South Mountain State Park
Saturday, August 27th, 2016
It is time to head out and earn another North Carolina State Park Passport. This time we are headed west to South Mountain State Park. Before the ride, we needed to fuel up ourselves, and that would start at a Wayside Restaurant. While we have discovered there is more than one eatery with this marque, we have also discovered that they are not created equal. Even though one would be on our way, we decided to head for the one in Stanfield, that just makes better food.
For us, we were getting a pretty early start, as we had some ambitious miles in ahead of us today. Some of the hardest would be the first, running up Highway 200 to Highway 601, and then turning west to get passed Charlotte. State Road 73 would be the asphalt that would pass underneath us for quite some time. As we passed over Lake Norman, the cool air from on top of the water mixed with the warm air the sun was providing.
At Lincolnton we moved on to State Road 182, and that would carry us as far west as we needed. Along the way, I had a place planned for lunch, but as we approached, I thought it was an error with the GPS. Sometimes when you go through programs to get the route to where you need it electronically, it shifts way points. As we whizzed past, I realized it was where we wanted to stop for lunch. It didn't matter, our gas tank was still full from breakfast. The Black Pearl's though was quickly running dry.
Didn't really notice the air from the foothills was a little cooler until we stopped to take a break, and get some gas in the VTX 1800's tank. Kasey ran into to get some water and snacks, and after the tank was topped off, I rode it up to parking space.
As we gained altitude, the road began to wind back and forth, and the air felt the same as it fought with the rays of the sun. Our first stop was to check out the campgrounds at the park, and from the directions I saw online, the camp sites were accessed through a second entrance around the back of the park. We made our way up Polkville Road, and then made a right at Jonestown, still steadily climbing the base of The Smokies. Melton Road was to take us into the park and camping area, and maybe the road does? When it turned to loose gravel, we decided to turn around and make our way to the main entrance.
So we back tracked back down Melton and Jonestown, and eventually Polktown Roads. We re-joined North Carolina 10, and making our way through the about the only town in the area, Casar. It seemed like a bit of a trip, but we finally arrived at sign for the entrance. It would still be a few thousand feet down South Mountain Road before we would enter the park.
The park office was not too far in, and we were ready for another break. Besides, some information might help us avoid gravel roads and the U-Turns they cause. Once inside, we looked around the interpretation areas, shopped a bit, and then got our NC Parks Passport stamped.
It was back in the saddle once again, and we toured the park, complete with the campgrounds. I'm not sure we would have ever got to them going the other way, at least not without some serious off-roading. The park offer lots of hiking trails, and a waterfall, but not too many campsites. Kasey and I checked off the ones we would stay in, when we return to camp.
Never wanting to return the same way we came, and create a loop, we made our way to Old North Carolina 18, and began meandering mostly east. We rode until it was time for another rest break near Newton, North Carolina. While waiting for Kasey outside, I heard a clap of thunder. I pulled out my cell phone, and checked the weather. Right in our path was a pretty good storm.
We headed out thinking we could split between two storm cells if we timed it right. Part of the way through town it started raining, and I looked up and saw a restaurant. I asked Kasey if she was hungry, which we both were, so we pulled in. We hoped we could eat and wait out the pour.
The rain was never a good dowsing, but we were glad we stopped. We made a new plan, and was hoping we head out and stay dry. We took State Road 16 south. The storms looked as though they were heading north and east.Shortly before reaching I-485, the loop around the Queen's City, we get hit pretty good. We rode it out, and while speeding around the inner loop, we dried out.
After about half way around town, we hit SR 49, and headed east to Highway 601. Then south to 200, and onto home.
It is time to head out and earn another North Carolina State Park Passport. This time we are headed west to South Mountain State Park. Before the ride, we needed to fuel up ourselves, and that would start at a Wayside Restaurant. While we have discovered there is more than one eatery with this marque, we have also discovered that they are not created equal. Even though one would be on our way, we decided to head for the one in Stanfield, that just makes better food.
For us, we were getting a pretty early start, as we had some ambitious miles in ahead of us today. Some of the hardest would be the first, running up Highway 200 to Highway 601, and then turning west to get passed Charlotte. State Road 73 would be the asphalt that would pass underneath us for quite some time. As we passed over Lake Norman, the cool air from on top of the water mixed with the warm air the sun was providing.
At Lincolnton we moved on to State Road 182, and that would carry us as far west as we needed. Along the way, I had a place planned for lunch, but as we approached, I thought it was an error with the GPS. Sometimes when you go through programs to get the route to where you need it electronically, it shifts way points. As we whizzed past, I realized it was where we wanted to stop for lunch. It didn't matter, our gas tank was still full from breakfast. The Black Pearl's though was quickly running dry.
Didn't really notice the air from the foothills was a little cooler until we stopped to take a break, and get some gas in the VTX 1800's tank. Kasey ran into to get some water and snacks, and after the tank was topped off, I rode it up to parking space.
As we gained altitude, the road began to wind back and forth, and the air felt the same as it fought with the rays of the sun. Our first stop was to check out the campgrounds at the park, and from the directions I saw online, the camp sites were accessed through a second entrance around the back of the park. We made our way up Polkville Road, and then made a right at Jonestown, still steadily climbing the base of The Smokies. Melton Road was to take us into the park and camping area, and maybe the road does? When it turned to loose gravel, we decided to turn around and make our way to the main entrance.
So we back tracked back down Melton and Jonestown, and eventually Polktown Roads. We re-joined North Carolina 10, and making our way through the about the only town in the area, Casar. It seemed like a bit of a trip, but we finally arrived at sign for the entrance. It would still be a few thousand feet down South Mountain Road before we would enter the park.
The park office was not too far in, and we were ready for another break. Besides, some information might help us avoid gravel roads and the U-Turns they cause. Once inside, we looked around the interpretation areas, shopped a bit, and then got our NC Parks Passport stamped.
It was back in the saddle once again, and we toured the park, complete with the campgrounds. I'm not sure we would have ever got to them going the other way, at least not without some serious off-roading. The park offer lots of hiking trails, and a waterfall, but not too many campsites. Kasey and I checked off the ones we would stay in, when we return to camp.
Never wanting to return the same way we came, and create a loop, we made our way to Old North Carolina 18, and began meandering mostly east. We rode until it was time for another rest break near Newton, North Carolina. While waiting for Kasey outside, I heard a clap of thunder. I pulled out my cell phone, and checked the weather. Right in our path was a pretty good storm.
We headed out thinking we could split between two storm cells if we timed it right. Part of the way through town it started raining, and I looked up and saw a restaurant. I asked Kasey if she was hungry, which we both were, so we pulled in. We hoped we could eat and wait out the pour.
The rain was never a good dowsing, but we were glad we stopped. We made a new plan, and was hoping we head out and stay dry. We took State Road 16 south. The storms looked as though they were heading north and east.Shortly before reaching I-485, the loop around the Queen's City, we get hit pretty good. We rode it out, and while speeding around the inner loop, we dried out.
After about half way around town, we hit SR 49, and headed east to Highway 601. Then south to 200, and onto home.
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