7 March 2026
Claytor Lake State Park
Dublin, Virginia
Yes we are still here.
Marc- Fuel prices have greatly increased this week. We have also looked at a weather window for safely returning home to Vermont between snow storms. It looks like we will head up to Hershey, PA on Monday and back to Vergennes, VT on Tuesday during a heat wave.
This morning we headed out to visit quilt shops and revisit Mt. Airy, NC (aka Mayberry) birthplace of Andy Griffith.
Note the temperature at 2000 feet in elevation at 09:00. It is warmer than usual here for the time of year.
The former Floyd Elementary School is now a large quilt and sewing shop. Also a bridal shop, upholstery and upholstery supplies, and many other crafts.
This quilt design is called "Cathedral Window"
On our way to Fancy Gap via the Blue Ridge Mountain Highway we encountered very dense for with only 20 feet of disability at times. Our second stop was the Fancy Gap Pottery and Fabric Outlet (a discount outlet type place on the Blue Ridge).
Although we did see some snow along the sides of the Blue Ridge Highway, Spring appears to have arrived in this part of Virginia.
We returned to North Carolina for lunch and a visit to Mt. Airy.
Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) and Opie Taylor (Ron Howard) going fishing.
Main Street where we found lunch at the Leon Diner.
The town has made the most of its connection to the fictitious Mayberry in the Andy Griffith Show.
Nearly all of the shops in town remain open despite the closure of nearly all of the manufacturing industry in the town. Even the granite quarry closed after it was bought by an out of state company.
Some of the Andy Griffith Show cast.
Andy Griffith's childhood home.
Sue found the Courthouse and Police Station.
Apparently I was unruly and had to sentence myself to time in jail.
Sue spoke with the Police Department who took us both out for a ride about the town.
1963 Ford Galaxy 500 Police cruiser.
We left town and headed over the state line to Wytheville, VA and our last quilt shop of the day.
Batiks Etc & Sew What Fabrics Quilt Shop.
A tiny bit of a truly incredible assortment of beautiful fabrics on three floors. Definitely a place we would like to visit again.
Sue - The fellow who drove us around in the squad car was a Mt. Airy native. The town has reinvented itself with the re-creation of Mayberry. He explained that Andy Griffith didn't like to use made up names. He wanted to be Sheriff Taylor, but the higher ups said no, so he used his grandmother's last name, which was Taylor. In the show they talk about going to the big city of "Mt. Pilot," and there is a Pilot Mountain near by. Andy had a close friend by the name of Emmett from Mt. Airy, and he had a friend named Emmett in the show. There was someone named Otis in town, and someone with the last name of Campbell, and the town drunk in the show was named Otis Campbell. The show ran from 1960-1968.
In addition to the granite quarry that was mined way back when, there was a lot of furniture making in Mt. Airy. Andy felt he was destined for the furniture factory, but didn't want that. He bought a used trombone and was mentored in music and in life by the pastor of the local Moravian Church. This church is a popular denomination of Protestantism in this area. In fact, according to AI, the Moravian Church is one of the oldest Protestant denominations, founded in 1457 in Bohemia (modern Czech Republic) following the teachings of reformer Jan Hus, who predated Luther by 60 years. It emphasizes a personal relationship with Jesus, community life, and the motto: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love." With about 1 million members globally, the church is known for its liturgical, music-filled worship, and trombone choirs.
Andy went to UNC on a scholarship. He visited Mt. Airy all his life. He moved his parents out to LA when they were in their 70s (he was an only child). He lived in Roanoke, NC at the end of his life and is buried there. He died at age 86.
