North Carolina Fun

Friday, Oct. 24, 2014

Carrol Woods Campground

Tabor City, NC

We decided to explore the North Carolina beach area today.  We drove to Southport where we took a ferry across the Cape Fear River to Fort Fisher.

We arrived at the ferry dock at 12:00 ready for the 12:15 ferry only to find the next ferry left at 1:00.  In the off season they take a lunch break so we waited an hour for the $5.00 ferry ride.  It was a fun crossing as one of the passengers would hold out a soda cracker in their fingers and the seagulls would fly along side the ferry and take it right out of his fingers.

The Cape Fear River inlet goes to Wilmington and has been an important sea port throughout history.

Large wooden fences surrounded the mounds to keep invading armies at bay. This fort was important to the Confederate Army to protect their supply route during the Civil War.  Cotton was traded during the war and Cape Fear was an important shipping port.  Fort Fisher was much larger but erosion has taken most of the island and during WWII the lsland was used for training so they made an airfield, demolishing most of what was left of the fort.  The State Historical Society have recreated a small portion.  The museum has a lot of the artifacts they have recovered in this area. 

Large sand mounds were built to hold a cannon and munitions were stored below in caves.  It was a good defense as this was the sight of the last fight in the Civil War.

After our ferry ride back to Southport we went in search of Silver Coast Winery on our way back towards the RV Park.

For a $5 you got 5 tastings and the glass.  The wine was more traditional with Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  We especially enjoyed the Cabernet Blanc.

They had a beautiful estate with lots of room for events.

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014

Tabor City, NC

We decided to check out this local event.  The Yam Festival has been going on for a week with a Miss North Carolina Yam Festival Pageant, Sweet Potato Food Cook-off on Wednesday and a parade Saturday morning that we missed.

A Confederate historical re-enactment was at the town gates and fired the cannon on the hour.

We got our picture with the cannon

There was a Classic Car show by Cruisers 4 Christ.  Check out the vintage pop-up camping van.

Beautiful '62 Corvette.

'67 Chevelle with a 454 c.i. engine.

'38 Ford Coupe.

Classic hood ornament.

  

'32 Chevrolet 2-Dr. Sedan.    

'

There were 4 different stages for entertainment.  This local karate group gave us a ninja turtles routine.  There was also a local dance school preforming.

This was the winner of the Art Contest.  They had lots of bounce houses for the kids and music for the adults.

There were plenty of vendors and food booths but we did not find a single yam dish being sold, not even deep fried sweet potatoes.  Funnel cakes, hot dogs, onion rings, fried pickles(?)....

Tuesday we are off to camp at Myrtle Beach State Park for a couple of days and then on to Charleston, SC to see the 16th century antebellum homes.

Lonnie and Becky