CARTHAGE AND SURROUNDINGS (Mark)

We went on a little different type of trip yesterday.  Instead of loading up the truck and trailer, we threw an overnight bag into the back of the Mini and went driving.  We had a couple of places we wanted to see, and Cheri had a map in her lap, so we wandered.  Turned out we did not need the overnight bag as we ended up back at home early evening.

Because we took the smaller car I forgot to throw my camera bag into the trunk with the overnight bag, so I only had the phone for pictures. I much prefer my actual camera, but sure am glad to have the phone as backup!  So open a Pepsi - or a Coca Cola - and see the sights.

We had excellent ice cream on Hwy 211, heading into Pinehurst.  The smell of the homemade waffle cones being made was quite intoxicating.  Wonderful peach orchards across the road.  Cheri will post more about this.

After touring Pinehurst and Southern Pines, Cheri started looking at the map for the Blue Highways.  (Also the title of one of our favorite books by William Least-Heat Moon, and another topic that Cheri will be posting on.)

I have not yet searched for how many towns in the USA are named Carthage. 

We have friends in Linden, Texas who let us know that Texas has one.  These friends have a little AirBnB in Linden which we have stayed at.  Linden and some of the surrounding towns are worth a trip. 

Cheri reminded me Al Gore grew up in Carthage, Tennessee.  In North Carolina the town has a number of murals worth seeing:

In Bennett we decided to

and we had a late lunch at

We ordered at the counter on the sidewalk, then carried our food around to the back lawn and sat at a picnic table.  We enjoyed our lunch with the clouds floating overhead.

After lunch we continued wandering.  We had to double back when we saw this old set of buildings.

A little ways down the road we came across another section of older buildings worth stopping for, and an antique store Cheri did some exploring in.  While she was inside I wandered on foot.

Because we were driving the Mini, and had no traffic around us I was able to slam on the brakes and pull into a driveway so I could hop out and grab a few photos of this wonderful old barn:

Even though the barn has Mayville, KY painted on it, I swear we were still in North Carolina!