It’s been awhile, but I took a short trip back to Wisconsin for my aunt and uncle’s 50th wedding anniversary. I also got to celebrate my godmother’s 68th birthday (another aunt) and spend some time with my mom. Bob got me direct flights from/to Charlotte, NC and Madison, so that made it very easy.
While we’ve been here, we’ve made it a point to pick up the weekly Shelby (a nearby town) Shopper, which has some local stories and also a local events calendar that we look over to see if anything is of interest. A few weeks ago, we noticed that there was a blood drive being held, so we reserved spots. This is something we like to do when we have the opportunity, as you never know when blood may be needed.
Today was donation day. Our appointment was at 2:30, and we were done about 3:15. It was held in a bus at a middle school so we had a little wait due to the backup of parents picking up their children. But it allowed us to go right to the Gardner Webb University afternoon softball game that we wanted to see.
My view of the blood mobile van from where I was giving blood.
It was a great day for a ballgame. While it started out below freezing today, it had warmed up to the high 50s by the time we got to the game. GW was playing a double header, but we only stayed for the first game. They ended up losing, but it was a good game.
The outside of the softball stadium Play ball!We sat on bleachers but the seats ahead of us are purchased, usually in memory of someone.Back at the house with Cooper in my blood donation shirt
In December of 2021, we did a house sit in Boiling Springs, South Carolina, as opposed to out current sit in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. We had talked about maybe going back for a visit since they are a little over 30 minutes drive apart. We recently got more incentive to go back as we received a gift card from Bob’s sister and brother-in-law for a smoothie place there, thinking our current housesit was in SC rather than NC. What are the odds of two Boiling Springs anyway?
We remembered enjoying a visit to a great park while we were at the Boiling Springs, SC housesit, and we thought Cooper would enjoy a walk there. So today, we headed to Cleveland Park in Spartanburg, SC (right by Boiling Springs) for a walkabout with Cooper and then a free smoothie for lunch.
As a side note, Google Maps had us head out of town past the Broad River Greenway, and we were surprised to find how close to the state line we actually are.
The lake at Cleveland Park. It seemed like it might be being dredged, as the water level was low, and there was a big excavator parked alongside the lake.The bridge across the lake to a small islandThe park event center by the lake. It was hosting a private function.Another view of the lake, event center, and blooming treesA marshy area across from the lakeWalking under the road to the other side of the parkThe park was separated into two parts. This part contained a ball field and this sign.Bob and Cooper on a bench by the ball field
After the park we went to CocoBowlz in Boiling Springs, SC, to use our gift card for a smoothie .
After having revisited the Broad River Greenway for a non-canine hike on Tuesday and then a quick trip to Shelby yesterday for a new library book pick up (my 5th) and a walk near City Park with Cooper, Bob and I decided to do something different today and check out one of the two wineries listed in the travel brochure we’ve been working our way through.
We had about a 30 minute drive to Lawndale, NC to visit the Baker Buffalo Creek Vineyard & Winery. We spent an easy hour with the wife of the couple that owns the winery while she poured us tiny tastes of each of the (non-sweet by our request) wines that they make. We learned that they began growing grapes in the early 2000s, inspired by a trip to Napa and the need by the husband of the couple to do something in retirement. We met him as well. They were both lovely.
It was a super way to spend part of our afternoon, and she encouraged us to come back on the weekends when they have a food truck and live music. As a side note, the tastings were free, but we purchased two bottles of red wine — their Cabernet Sauvignon and their Cab Franc.
An archway connecting the parking area and the rest of the property Walking up to the event space and tasting roomThe tasting roomA listing of their wines over the tasting room tableChecking outAnother view of some of their event spaceAnother look at their lovely property and a couple of chairs made from old wine barrels
It was such a beautiful day in Boiling Springs that it screamed for an outdoor excursion. The three of us headed back to the Broad River Greenway, just about 5 miles from the house for a more focused visit than the first time. It was a lovely way to spend some time outdoors in this 70 degree Fahrenheit day.
We picked the Cottonwood Trail to hike, as we thought it might be the driest option.The Phifer cabin, originally constructed around 1850 near Beason Creek southwest of King’s Mountain.One portion of the trail had stations that seemed to be from a children’s book.A close up of one of the stations, a beautifully illustrated book.A fishing pier near the river.A weir in the river, so here we weir. (Bob and I always think of Dumfries, Scotland, when we see a weir, as that’s the first placed we learned the word.)Bob and Cooper crossing a creek.Back on the trail.Looking down the Broad River.One of many turtles (or cooters) we saw sunning in the river.Looking across at more turtles.Large rocks along the trail.A knobby tree.A rest at the end of the walk.
After a rainy Thursday and Friday, we have had a beautiful weekend. We went to the Shelby Farmers Market yesterday, which was small but nice. It had more local meat options than produce and also some baked goods. Later in the day, Bob and I took Cooper to a local elementary school for a walkabout around the school and into a beautiful neighborhood. Bob took advantage of the dry conditions to mow the yard, which had really taken off with all of the rain.
All of the schools in the area have a big rock in front that they paint. This was one side of the rock at the elementary school that we walked at yesterday.The other side of the rock. Each side apparently celebrating a child’s birthday.
Today, I ran a 20 mile run here in preparation for my marathon in May and our homeowner ran a half marathon in Paris where she is visiting on a break from her English tutoring in Italy.
Our homeowner had asked us to send a good luck photo of Cooper for her run today, so this is what we sent last night so she’d have it this morning. The boy is very photogenic and has a habit of putting his one leg out like that.
We then headed to the Bellwood Heritage Museum for a visit. (Still working our way through the travel brochure we picked up.) This museum is only open from 2:00 to 4:00 on the first Sunday of the month, March through October. The museum is a collection of local donations from the community to provide some local history. It contains mostly old farm equipment and household goods/appliances.
The outside of the very informal museum This caught our eye right away since we had visited the battlefield.An old clock with an interesting description of its history.Loved this dictionary. It’s from 1957, so not that old, but it was quite thick.An older model TV. Remember having to actually get up and change a channel?Older model gas stoveOlder model electric stoveLovely china. Oh, to be so fancy. Or not, I’d probably break something.I thought these old Brownie and Girl Scout uniforms were fun, especially as it’s Girl Scout cookie time.
The farm section was full of lots of old equipment these two city-raised individuals had no idea about. The older gentleman at the museum had to explain most of the items to us.
Okay, we recognized this as a tractor but had no idea Ford used to make them.This is a peanut cleaner. There is a handle that you’d turn so that the dirt would come out of the openings. It did not shuck the peanuts.This is a potato chopper to cut up potatoes for planting. Not even sure we realized that potatoes are grown from other potatoes.This was one of the more unique exhibits. It’s a turtle shell, but apparently they call them Cooters or Mud Cooters in this area. They are turtles that only live in the water and are caught to be fried and then eaten.
Bob and I have been to Kings Mountain twice to date, once for a walk on the lovely Gateway Trail with Cooper and once to visit Kings Mountain National Park and learn about the Battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War. Today, we headed back to check out some more Kings Mountain sites that are listed in the travel brochure we picked up at the start of our housesit.
Kings Mountain is a small city of about 10,000 located about 30 minutes from Boiling Springs. It is southeast of Shelby, and we have to drive through Shelby to get there, as they both lie along Highway 74, Andrew Jackson Highway.
We parked near Patriots Park, which lies just off of the main street (and rail line) through town. The park is lovely and was named in 2000 by the high school class in honor of those who fought in the Revolutionary War.
Entering the park. The cupola top on the gazebo was originally located on the top of the former City Hall.Looking across the park towards a lovely mural on the side of a downtown building.A couple of swings near a water feature in the park.A bird feeder and a bird.Being welcomed and educated by a screen in the amphitheater band shell.
From the park, we walked a couple of blocks along Railroad Avenue (the main street through town) before heading up Mountain Street, which goes into the downtown area.
This was a war memorial at the corner of Railroad and Mountain. We loved the landscaping in this area.Looking down the newly renovated Mountain Street towards Railroad Street just as a train was passing.
The open sign in the above photo is for a newly opened coffee/gift shop that was fun to look through. We ended up going back before we left to pick up some baked goods. We were headed to the Kings Mountain Historical Museum just up the street to peruse their exhibits.
The Kings Mountain Historical Museum, which is housed in a former post office building.
The gentleman working in the museum was very friendly and helpful and even let us walk into the old post office safe. The museum’s current exhibit is on War and Memory and showcases pieces donated by the local community that help to tell the story of the various wars. It also had some great information on the history of Memorial Day (originally celebrated on May 30 as Decoration Day).
This was my favorite exhibit. It’s the wedding dress for a local woman who served overseas in the American Red Cross and married an American soldier in Germany when they were both there. The silk in the dress is from a parachute, and the lace is from old curtains.One of two old houses that have been moved onto the property of the historical museum. This is the Robert Barber House built between 1810 and 1845 during the Federal architectural period.This is the George Washington Cornwell house built in the late 1870s. Neither house is open to the public.
Happy last day of February and Kind of Birthday to any Leap Year Day babies out there. After a foggy, misty Monday, it was a gorgeous sunny mid-70 degree day here in our neck of North Carolina. We headed out for a short hike with Cooper around some nature trails on the campus of the lovely Isothermal Community College in Forest City. We had noticed the trails on the helpful map along the Thermal Belt Rail Trail, which has signs for the college but doesn’t run alongside it.
Isothermal Community College also has campuses in Spindale (up the road from Forest City) and Columbus, North Carolina. It is named after the isothermal belt, an area in the foothills of Western North Carolina with significantly milder temperatures than its immediate neighboring area. The nearby Blue Ridge Mountains protect the region by breaking up weather fronts. Just another reason, in my opinion to love the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Map of the ICC trail system. We did all of the yellow, some of the red, and then the dam pink trail.😂The trails were well sign posted. This was the start of the. . .you guessed it, yellow route.Looking back towards the small lake on campus at the start of the trail.Cooper blending in with the leaves.More helpful signage.First of many wooden “bridge” crossings.Lots of trees down. This was a big one.Part of the red trailInteresting ground cover 1Interesting ground cover 2. (Apologies for the scientific terminology.)A shaded rest spot.A look across the lake to the businesses on the other side of the road.One of the attractive buildings that face the lake.The other building facing the lake.
On Friday, Bob and I decided to do breakfast out for a change of pace. We headed to the local Snack Shop across from the university. The name is a bit unusual. It’s a casual diner that offers home style cooking, which here obviously also includes livermush. We both just went with an omelet and we were happy with our meals.
Later Friday, we headed to the Gardner Webb baseball field to watch the Gardner Webb Bulldogs take on the Northwestern Wildcats. We were surprised that GW would be playing a team from the Big 10 but decided Midwestern teams like Northwestern probably take advantage of playing more southern teams early in the season.
The game was only $5 apiece. It started at 4:00 pm under cloudy skies but still close to 60 degrees. Gardner Webb finished on top for their second win of the season.
The Bulldog mascot on the way into the stadium A nice fan over the shaded seating area. It wasn’t needed yesterday.Looking at the field from our seats before the game started.Play ball! And I wanted to photo the photographer.
This past Thursday a high temp record was set in our neck of the woods, reaching 80 degrees Fahrenheit and not yet March. Before it got quite to that temp, Bob, Cooper, and I headed to the northern start of the Thermal Belt Rail Trail, the incredible 13.5 mile trail that has been such a gift for my long runs in preparation for my marathon in Australia at the end of May. I have completed a 16 mile run and an 18 mile run on this lovely trail. Next weekend, I’ll do a 20 miler.
Since I do an out and back when I run, I haven’t reached the northern end/start point on my runs, so it was great to see what it looks like in daylight. We were also pleased to see a number of cyclists and walkers out as well.
There are always (apparently) lots of smells near the mile markers.Heading out on the trailThe SS Minnow has somehow landed along the trail, but no sign of Gilligan or the crew.Another portion of the trailA cute little rest areaAnother little critter enjoying the trailA corner of a lot along the trail. I liked their natural edging.Another cemetery along the trail A cute community churchCooper leading the way back to the car
Today, Bob and I headed to the amazing and free(!) Kings Mountain National Military Park to learn more about this battle that apparently helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War. The battle was part of the Southern campaign and occurred on Kings Mountain (more of a hill really) in October 7, 1780.
Driving into the park
One thing that I needed to be reminded of, as this war is often presented as colonists/Americans vs the British, but really this battle in particular and many others I’m sure we’re fought between colonists who wanted to be a free country (Patriots) and colonists who were loyal to the king (Loyalists). So a fight among neighbors sadly. In fact, the battle has been described as the largest all-American fight.
The overview of the battle is presented through a 25-minute film in the Visitor’s Center and then on placards and memorials along the 1.5 mile battlefield trail in the park. In a nutshell, the Patriots defeated the Loyalists by driving them back up the mountain and then encircling them there. As a British Commander had opted to kill all of the captured Patriots in a couple of prior battles, even as they waved a white flag, it didn’t go well for the remaining Loyalist troops on the top of the hill at the end of the battle.
After watching the film, we walked the Battlefield Trail Loop. The trail was filled with memorials to many of the men who were wounded or killed in the battle, including a surprising tribute to the leader of the opposition.
The Visitor’s CenterThe handicapped-accessible trailMetal figures representing the combatants A memorial to Major William Chronicle A plaque noting that President Hoover addressed a crowd in this location in honor of the 150th anniversary of the battle.A memorial to the three Black soldiers known to have participated in the battle An older memorial to the battleThe newer memorial to the battleA list of all known participants who were killed, mortally wounded, or wounded in the battleA plaque to honor Frederick Hambright who was wounded in the battleA memorial to Patrick Ferguson who led the Loyalist forces in the battle
Major Patrick Ferguson was the only Briton to fight at Kings Mountain. He was born in Scotland in 1744 and began his military career at 14. He redesigned the flintlock rifle to increase firing speed. His rifle received the Crown’s patent in 1776. He was an excellent marksman and was very successful in recruiting Loyalists to fight with him, neither of which saved him during the battle.
Peckish Travels 