Sunday, 2 November 2025: Smokey was overdue for a bath, and as luck would have it, our route took us right past a Blue Beacon Truck Wash. Quick service, friendly folks, and before long both Smokey and Goose were sparkling clean — ready for the next leg of our fall adventure.
The drive was pure autumn magic. Rolling hills painted in deep reds, golds, and oranges made every mile a photo-worthy moment. We pulled into Mayberry Campground around 3 p.m., set up camp, and settled in for the evening. A little Chiefs football capped off the day — not a winning weekend, but still a fun game to watch. The late night may even help us adjust to the time change.
Monday, 3 November 2025: Morning came early again, but our campsite faced the sunrise, and the crisp air felt warm under that golden light. The plan for the day: a hike at Pilot Mountain later on, but first, a drive north into Virginia.
Our first stop was the Mount Airy Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Even through the haze, the view stretched beautifully across the landscape. From there, we continued north to Mabry Mill for what we hoped would be lunch. The drive was incredible — a blend of vibrant colors, open farmlands, and winding parkway turns. Unfortunately, the mill’s interior was closed due to the ongoing government shutdown, but we still explored the grounds, admired the historic displays, and even managed a few photos through the windows.
With lunch plans derailed, we rolled on to Meadows of Dan, VA, and found Jane’s Country Café. The sign reminded us of the one at Cooter’s: Good – Cheap – Fast. An hour and a half later, we had devoured a burger and grilled cheese — so much for “fast,” but definitely “good.”
Next door sat Poor Farmer’s Market, a treasure trove of gifts and local goods. We picked up some Ashe County Cheese, played a few rounds on the quarter pusher (lost a dollar for the experience), but the fried apple pies should make up for that. After, we admired the small-town’s features and charm.
Not far away, we spotted Nancy’s Candy Company, and of course, we couldn’t pass up their outlet shop.
Beth found a bookstore – enough said! 🙂 (Actually, I found a couple of books by local author, Martin Clark. If you like John Grisham novels, Mr. Clark writes along Grisham’s style. Pretty good books!)
We browsed through a few local stores — an antique shop, a specialty boutique, and one high-end store — before heading back to camp via the scenic backroads through Ararat, VA. The winding mountain roads offered breathtaking views all the way down. As the sun set, it cast a warm, sunrise-like glow across our campsite.
The evening ended with a spectacular moonrise and a win for Vols basketball over Mercer — a perfect way to wrap up the day.
Tuesday, 4 November 2025: Breakfast was simple but delicious: hot, flaky fried apple pies. Fueled and ready, we set off for Pilot Mountain State Park. The mountain glowed with the colors of fall, a perfect backdrop for our morning adventure. This trip has stretched the season beautifully — over a month of color now, and it still feels fresh every day.
From the overlook at the top, we could see the patchwork of valleys and forests below. Each outpost along the first trail offered a slightly different perspective. It was sobering to see some of the lingering scars from the 2021 fire that damaged trees near the summit, but nature’s resilience was clear in the new growth all around.
The Summit Trail looped around the base of the massive rock face — awe-inspiring up close, towering and rugged against the sky.
Lunch was at Cousin Gary’s Family Restaurant in Pilot Mountain, where we enjoyed a hearty buffet of fried chicken, country-fried steak, soup, salad, and all the best Southern vegetables. The food was excellent, and the service just as warm.
After lunch, we wandered the downtown shops of Pilot Mountain, then headed back toward Mount Airy for a stroll through River Front Park. We followed an undeveloped trail this time — next time we will find one that promises a better view.
These three days were filled with color, comfort food, and classic Carolina charm. From the peaceful mornings at Mayberry Campground to the mountain views and backroad discoveries, this leg of our journey reminded us why fall travel is so special — it slows time, fills the senses, and always leaves us wanting just one more day wherever we roam.
We finished the evening with ETSU Basketball vs Converse for the season opener. Big win, over a Division II, but still a win, 102-50.
Wednesday, 5 November 2025:The morning started with a bang from the roof and some serious shaking of the camper. We thought a tree might have fallen on us. No trees for hundreds of feet. The sound was coming from our heat pump. Since the overnight brought a good frost I waited to check it out on the roof. Once I opened the cover I saw that the fan had shattered into about 8 pieces. I also notice that one of the broken pieces had damaged the evaporator. This could be bad.
A mobile RV tech came and inspected the unit. Obviously the fan has to be replaced, but he does not think the tube that is damaged actually routes any freon. He said to replace the fan and see if it works. If so we are good. If not, we will have to replace the entire heat pump since they are designed in a manner that does not allow for component replacement. Keeping our fingers crossed.
We spent Wednesday night planning future trips. We can tell you that process is a job of its’ own. Logistic coordination around events, holidays, and family time coupled with finding a campground along the route can be a lot of fun. So far we have planned to mid summer.
Thursday, 6 November 2025: The day started off very cool. I got a text from a friend who lives nearby saying he was coming up to see us. He got to the campground around 11am, and we talked until about 2pm. Good to catch up. After visiting with his sister who is also camping here, Perry returned with leftover coconut pie. I did not know he was a baker.
Our fan arrived that afternoon and I reinstalled it on the heat pump. We had our finger crossed, and the unit is working again. We have heat and cooling again. These fall days are requiring both. Good day all around.
Friday, 7 November 2025: We started our day at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History. Well done!. Great displays and information on how the area was shaped.
Lunch was just down the street at Leon’s Burger Express. This recommendation came from a work associate that lives in the area. The California Cheeseburger was a must try. The place was packed, but the wait was short. We sat at the bar and got to watch all the action and preparation of the numerous burgers and plates that were being served. Well worth the wait.
Next, we visited the Gertrude Smith House. This house rates with the Lunney House in Seneca, SC. Very cool story and great preservation of local history.
With a little time left over before dinner, we stopped by the Mount Airy Mall. The stop was a quick one because this huge facility is mostly vacant. The area is trying to bring the mall back to life, but the process is slow.
13 Bones for dinner with a friend. Friday night dinner was excellent with a little bit of a wait that was not a problem since lunch was not until early afternoon. Good food, good conversation, all around good time.
Saturday morning we took our time and headed out for lunch at The Copper Pot. Breakfast all day and some good country cooking.
Next, we went downtown to visit a couple of shops looking for some gifts. We also stopped at a bakery looking for homemade bread. No bread but some delicious cookies.
We set in for a Saturday afternoon full of football and basketball. 2-3 wins, and one very good game, made for a good ending to the day.
Sunday was a travel day back to Lenoir for a few days before we kick off the holidays.