Greetings from the land of Andy, Barney, Opie and Aunt Bea. We’re in Mayberry Campground in Mount Airy, NC – Andy Griffith’s hometown.

We added some 230 miles on our trip South yesterday and arrived here with no problems – other than a malfunctioning GPS which had us circle around town a couple of times. I do believe “she” does it to us sometimes just for kicks! We call her “Tomasina” – the female version of a Tom-Tom GPS – and she has been known to bring us to the locked, back gate of a campground on occasion.

Mayberry Campground is located on a part of the former 2,000 acre farm belonging to Chang and Eng Bunker, famous Siamese twins of the 1800’s. The twins – forever conjoined – had a prosperous farm as well as 2 separate and prosperous families. They married 2 sisters and had 21 children between them. They kept 2 separate homes, alternating 3 days at each at each home.

Mayberry Campground in Mount Airy, NC – an unusual but functional and spacious layout

There is an exhibit in Town about the lives and travels of the World-famous pair as well as another famous son, Andy Griffith. You can visit his boyhood home, the Andy Griffith Museum, Andy Griffith Playhouse and also stop in for a trim at Floyd’s Barbershop. Afterward you can have a look at Wally’s Service Station, have your picture taken in the Mayberry Jail (a faithful reproduction of the TV set) and then have the grand tour of Town in Andy’s squad car with a uniformed deputy.

Opie’s Candy Store, Floyd’s Barber Shop and Snappy Lunch

Plan a visit to Mount Airy the last full weekend in September when each year everyone turns out for “Mayberry Days” with a parade and all things Mayberry and the TV show. You might well meet a couple of locals who are just spittin’ images of Barney and Otis!

Mayberry Campground in Mount Airy, NC has FHU, Free WiFi and Cable TV

Mayberry Campground has over 100 gravel sites with both back-ins and pull-throughs, full hook-ups, 30 and 50 Amp, free WiFi and free TV cable at every site. There are 2 catch-and-release ponds (no fishing license needed) and a Bunker homestead on the property that features tours on some weekends.

We had dinner last evening at “The Copper Pot”. We have eaten there in the past and enjoyed it. Real Southern home-cooking served by cheerful ladies with  North Carolina accents so thick you almost need an interpreter. Good food and Great people – the feeling is real hometown friendliness.

Today we went into town to locate a new AC adapter for our Verizon MiFi. It started overheating all of a sudden which is not a good sign for longevity. Staples had what we needed thankfully – we just can’t go far without our computer world nowadays.

We also tried a new lunch spot suggested by the campground and backed by many good reviews on the Net. It’s called Little Richard’s Smokehouse BBQ. We like BBQ and have sampled it in about every State East of the Mississippi. This place is our new favorite for BBQ done right. Tender and juicy – slow cooked over hickory coals for 16 hours and truly finger lickin’ good. The sides are homemade as well. For sides we both tried the mac & cheese and turnip greens accompanied by a large basket of hush puppies. They have a soft drink – new to us – called “Cheerwine” which is cherry flavored and also tasty as were the warm blackberry cobblers we had for dessert with vanilla ice cream (of course!).

Little Richard’s Smokehouse BBQ – Down Home cooking at its best!

Tomorrow we continue on down the road to South Carolina.

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