On the Road With Em - Salisbury, NC

As you may have surmised from pervious posts, I enjoy looking at old things. Whether it be people, or buildings, or stuff. Not sure why, but I see it happening more and more as I get older. I never cared for history when I HAD to learn it, but maybe I have more free time for it now. Or maybe I've just grown up. (nah...don't worry).. But I just finished reading a history book of Mecklenburg County and Charlotte. Yes, an actual Non-Technical, non-Photography, non-fiction book. And I really enjoyed it!
I think it all links back to photography in actuality, because I like to understand what it was like way back when at the places I go. Guess I have a lot of reading to do, because I do like to get out and explore!

Anyway, this weekend Sue and I went to Salisbury, NC. It's about a 45 minute drive from us, Northeast up I-85.  I heard there was a lot of shops in Salisbury (pronounced Saulz-Ber-ee ), and it sounded like fun. I grabbed my camera of course, and Sue grabbed her knitting bag, knowing full well that I'd be jumping out of the car periodically to take a picture of some rotting building or rusty sign. But, I really just wanted to spend the day with her (awwww, I can hear you saying), and go to some antique shops and set some lunch. So I didn't take any pictures.... HAHAHAHA... Ok, well I did just jump out of the car twice. (and yes, it was in park)... This mural was on the side of a building on W. Fisher St. A really neat depiction of life back in the day.

Salisbury Mural

And this one:

Drink Cheerwine

I guess that Cheerwine is a soda that was created in Salisbury back in 1917. Still being bottled today, although I only had a beer when we stopped for lunch...How, odd!

Other than that, my Canon stayed in it's case all day...Yes Really.

But I did have my iPhone! So I do have memories from the day.
We drove down E. Innes St. and didn't see much activity. From what I read online, I figured it was a hustling, bustling town. Seemed quite dead to me...But we stopped at the Okey Dokee general store. Awesome vision into the past. Some stuff was for sale, but nothing we really needed. It was great to look at though.

Where'd I leave my matches?

Great to look at, but nothing I need

We then turned down S. Main St., and saw more activity. First stop was Salisbury Sq. Antiques.
Tons to look at, but I escaped unscathed. Sue spent a grand total of 54 cents...I'm still kicking myself for not buying this Cool Old Ball:

Cool Old Ball

We're trying to simplify our lives and not buy a lot of stuff we just don't need. So I'm proud of myself for not buying anything...But I may have to go back and see if this ball is still there. Why? Beats me...I may need a Cool Old Ball.

Next stop was the Old Candy Shoppe!
There I heard someone say something disparaging about the Red Sox.. So I jumped to their defense. Turns out that Nancy (one of the owners) was a big Sox fan from Needham and in no way was dissing our team. Her husband Don was from Chicago and was a White Sox fan. The four of us chatted quite a while. Very enjoyable people...Except Don was of Norwegian descent and said a joke that poked fun at my ancestral homeland (Sweden)...Eh, he doesn't know any better....Being from Chicago.. :-) Nancy and Don gave us great tips on where to go for antiques. Nice, nice people. Could have chatted them up for hours.

This is gonna be fun

We met someone who suggested where we could eat and where we shouldn't eat. We missed something in the translation, because we went to the "avoid" restaurant. I don't like to put disparaging info on the blog, but why bother to write if I can't give you some tips.  Uncle Buck's had very good food...but we ordered wraps and it took an hour to get our meal. Won't go back there....End of Public service announcement.

Someone suggested the Salisbury Antique Emporium on E Kerr St. That is an old converted sawmill. Great place with all sorts of things I don't need but love to look at. Here's the results of that stop:

It's Good Taste

DUKE!

Jug and Cabinet

Animal Crackers!

 

Ton's O' Caps

Coffee And Chicory

AM/FM

The Legend?

Let's You Sleep

 

The New Gear

Pardon me.. But Do You Have

Prince Albert in a Can?

Well, enough of the shots. It was a fun day in Salisbury, and I'll have to get back there sometime when I have more time to wander and explore. A lot of old buildings and history. Some good, some not so good. (think Civil War Prison Camp)

But these days, it's a nice friendly town with lots to see and do! Check it out!

S. Main St. Salisbury, NC

See you on the road!
Em
www.emerysisland.com

On the Road with Em...Claremont and Catawba, NC

2/17/2014 President's Day:  I had a rare day off, and decided to skip the sales and take a road trip. Started out of the driveway at 10am, and heard Sue yell for me from the balcony. I had dropped a glove in the hall. glad she did call because it was dang chilly out. 38 degrees. And just the day before I was out on the same balcony reading 'Fritz Weatherbee's New Hampshire', in t-shirt and shorts.

Reading Under a Blue Sky

Ok. Reset. Let's try this again.  Have my gloves now, hat, coat, hiking boots, camera gear, food, water, and fireballs, and away I go at 10:01. Pull out of the complex, hit the first light at the corner at 10:02…Wait 5 minutes at the light,  and away I go at 10:07. Aye Aye Aye... Seems like I’ll never get out of here. Lights in Charlotte are for the birds.

But, finally I’m off. To where? Claremont NC. Why there?

To Claremont, via RT 16

Well, after I fell far short of my goal of shooting all 54 of  New Hampshire covered bridges, (short by about 46), I decided to try a less loftier goal of all of the North Carolina covered bridges. Of which there are 2. The Mt. Pisgah covered bridge which is about 2 1/2 hrs from me, and the Bunker Hill covered Bridge. That us about an hour and 15 mins away from me on the border of Claremont and Catawba. I decided to save the Pisgah for a weekend trip and pointed my Escape Northwest up Rt. 16 to Claremont.

Down the Road a'piece*

I had planned the trip the night before. Followed the route on Google maps and spotted some places that may have old barns. I figured I would stop in 3 or 4 towns. Turns out, Claremont itself had plenty to keep me interested for hours.

Welcome to Claremont

First stop was Hewitt's Store downtown at the corner or E. Main St and S. Depot St. Couldn't find any info online about it. Looked like an old antique store with Tin ceiling, and all sorts of beautiful junk inside. Sign on the door said "Open Saturday's only", but that sign looked antique. Anyway, of course, this was Monday. Saved myself some money probably. 

Hewitts Storefront

Hewitts Storeside

About 2 miles east of Claremont Center, down I-70 you come to a park on the left, home of Bunker Hill Covered Bridge. 

After parking, and a short hike down along the Lyle Creek, you come to the bridge, built in 1895. Felt like I was back home in NH.  Incidentally, there was major restoration to the bridge in 1994 by the Arnold Graton and Sons firm of New Hampshire. YAY NH!

Bunker Hill Covered Bridge

Throat of the Beast

Peggy

Finger Pincher

BHCB - Instagram Shot

I wandered around the bridge for about an hour and a half. Studying it, admiring it, reading graffiti, etc. Time does slip away from me when I'm out in my element. I really didn't want to be gone all day, so I was going to skip the extra towns I wanted to stop at and just head home. But, the good thing about taking country roads, and just flying by the seat of your pants:  you can be pleasantly surprised. I found what I have been missing by being in Charlotte. Peeling paint and Rust! Utopia!

Red Barn - How Original

Road-side Gem

Do you feel a draft?

Catawba Farm Service

It was a great day away from the office. Fresh air, country scenes, and a memory card full of shots. Just what the doctor ordered. 

Ok, where to next? Don't know, but I'll be sure to let you know!

Em

EmerysIsland.com

* Down the road a'piece is a term my grandparents (Mamie and Papa Swanson) always said when I as little and we went for a walk at camp "Lets go down the Road a'piece and stretch our legs"

On the Road with Em...Statesville, NC

Thought I'd try to do a little "On the Road with Em"-type series. So much to see, so little time.

It's been a crazy winter down here in Charlotte (ok, maybe I'm the crazy one), and I'm itching to get out of the house.

 

Taking advantage of a southern blizzard

Dang...No Scrapers....Knew I forgot to bring something down with me

Winter Sports

In between a couple of weeks with temps in the teens,and a 1/2 inch snowstorm that brought the city to it's knees, we had a normal January 55 degree Sunday. Sue and I decided to take a road trip with the new pup, Daizy, and get her used to it.

Daizy in the Woods

Ok, where to go? We subscribe to Our State (NC) magazine and looked to that for some nearby destinations. They had a nice write-up about Statesville. This city is only an hour North of us, up I-77, and seemed like a good short ride to test the pup's car habits. I read a lot of historical things about Statesville, and hoped to see some remnants of it. Also, I read that they have a great Bar-B-Q which is just a bit more fun than history.

On the road to Statesville

It was a beautiful day for a drive....Daizy was great, batteries were all charged in the camera, and...this pretty much summed up the town for me.

How Exciting!

Apparently on Sunday, they roll up the sidewalks and we didn't see anything of what this quaint little town had to offer.

Broad St., Statesville, NC

Can't tell you what I thought of their Bar-B-Q, but I can tell you that the new stuffed nacho at Taco Bell is great! We did find that place open on the outskirts of town, so it wasn't a total loss.

I don't want to be a downer on the town. I'm sure there was something to see, but we were just there on the wrong day. So I don't want to get a lot of hate mail from Statesvillions... Next time we'll try going on a Saturday.

Presbyterian Church

Actually, the First one...

Not sure what 'IT' is, but it comes together.

 

Ah! Something Historic!

Statesville Alley
(you know I love bricks)

Sorry I didn't have anything more exciting to share on my first road trip of the new year, but I'll work on doing some better planning. My mom is coming to visit and I know we'll be getting out on the road. My camera batteries are still charged, and Daizy is ready.

Where to, Master?

Have an awesome week!

Em
EmerysIsland.com