Bandit's Roost Campground

Sunday when everyone else went home, we decided to move across the lake to Bandit's Roost Campground it is also a ACOE campground. We liked it much more than Fort Hamby. Both campgrounds are located on W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, it is a 1,475-acre artificial lake impounded by a dam located in Wilkes County, North Carolina.  

We had a great site! (#20), although we didn't really care for the stairway down to the "patio". 

We found another bike trail close by, the Yadkin River Trail.  It was short, but that was ok, by the time we got back to the car it was starting to sprinkle.  A good ride anyway...

Back at the campground.

The reservoir park across the way.

You can see the dam off in the distance, it was completed in 1962 to control flooding that had frequently been a problem in the area.  It was named for W. Kerr Scott, the 62nd Governor of North Carolina, who played a key role in the project. 

Fort Hamby Campground

Off we go!  We are headed to Fort Hamby Campground.  It's an Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Campground, near Wilkesboro, NC about 3 hours from home.

We had some beautiful views along the way!

Mandatory fire...check!

And another good morning!

Breakfast for the crew: on the left, Becky, Homan, Stu, Jan and Jerry.

You're not camping unless you have a pig napkin holder!

We had a nice hot day, perfect for a little floating...

The next day we took a ride on the City of Lenior Greenway.  We had a beautiful day!

Lunch time!

Sports complex along the trail.

Hot and sweaty, me, Becky and Homan.

After the ride we took a drive up to Grandfather Mountain.  The views were amazing!!

Then we took a short hike under the Blue Ridge Parkway.  One of the most cherished and widely retold stories in recent North Carolina History is the tale of the Blue Ridge Parkway's "missing link" and Grandfather Mountain.

Pretty amazing!

This approximately seven-mile section of the road remained uncompleted for two decades after the rest of the Parkway was finished in the late 1960s.  It finally opened in 1987, fifty-two years after Parkway construction began in the midst of the Great Depression.

More From Douglas Dam...

This is a really nice campground (and love the price, $11 with the senior pass!) Unfortunately, they don't take reservations, but this time of year, we had no problems. Our site was technically a double, but the campground was pretty empty.

Good morning!

There we are.

That's the boat launch in the distance.

What's left of the beach, they have started draining the lake already!

Beautiful picnic area.

Love it!

Our traveling bird approves!

Douglas Dam Campground

We are taking a few days off! We're staying at the Douglas Dam Headwater Campground.  It's only about 45 minutes from home, but will be perfect for a much needed break.  More pictures to come.