July 22, 2007 by steve.

The Curbcrushers were on the road again this weekend. We headed up I-95 to St. Augustine, Florida and Anastasia State Park. We headed up that way for another weekend with the Florida Pop Up Camper (FPUC) group. We had avoided camping at Anastasia as we had heard that it was very tight and anything over 30 feet would be tough to park. We found that this is partially true. There are some five or six camping loops in the park, and only one seems to have sites that will support 30 - 40 foot rigs. We had a site in the Coquina and were not the only 30+ footer in that loop. A triple axle 36 foot fifth wheel showed up and parked across from us, and there were at least two others that size elsewhere in the loop. The reputation for only being a place for small rigs is undeserved and we’ll head back here again some time.

We made our way north on Friday afternoon. Left Orlando before the afternoon storms hit, and we were able to make it to Anastasia dodging all the regularly scheduled afternoon storms along the way. We were set up in about 20 minutes, and then headed out to the beach. The park has about 4 miles of beach on the Atlantic. You could walk it from the campground, but it is probably around half a mile to a mile from the Coquina loop, further if you’re walking from the others. There is plenty of bike and car parking at the beach though. We spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach, and then attended the FPUC pot luck supper on Friday evening.

During supper, one of our fellow campers had said they had heard about a farmer’s market on Saturday mornings that was out the back gate, and then about a block to the right. So we got up Saturday morning and headed out the back gate and turned right. We were in the middle of a neighborhood, but we wandered on. As we exited the neighborhood onto A1A, our fellow campers showed up on their bikes. We laughed about the one block, and headed North on A1A toward the park entrance. When we got to the St. Augustine Amphitheater, and low and behold a farmer’s market was under way. We wandered through the market, there was some produce, artwork, breads and other items. At the rear of the farmer’s market, we noticed a small path that seemed to go towards the park. We followed this, and it dumped us out right on the road that leads from the Coquina loop to all the other camping loops. This was the shortcut that people had been talking about.

We followed the long walk to the farmer’s market with a whole day at the beach. There is a concessionaire named Island Joe’s that offers water toy, and chair rentals by the beach, in addition to a little store that has basic beach and camping essentials. There is also a concessionaire at the “Salt Run” area where you can rent kayaks and other water toys to enjoy that area. The beach does have lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Having made two trips to St. Augustine in the last five months, we didn’t make any trips to visit any of the sites in town. We spent the entire time in the park (with the exception of the walk to the farmer’s market) and had a great time. Pictures can be found here.

Posted in Travel Review, Campground Review | No Comments »

July 10, 2007 by steve.

Great Restaurant!! Fantastic Food.

I love this place. The CurbCrusher family first went here about five years ago when we were in Asheville to visit the Biltmore. We stayed out near the airport where Airport Road and I-26 meet. When we asked where the closest place to eat was, the desk clerk gave us directions to the Mills River Restaurant. Since then I’ve had a couple of occasions to travel to Asheville on business. Since I stay near the airport, it is convenient to drive the 4 miles down to eat.

This is home style cooking, and hospitality. Just about every time I’ve eaten there, there’s been one or more regular customers that are carrying on with the entire staff. Tonight it was an older man. They were training three or four new service staff. All the veteran staff were bringing their trainees by and introducing them to “Mr. Henry” and talking to him about how his week had been going.

I enjoyed the Country Fried Steak with Sausage Gravy. Served with mashed potatoes (freshly made, with chunks of the ‘taters in them) and gravy, and the salad bar. Top it off with an excellent sweet tea and this was a five star meal. Like any good down home cooking place, they have chocolate layer cake, so of course I finished off the meal with desert. The entire meal was $12.32, plus a tip. A great value.
Mills Creek Restaurant is located at the corner of NC 191 and NC 280, 4201 Haywood Road. Horse Shoe, NC 28742.

Posted in Travel Review, Food Review | No Comments »