I have been remiss in thanking all those who replied to my request of a
couple of months back for suggestions on "what to do/where to go" during a
roundabout trip to Charlotte NC to see the race there on Oct 15. The race is
not something I'd go out of my way to do again, but it is a huge spectacle
and I'm glad we did it.

It was our first big trip in the 5er and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, my
wife JoAnn and me.

Upon Max and Janet's recommendations we went to the Outer Banks,
spectacular, stayed over three nights there. Had a two-four of Keith's with
me but didn't find anybody to share it with, still seemed to disappear
though!

We discovered that we like state park type facilities rather than the KOA
type campgrounds, we stayed overnight in Umstead state park in between
Raleigh and Durham, we were the only ones in there on that Thursday night.
The Ranger who checked us in, noticing our Ontario licence plates spent
quite a while talking hockey, something he doesn't get to do that often. It
was peaceful, once they shut down the flights into and out of the airport
that is right next door <g>.

We didn't have time to do the Blue Ridge Parkway as many others suggested,
will save that for the next time.

The 5er is all winterized (thanks again to suggestions from other posters
here) and tucked away until the spring, when we hope to get out frequently,
getting "hitch itch" already