Falls Lake State Park (Rolling View CG), Durham, NC

Date of Stay:  Wednesday August 13 – Wednesday August 27, 2014 (14 nights)

Rate:  $25/night

Website:  Falls Lake State Park (NC)
   4201 Baptist Road (coordinates 36.0048,   78.7273)
   Durham, NC 27703
   919-676-1027

Description:  Large cg with paved roads and gravel sites, many of which are right on Falls Lake.  Loops A and B are W/E(30A) while loop C is no hook up. There is decent separation with lots of trees.  Big boat launch in the park along with a swim beach.  We were waterfront on site B17 next to D&T for her big birthday.

Activities:  The first weekend was a celebration of Tricia’s 50th birthday.  Most of her family and close friends who live in the area came in either on Friday or Saturday.  I hiked with many of them through the woods of the park.  There are several clearly marked trails here but it was hot and humid in mid August.  Several of them kayaked on the lake one day.  After the party was over, Gin and I had several quiet days to relax and enjoy watching the squirrels run amongst the trees.  We joined D&T and Kork on T’s birthday for supper at a Mexican restaurant.  We even wandered over to Kork’s (D&T’s NC homebase) a couple of times, one was an early birthday party for Dan.  Bike riding is doable in the cg but there are a few hills.

Trash and Recycle:  There are several trash cans grouped together throughout the cg.  Recycle cans (aluminum, glass and plastic) are located at the bathhouses and the dump station.

 

Site B17 between D&T’s fifth wheels

 

Site B17                                                    Swim beach

 

Hiking in the woods

 

We all wear Merrells

 

Birthday gatherings

 

Grilled pizza and salad… yum!

 

Getting ready for the sausage dinner                        Opening gifts

 

Group on ‘The Rock’                               Barbara getting a pic of Linda and Tricia

 

All of us having fun                                    Happy birthday Tricia!

 

Tawanda’s lonely                                      Syl and Gin on ‘The Rock’

Stony Fork Campground (Thomas Jefferson National Forest), Wytheville, VA

Date of Stay:  Friday August 8 – Wednesday August 13, 2014 (5 nights)

Rate:  $14/night (Access Pass discount)

Website:  Stony Fork Campground
   109 Krenning Road (use coordinates 37*0’35”N, 81*10’54”W but look for directional signs as you exit I-77)
   Wytheville, VA 24382
   276-783-5196

Description:  This National Forest CG is located only 4 miles from I-77 (left from exit 47) and has paved roads and sites.  About half of the 50 sites don’t have facilities but about a dozen have W/E (30A) while the other dozen have just electric hookup.  We had site 11 which was electric only (30A).  We knew this ahead of time so our fresh water tank was full.  Luckily, we got sat dish tv reception in this wooded environment.  The tree branches along the road in the cg could use a good trim in a couple of places.

Activities:  It rained some every day we were here!  I did manage to walk the mile long Nature Trail in the cg with D&T one day even though it was still wet.  We had planned to hike the nearby Seven Sisters Trail and bike/shuttle the Virginia Creeper Trail about an hour away, but the weather just didn’t cooperate.  Hope we can return here sometime next year.  Wytheville is about 10 miles away and has all the big box stores needed.

Trash and Recycle:  There are a couple of dumpsters located within the cg but no recycle.

 

Hidden in site 11                                               Site 11

 

East Fork of the Stony Fork Creek that wanders through the campground

 

D&T on the Nature Trail                         Nature Trail junction with Seven Sisters Trail

 

Rhododendron canopy on the Nature Trail                               D&T enjoying the trail

Shenandoah River State Park, Bentonville , VA

Date of Stay:  Monday August 4 – Friday August 8, 2014 (4 nights)

Rate:  $38/night

Website:  Shenandoah River State Park (VA)
   350 Daughter of Stars Drive
   Bentonville, VA 22610
   540-622-6840

Description:  Located on Hwy 340 not far from I-81, this state park opened in the 1990’s so it’s made for big rigs.  Nice level gravel sites with big patios.  Only 32 sites here along the Shenandoah River but they all have W/E (50A).  One dump station at exit.  Separate sections for tent camping, cottages and day use area.  We stayed on site 14 the first night but moved to site 10 the next few nights because it got more afternoon shade.  Very nice park with well maintained hiking trails both in the woods and along the river.  Nice Visitor Center has free wi-fi inside.  Only drawback is the fact that there is no Verizon reception (our internet too) anywhere in the park.  The Ranger said that there was Verizon in Fort Royal and Luray, both several miles away.

Activities:  I hiked with D&T some and we all enjoyed the Visitor Center.  While walking beside the river, I saw someone fly fishing and several people floating the river using inner tubes.  We all enjoyed a ride on Skyline Drive between Fort Royal and Luray.  Beautiful views of the mountains melting into the sky on a hazy day.  Gin’s knee was still acting up and she busted her big toe so it was nice to relax with her at camp too.

Trash and Recycle:  Dumpster near the cg exit along with recycle bins (aluminum and plastic).

 

Site 14 with D&T on site 12

 

Site 10

 

Shenandoah River                                    Floating on the river

 

Visitor Center with koi pond in front

  

Big display in the VC

 

Display at the VC

 

Great hiking trails in the park along with this view from Culler’s Overlook after a heavy rain

 

D&T at Culler’s Overlook

 

View from Dickey Ridge VC on Skyline Drive             View from an overlook on Skyline

 

More gorgeous views from overlooks along Skyline Drive

 

Tricia capturing the view from another overlook…   the mountains melting into the sky