We chose a quiet park on Bass Lake, just over the the North Carolina border, to spend our last week of summer. The lake was quiet with a couple ducks, a white egret in residence and lots of frogs and turtles. There was a trail all around the lake and we walked it a few times. There was also a 1/2 mile frontage road attached to the park, so we got a bike ride in almost every day.
Dillon is a pretty sleepy little town, whose economy has been devastated. There is an old downtown area with an Ace Hardware for the big draw. Our exploration of the area took us to a place about 7 miles away called South of the Border, so named because it is just south of the North Carolina border. It was developed in 1949 by Alan Schafer, who founded a beer stand at the location because it was adjacent to a dry county in North Carolina. The business expanded with Mexican trinkets and kitsch items. He turned into a tourist mecca and economic empire. It grew to over a square mile, requiring its own infrastructure, and has its own fire and police departments. It was fun to hang out there for a few hours in search of a shark tooth for our little Dominic.
The best part of our week in Dillon was a visit from my brother Ken and niece Heather. Heather was doing some recruiting for her firm at her alma mater in Raleigh. It was fun to have company to prepare a meal for, and spending time with the two of them was awesome. The hardest part of this trip, fod me, is not seeing people that I know. I'm grateful for connections on facebook and email, and phone calls and snail mail really make my day; but seeing friends and family in person is the best!
We really miss the Ocean, and are anxious for our next adventure. We are headed to Myrtle Beach in the morning. Even though today is the first day of fall (Happy Fall y'all!), Myrtle Beach commercials on TV boast 60 more days of summer. Looking forward to barefoot walks on the beach and 82 degree ocean water.
Stay tuned for more living.
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