Our Campsite #2
On Friday, August 22, after work, Beth Ann and I left Savannah and headed towards Kings Mountain State Park in South Carolina, to camp. We arrived late Friday night. After finding the entrance to the campground, and opening the gate's combination lock, (with worn numbers and in the dark,) we settled in to our reserved campsite, #2. The state park web page stated that our site was a drive-thru site and level. It was anything but level. We were lucky to have a 4 X 4 piece of wood, along with several other pieces to go under the stabilizers.
Saturday, We woke up around 7:30am to get ready to go see Aunt Grace in Brevard, NC. We ate an early lunch at J & S Cafeteria near the Asheville Regional Airport. We arrived at Aunt Grace's around noon as she was finishing her lunch. We had a good 2 hour visit with her. Afterewards, we went to the "Old Cider Mill" at Bat Cave, and purchased 3 gallons of fresh-pressed apple cider.
On the way back to the campground, we stopped by the new Shelby hamfest site at in Dallas, NC, to check it out. The hamfest personel were marking the flea market spaces and finishing up the details. The new site was much nicer and more asthetically pleasing than the "dusty ole fairground" in Shelby. We spoke with some hard-working members of the hamfest committee before heading back to the campground.
Sunday morning we prepped the camper to leave. Being "on the run" since we arrived at the state park, we did not get a chance to explore.
We carefully maneuvered between 2 very close trees when leaving our campsite. Those 2 trees already had battle-scars from previous campers that weren't so fortunate.
We left the state park and headed towards the new Shelby Hamfest site, located at Biggerstaff Park, in Dallas, NC. We were 4th in line, and had a good chance to get a decent camping space at the hamfest. Around 12:30pm, we were allowed to pick our campsites and settle in. We aquired Site 41L for our site and 40L for our good friend, Jack Norris, W4TWX. Jack also reserved the site adjacent to his for Van and his wife.
On Sunday, August 24, Beth Ann and I returned to Savannah since we both had to work Monday and Tuesday. After work on Tuesday, we returned to Shelby. Upon arriving, Shelby Hamfest officials met us and stated that they had kept an eye on our camper while we were gone the 2 days. 6 - 8 inches of heavy rains resulting from Hurricane Fay deluged the area. Recent digging for the installation of electrical and water facilities for each camper site, resulted in soggy, messy, water-logged, red clay campsites. (The City of Dallas, NC installed the electrical/water facilities for the Hamfest and future events.) Jack's site that was next to ours was a mess. We covered the area in front of his camper with a tarp to minimize tracking clay into his camper.
Wednesday, we did not set up our hamfest canopy/display due to the still wet and messy site. Beth Ann made and treated us to some good ole-fashioned homemade peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream...MMmmm good!! Later in the evening Jack Norris and the Blackburns rented a golf cart to get around the massive hamfest area. Beth Ann took the golf cart for a test drive.
We rode the golf cart throughout the park. There was a small church and a cotton gin. Down by the ponds we saw ducks and geese.
Thursday morning, the grounds were still somewhat wet from the previous rains. Beth Ann and I went to the Farmers Market in Gastonia. We returned to the Hamfest and finally set up the canopy and the hamfest tables. Our first customer was Herman Cone from Virginia. More and more people visited our flea market area. Around 5pm, we covered our wares and enjoyed dinner at North Star Seafood. Later, we had a delicious ice cream snack at Tony's Ice Cream in Gastonia.
Friday, the flea market areas were filling up rapidly. Several concession stands also opened. People were buying, and our items for sale were diminishing. Beth Ann was happy to see a lot of my surplus "stuff" go. Sales were good for her items as well.
Jack's astute vision allowed him to find an abandoned black briefcase out in the field at the Shelby Hamfest. His curiosity got the best of him.
What happens at the Shelby Hamfest stays at the Shelby Hamfest.
For supper, Beth Ann prepared a delicious dish of "baked ziti." Mmmmmm!!!
Saturday was the first official day of the hamfest. The new equipment dealers were open in the front building. The flea market was bustling with activity.
Jack, Beth Ann, and myself went to Long Creek Fish Camp for dinner. After dinner, we went to the amphitheater to relax and listen to music performed by a area musician.
Sunday arrived and by noon, many people had left the hamfest. Most of the flea market area had cleared as well. Jack, W4TWX left out around 2pm. By 3pm there were only a couple of campers left in our camping area. We ate dinner around 6pm. Later, we treated ourselves to dessert at Tony's Ice Cream.
Monday morning, we began to pack up our camper to leave. We said our goodbyes to the remaining hamfest staff and headed home around 10am.
We arrived home safely around 5pm Sunday evening.
Beth Ann and I have always enjoyed The Shelby Hamfest. You get to see a lot of friends, and you get to meet and make new friends. There is a huge flea market of a variety of "stuff." The Shelby Radio Club puts a huge effort into this event year after year. The Shelby Radio Club members are hard-working, fine, friendly, personable people. The new location is much better than the ole run-down fairgrounds. The Shelby Hamfest has once again lived up to its reputation of being the "Grand-Daddy of Them All."
Next