Monday October 21, 2013

After flying back we stayed at our friends place in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina. This is basically a suburb of the city of Concord, which is basically a suburb of Charlotte. In the last post you can see that our motorhome was parked in their yard, which is a beautiful little acreage, heavily wooded with rolling hills. Love it there!

I can see why they chose this area to build their family home.

NASCAR RACE SHOPS

One day Jerry, his son Jacob and I went out to visit the race car shops.
If you didn’t know, this is the heart of NASCAR country.

Most of the race teams have their shops and run their operations in the area here. A place where I should have been born and raised! Everyone here knows about NASCAR and most of them are fans.

We started off at the Rick Hendrick shops. Man what a facility. We drove in knowing this was the day they would all be leaving for the next race at Talladega, Alabama. 

Hendrick Team - Pit Crew Practice.
These Guys are Pro Athletes and Help the Drivers win Races!

One view of Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Papa Joe Hendrick has his own street!

We started off going out back where they have mock pits set up and the race teams were practicing pit stops. Most people do not know or understand that this really is a team sport and the performance in the pits by the teams often determines who wins or loses during a race. These guys are fit! The looked like a bunch of pro football players in practice wearing their uniform T-shirts, shorts and protective gear.

The guy with his back to you is the Pit Crew Coach.
He makes sure these guys are trained, fit, fast and ready for race day! 

After a mock pit stop.
The coach goes over the results, what went right. what went wrong.

Being able to change four tires, fuel up with gas and making adjustments in under 14 seconds takes dedication and athletes that are fit and highly trained. They have an outdoor Gym and an indoor Gym as well where they spend their days practicing and getting ready for the next race.

Jacob trying his hand at the wheel!

Although we weren’t able to go right inside the shops we were able to watch from a viewing area and the back doors where the mechanics and tuners work on all the team cars. Inside of these shops is something to see. As clean as any hospital with all of the latest and hi tech equipment known to man. 

As I write this Jimmie Johnson (48) is in first place for points.
Only 3 more races to go this season!
He is Jim's pick for the Championship.

Another item to note is that many times the car manufacturers are involved with these teams developing technology into our daily drivers. Yes, you might be driving a car that has technology developed from a NASCAR race team!

We visited the shops of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and many of the other top teams. 

Chase Elliott (son of Bill Elliott) runs out of this shop also.
One of Chase Elliott's haulers getting ready to leave for the track.

Jeff Gordon's cars run out of the Hendrick shop.
Sorry bad picture through the glass.

Along the way Jerry knew where Daryl Waltrip had his shop. He is now an Anchorman and announcer for NASCAR TV. 

We stopped in there. Daryl also owns a house next to the shop. We went inside and the man working there told us to just go ahead and go in the back (all by ourselves). Although it is no longer a race shop it held Daryl’s collection of racecars from over the years and a bunch of memorabilia such as helmets and racing suits from the decades gone by. 

Along with all that Daryl also runs an on-line souvenir business from there as well. If you don’t know who he is he was one of the famous drivers from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s having won many races and well known in the racing world. I met his brother Michael once who also runs in NASCAR.

An old short track car Daryl Waltrip used to run.

One of Daryls old Gatorade cars.

Anyone familiar with Nascar in days gone by will remember this one.

Daryl's farewell tour car.

Another old Daryl Waltrip Cup Car

The Tide car that Daryl drove won a lot of races!

We also stopped by Roush-Fenway Racing’s shops and Richard Petty’s shops as well.

Ricky Stenhouse Sprint Cup car.

One of Carl Edward's cars in the middle. 

The shops need to be as clean as a hospital as seen here.

Some days are better than others for the teams.
That car is heavy!

Jerry is a retired Deputy Sheriff from this area and knows several of the team members and even some of the drivers. He through his contacts was able to score me a couple of team hats and was I ever appreciative. These are hats that are actually worn by the team members not the one’s that you buy in the stores. 

In fact Jerry even had an old used NASCAR Cup car sitting out back that had been used in a movie (I can’t remember which one, perhaps Days of Thunder?). How cool is that!

You know you are in NASCAR country when you find these in the back 40!

D.J. Tucker was the name of the driver in the movie.
This was a real Sprint Cup car used in the movie.

This car was in a wreck in the movie it was used in - can you tell?

If you know me very well you will know that I have been active in stock car racing since the age of 15 years old working on teams over the years and a race driver most years since the age of 16. Having Jerry take me to tour through these shops and areas was certainly one of the highlights of my trip and will be remembered for the rest of my life!

MAYBERRY and The ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW!

On another day we all jumped into the car and went to Mayberry!
Some of you might not know what this is. If you are old enough to remember the TV show “Andy Griffith” you will remember the town he was from and that was Mayberry. This was Jim's favorite TV show as a child for many years.

This town is actually called Mount Airy, North Carolina.

The film’s location was based on where Andy Griffith grew up which in the show they called Mayberry. I was even able to get a “Goober” hat! 

Goober!

We had lots of fun here with our friends Jennifer, Jerry and Jacob. The show was actually filmed in Hollywood but they used props and replicas of this little town such as Floyd’s Barber Shop, Wally's Garage where Goober worked and Snappy’s Café where we actually had lunch. 

Wally's real garage!

A replica of one of Andy's Police cars.
You can go for tours around town in these.

This show had a cult following in its day and is still shown regularly on some of the TV channels around.

I grew up watching the Andy Griffith Show and for many of us in my generation it is a symbol of simpler times and a place where everyone would have loved to live. 

Barney was the Deputy Sheriff and full of laughs!

Goober in his Tow Truck!

Goober filling in for the Sheriff in the Police Station.

The real Police Chief!

Jerry gets thrown in jail & Jim won't let him out!

You can stay in the real home where Andy Griffith grew up.

The little boy in the show was named Opie. If you didn’t know this, in real life his name is Ron Howard who grew up to be an actor but most notably one of Hollywood’s greatest Directors and Producers. 

WATCH FREE Episodes of the Andy Griffith Show here:
http://www.tvland.com/episodes/15112/andy-griffith-show-ellie-saves-a-female

Ahh… the good old days!

Spending time at Jennifer and Jerry’s was great. They are old friends from Cochrane. It was great to spend time with them and enjoy the local lifestyle, which included Pork Sandwiches and Chocolate Malts. 

Our friends the Wallaces.
From Left: Jerry, Jennifer and Jacob.

Even the girls had fun in Mayberry!

On the morning before we left I went out back with Jacob and we did some Target shooting with his 22 rifle. I hadn’t shot a gun since I retired from the police force and enjoyed it immensely. I must say Jacob would make a great sniper! Wow can that boy hit a target!

Finally the time had arrived where we had to move on. It was hard to leave as we had enjoyed our time so much here with our friends.

So on Saturday October 19^th we had to get going because we have so much to cover between now and when we meet with family in Orlando, Florida on November 10^th. 

I am quite sure we will be back some day and will likely coordinate it with a NASCAR race at Charlotte. Jennifer & Jerry have been warned and very graciously have opened their doors to us anytime we want to come. Now that’s southern hospitality!

EAST COAST BOUND - AGAIN!

On Saturday we headed SE out towards the coast. We didn’t make it too far as we were tired and ate getting away. We ended up in a suburb of Wilmington, NC and you guessed it camped at a local Wal-Mart. This was perfect, as we needed to stock up on some supplies as well.

Speaking of Wal-Marts and I’m sure this topic will excite you. 

We have seen Wal-Marts of every size and color. The one here in Wilmington was PINK! We have seen others that were green, blue and a few other colors too? Makes me wonder if they are testing colors to see which one works best? Now you really do know that I am retired and have very little else to think about!

SOUTH PORT, NORTH CAROLINA

Stop here if you are in the area!

On Sunday October 20^th we ended up in a little coastal town called Southport, NC.

If you recall the movie “Safe Haven” this is the town in that movie. 

We would recommend you watch this movie, I am sure you can rent it and we know it is on Net Flix for free.

WATCH TRAILER HERE:

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/safe-haven-2013/ 

Also if you recall the movie “Cape Fear” - I have no idea if it was filmed here, Hahaha.

Cape Fear was an old movie but there was also a re-make in recent years. Cape Fear is located here at Southport.

Another famous piece of information that will change your life is that Pirates including Blackbeard supposedly hid out here as well!

In fact a guy we met here who was beach-combing told us that last month a Gold Dubloon was found here washed up on the beach. This was more than likely from one of the Pirate Ships.

Southport is a beautiful little town. Its almost one taken out of time. 

No one here locks up their bicycles and it seems so quiet and safe here for a beach town. A lot of colonial looking homes are located here making it scenic. The quiet little streets and scenery makes one feel we are really in the south now.

Barb went in to the Visitor Center here when we rolled into town. We did this for the usual reasons plus we needed to find out where we could stay and where we could get fresh water as we were out.  

Barb sitting at the Visitor Center - Just enjoying life.

As there was nowhere that they knew off to get water they offered to let us use their garden hose and so we did! Add to that there are no overnight parking restrictions and no campgrounds here so we parked right at the oceans edge on the street. As I have said before there is no better air than the air when camped on the ocean! We love it!

Camped on the street on the ocean shore.

As we were sitting here on the ocean’s edge a large yacht pulled in and dropped anchor right in front of us out in the water. Low and behold it is proudly flying a Canadian flag! I don’t know who this is but boy do they have toys! This yacht must be the better part of 100 feet in length. I told Barb it was probably Celine Dion!

Some Canadians have too much money!

So that updates us today and as I step outside the rig here parked at the beach people are doing Yoga outside over at the Community Center across the street and cars are starting to show up parking all around us.

One thing I have noticed is Golf Carts driving around town. Rand McNally recommends Southport as one of the best places in the USA to retire so I am sure there are a lot of retired residents living here. I have noticed Golf Carts on the streets in several other towns as well. 

Yesterday I sent a message to one of the people I think may win the Mayoralty race back home in Cochrane (Vote today!) asking if they have considered this idea? Personally I think it would save on the local concerns such as parking spaces, the environment and help with things like the continual hike in gas prices. Plus it would be a fun way to go get groceries when the weather is right!

Southport Marina

Beautiful beaches and Boardwalks everywhere!

Today (Monday, October 21) we will hang out again in Southport.
Our travel schedule has lightened up a lot since before our trip back home and we can relax a bit. Who knows maybe we will have lunch at Fishy-Fishy a restaurant that was used in that movie “Safe Haven.”