy around here.

Fried eggs, biscuits and gravy, and grits.

I did my best.

While taking a picture of the restaurant, we noticed some of our fellow diners leaving.

The cape looks interesting.

Wow, and his friend looks like a hobbit.

Floyd has exciting characters.

We got back on the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiked around a bit.

Erin avoids ruining her white shoes while standing in the mud.

We got off the parkway to do a special request.  For a certain Andy Griffith fan, we went to Mayberry (otherwise known as Mount Airy, NC)

Mayberry toy store.

Horse-pulled wagons.

Barney can keep you safe while you have a burger.

Mayberry gift shop.

This town certainly has a theme.

I should have made all these pictures black and white.

Cherry phosphate at the local soda shop.

We didn't have time for the Andy Griffith museum or the pork chop sandwich restaurant with the huge line.  Maybe on our next trip to Mayberry.

We decided to leave the parkway behind and rejoin it tomorrow.  Instead, we took an unplanned detour to Charlotte.

I used to work in Charlotte, so I happened to know where to go for the best lunch.  Mert's Heart and Soul.

Sweet tea and cornbread.  Erin is becoming a southerner.

Ignore her expression of joy and look at the southern feast.

Mashed potatoes, red beans, and macaroni and cheese for her.  Salmon cakes, collard greens, and black eyed peas for me.  Delicious.  Every single thing.  What is not shown is the banning pudding cake that somehow came in the car with us.

After lunch we headed to the park.

Erin and the bridge.

Duck madness.

The Charlotte Nature Museum is in the park, so we went there too.

This snake is climbing a wall somehow.

This bug looks awful familiar.

Why do owls always seem to be staring at you intently?

Baby chickens!

Very well-trained dogs.  Sort of silly though.

Finally, we entered a new state.  I wanted to show Erin where I used to work which is right near the border.

Welcome to South Carolina!

We were only there briefly by Carowinds before heading back north to Hickory, NC to the Fairfield Inn.  Time for a workout and some wireless to update this blog!