Mt Airy, NC.  We came up here for the summer to cool off.  Yesterday was typical, heat index of 96 degrees.  It seems the whole country is very hot this summer. 

Friday and yesterday were laundry days, so we stayed inside as much as possible.  We had hoped to get exercise this summer by hiking or at least walking, but we keep inside as much as possible.  It was even hot inside church today.

On Wednesday Mary Ann Hayes arrived in town here.  She is an old friend who also lives in St Augustine but travels to see friends and relatives in the summer.  It was mid-afternoon, so much of Mt Airy's Main Street was soon to close.  It was hot, so walking along the sidewalks was not much fun, so we slipped into any shops that were still open.

One place that was still open was an embroidery shop.  We got to witness a job in process on the automated machines.  It was only one small job embroidering the front of hats.  We have seen it when it was full of activity.

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Two Machines Stitching Away

Closeup of Stitching

Finished Product

We also stopped into a shop for a cold drink and to cool off.  All the rest was window shopping.  We showed her Floyd's Barbershop, with the Hall of Fame in the window.  The Snappy Lunch was already closed.

We got dinner at the local 13 Bones restaurant, which specializes in baby back ribs.  Very good! Mary Ann wanted to see our motorhome, so we drove her by to see it.  We also drove around the campground showing her all the different kinds of RVs that are here, including some 45 foot motorhomes.

Mary Ann and Betty in Front of Our Motorhome

The following morning we both drove to Old Salem, with Mary Ann following us.  She was going to continue on afterward to see friends in Greensboro, NC.

It was a return visit to Old Salem for us.  This time we got tickets for entry to some of the craft exhibits.  

In addition, we were there early enough this time to visit the local Moravian church that is still in use.  We placed photos of the exterior in the blog last year.  One of the church members also serves as a guide for visitors to see the interior of the church.

Betty and Mary Ann Speak to Our Guide

Panorama of Pulpit and Choir Area

Our Guide Leads the Discussion

Panorama of Rear of Church

Windows Upper Left Facing Choir Area

The window on the left above is significant due to its reference to the inspiration of the founding of the Moravian Church, Jan Hus.  I wrote much about this last year in this blog.  Below is a closeup of the bottom of that window.  Note that they Anglicize Jan's first name.

Our guide was able to use a computerized organ playing program to play a couple of hymns for us.  Here is a  sample below.

Some of the literature provided at the entry of the church is displayed below.

Click on the video below to enjoy the 251st Easter Sunrise Service of the Moravian Church.  Click on the symbol to enlarge the screen.  Highly recommended!

Following is the church bulletin from the prior Sunday's service.

Next we visited the Bakery, which also is a free exhibit, since they also sell baked goods (at an elevated price).

Colonial Bakery

Closeup of Colonial Oven

We next visited the Pottery Shop, which now is located in the basement of the old Single Brothers House along with the Weavers Shop.  

There was a worship room for the young men, with its own pipe organ.

Mary Ann Photographs the Old Pipe Organ

Young Men's Music Room

Young Men's Sick Room

The young men's dormitories are located upstairs.  The entrance to those stairs was roped off.

The stairway down to the basement was too forbidding for Mary Ann, who elected to pass on going down.

Stairway Down to Basement

Pottery Reenactor at Pottery Wheel

Betty Watching Potter at Work

Finished Pottery

Then we moved over to the Weaver's Shop.  

Spinner at the Wheel

Since the Joiner's Shop (cabinet maker) was in the opposite direction in the village, we decided to make a stop at the old cemetery.  I wrote much about this in last year's blog.

The cemetery is a short block away from the church.

Nearest Entrance from Village

Betty insisted on getting a photo of Mary Ann and me at this entrance.

Note the Bible Verses Over Each Entrance

Plaque by Nearest Entrance

Sign Beside Above Plaque

Acres of Gravesites

Much more of this cemetery is detailed in last year's blog entries.

Then we were off to the Joiner's Shop.  

Main Work Area of Joiners Shop

Another View of Joiners Work Area

Joiner's Area for Turning Items on Lathe

At this point in mid-afternoon, we left Old Salem.  Mary Ann continued on her journey to Greensboro. 

I picked up a prescription refill at Publix pharmacy on the way back from Winston-Salem.  Nowhere around Mt Airy has a Publix.  

MAYBERRY CAMPGROUND, Mt AIRY, NC.  Yesterday, Monday, we ventured onto Main Street once again, just to be sure we satiate our tourist cravings.  

We ventured over to the Chamber of Commerce to get a city street map of Mt Airy, then walked to the other end of Main Street for a look at their war memorial.  It was interesting in that it commemorates ALL wars in which members of Surry County have fought over the years, beginning with the American Revolution and continuing through the Viet Nam War.  It was impressively done, especially for so small a county.

The sun was so bright (and hot) that focusing in on the wording was difficult.  One closeup attempt below gives you some idea.  Click on photo to enlarge.

Nearby was an example of how nicely kept the grounds are around here.  See below a row of white crape myrtles in bloom.

Betty was especially impressed by the trunks of the crape myrtles.  She took the following photo to share.

It was so hot that, on our way back to where we had parked the car on Main Street, we stopped in at the local Whit's Frozen Custard outlet.  Big mistake.  Annihilated our diet.  What they call one scoop of custard is much too large.  Our compliments to their generosity none the less.

Tomorrow we join the Eagles, friends from St Augustine who have relocated to this area, for a World Famous Pork Chop Sandwich at Snappy Lunch next to Floyd's Barbershop.  We enjoyed eating there so much last year that we wanted to be joined by our friends for another round of fun.

After that we should have gotten our fix on Main Street and will look beyond to some water sports, perhaps kayaking a river.  Stay tuned.

 MAYBERRY CAMPGROUND, MT AIRY, NC.  Yesterday, Wednesday, we visited the local downtown tribute to Mayberry, Main Street.  We have been there before, as can be seen from entries here last year.  I once again was in need of a haircut, so it was off to Floyd's  Barbershop.

One steps back in time there.  Only baby-boomers could understand what I mean.  Going to the barbershop in the 1950s comes to mind as one looks at the images posted on the walls.  The photo below reminds us of how American men wore their hair in those days.

Betty got the following wide shot of the interior of the barbershop.  The four walls are covered in images of various kinds, shapes, and sizes.  People stop in from around the country to reminisce with the barber about bygone days.  One leaves the shop almost disoriented after spending much time here.

Betty likewise got the before-and-after shots of me in the barber chair.

I Really Needed a Haircut

Betty got the following "after" shot of me by getting up close.  Note her reflection in the mirror bottom left.

Here Is My "After" Shot

It is at times like this that I get a fairly good look at myself and wonder who that guy is.  Especially since I have my glasses off.

After leaving the barbershop to stroll Main Street, we stopped off at one of their many ice cream shops.  The one we picked this time had walls covered in old posters.  They had some hawking their moonshine ice cream (made with real moonshine, they said).  I shot an image of one area of the walls (see below).  I skipped the ones that were rather risqué.  Click on image to enlarge.

We spent the remainder of the afternoon visiting the many shops along the street.  Many souvenir shops and, as usual, we picked up a few.

 MAYBERRY CAMPGROUND, MT AIRY, NC.  Since several people have inquired about this blog, it seemed good to make an update, even though we are remaining in the same place for 41 days and posted much about this campground last year.  The usual events also continue, though when something new occurs, I shall post more entries.

On Friday we drove up to Fancy Gap, VA for lunch with the Eagles, old friends from their St Augustine days.  It was a wonderful day with fine weather.  Chuck gave us another golf cart ride around the neighborhood.  They live in a small neighborhood right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, though there is little traffic noise from it.  We shall be visiting them again soon and will post more photos.

View from Their Front Porch

We attended church for the second time yesterday at the local OPC church that we attended last year. It is was fun to worship with old acquaintances from last year. 

It seemed like a good idea to show you more about the appearance of this campground.  It is easily one of the finest in the country, with immaculately kept grounds.  With all the rain one gets here, everything is beautifully green.  The kind of grass that grows here appears to be a lush carpet.  The maintenance crew seems to mow the lawn every other day.

In our travels across the country, we have noted the common practice of parking rusted farm equipment along the road as a sort of status symbol.  There are a couple of those at this campground, but more impressive is the virtually new equipment from bygone years, like the following tractors.  Makes one feel like hopping on one to take a ride.

Massey Ferguson Tractor

Vintage Ford Tractor

Not to be left out, an occasional rusted out piece of equipment is also on display.

Ancient Rusted-out Farm Equipment