Movin' On

After two wonderful weeks at Forest Lake Thousand Trails in Advance, NC, it is time to move on. Tomorrow we head out for Lake Gaston, VA. We have enjoyed our time at Forest Lake. There are plenty of grassy areas for Lenny and me to play and roll on. One day Mom and Dad went to Charlotte, NC to have lunch with daughter-in-law Pat, who is temporarily working in Charlotte. After lunch, Mom and Dad toured the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which is a must for all NASCAR fans. Mom wasn't real excited about it but she knew Dad wanted to go there. Mom did sign Dad up to drive a car in a simulated race. Dad drove Jimmy Johnson's 48 car and only wrecked it two times.

During our stay here, we were pleasantly surprised when our friends Bob and Kathy arrived at the park for a stay. We haven't seen them since last fall. They are such nice people and are dog friendly. Lenny and I enjoy visiting them. One day, Bob and Kathy and Mom and Dad went to an RV show in Greensboro, NC. I guess they didn't see anything that excited them as neither couple bought a new RV. On another day they all went to a flea market and fortunately they didn't bring any fleas home.

In keeping with their hobby of finding historic graves, Mom and Dad did find the graves of Daniel Boone's parents and brother in Mocksville, NC. Daniel lived in Mocksville for several years.

While here, we learned that the Forest Lake Thousand Trails Park is on land once part of the Cooleemee Plantation, which was first purchased by the Hairston family in 1817. The plantation is still owned by the Hairston family. While the plantation is not open to the public, Mom and Dad met a caretaker who was eager to show them the house and outbuildings. The main house, which Mom and Dad call a mansion, is only called a villa by the Hairstons. It was built in 1851 in an Anglo-Grecian style of a Greek cross. The Hairstons also owned plantations in Virginia and were believed to be the largest slave owners and slave traders in the South. There are now two branches of the Hairston family, the white branch which pronounces the name as Harston and the black branch which pronounces the name as it is spelled. Three members of the black branch of the family have gone on to play major league baseball. On Thousand Trails Park land is a pioneer cemetery which predates the Hairston purchase of the land.

When we get to Virginia, Mom and Dad have a couple of day trips, with Happy Meals, planned for us. I will let you know later what the trips were.