Sleeping the night before vacation is alway a difficult process – why? – because it is vacation.  After making myself stay in bed until the alarm clock sounded (6:00 am), I rose and got ready.  Completing the final tasks before departure, loading the last of the never ending list of items for the trip and saying good bye to the four legged kids (Teddy and Tira – both rescue cats from the shelter), with that done we were off.

The trip down included an interesting breakfast at the Asheboro Huddle House, complete with costumes (which the employees wore not us).  Breakfast included everything from scrambled eggs with cheese to something that was covered and smothered (not sure what it was – however – the friend eating it said it was good).  After we were fueled and ready to ride – the trip continued.

It always amazes me at how diverse the landscape is in the state of North Carolina.  Traveling from Greensboro to the beach almost seems as if you are traveling to an entirely different country.  I love the pine trees (reminds me of Florida where I grew up) and then you have the swamps (OK, more Florida reminders), and then there are the people – everyone just seems to be in a vacation state of mind – even those working.

We arrive at the beach house – and the first thing is to check out the beach – kind of like making sure it is really there.  Once that has been established we proceed to unpack all – and I do mean all – the stuff we loaded into the cars for the trip down.  After unpacking and arranging we head back down to the beach for a nice walk in the surf.

From there, we headed across the bridge back to the main land in search of Captain Jack’s for fresh seafood for Sundays menu (more on that later).

The menu for Saturday night however included chili with green chili cornbread.

Chili recipe (very easy):

Once package of country style sausage – about a pound (I prefer the Lowes Foods brand)
One pound hamburger meat
Two large onions
Two large cans of diced tomatoes
Six regular size cans of dark kidney beans (drained)
Three packs of McCormick’s low sodium chili seasoning
Two big teaspoons of chipotle chili pepper
One big teaspoon each of garlic and onion powder
Salt to taste

Chop onions and saute in pot (I use a large cast iron dutch oven)
Brown the sausage and hamburger – drain off the grease
Add the seasoning and spices
Add the diced tomatoes (plus the juice in the can) – remember to stir well after adding each ingredient
Add the drained kidney beans
Stir well and cook the chili on medium until it is bubbly, then turn down to a slow simmer and cook for about an hour.

Serve with homemade cornbread.
Enjoy!

After dinner we finished the night off watching the sunset and waves crash into the beach.  Dessert included fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and well the rest of the wine and other beverages.

It was a great first day of vacation.  More to come.

After breakfast we proceeded to the Depot in downtown Greensboro.  Train stations in the South are different from the ones up north.  Here you hurry up and wait (kind of feels like herding cattle).  After checking in at the Depot we had to wait for almost 30 minutes at the locked door that allowed you entrance to platform #2 where our train #80 would pick us up and deliver us to the NC State Fair.

The breeze on the platform was a bit brisk while we waiting for the train which was a few minutes late.  On board the train we quickly found seats got settled and off we went.  The train proceeded down the track and shortly there after Tony and Bobby took off to find snacks.  They returned with cookies, coffee, soda and red pepper hummus.

After a few short stops to pick up and drop off passengers we arrived at our destination – The NC State Fair.

We exited the train in the middle of the road and crossed over to the entrance to the Fair.  We started this part of the adventure with a walk through “As Seen on TV”.  Honestly – live infomercials.  The one most tasty treat that we did discover was Maple Cotton Candy (which we returned at the end of the day for our own bag of this delectable treat).

After walking around for a short period we decided that it was time for lunch.  The food frenzy began with gumbo (chicken, shrimp and sausage), then hushpuppies, apple fries, ginger ale, funnel cake and yes one of our quests – pig lickers (chocolate covered bacon), hot dog, and BBQ.

We saw cows, goats, sheet, rabbits, clowns, weird inflatable shriners, people of all sorts, gigantic pumpkins and water mellons, beautiful landscaping, crazy rides, live music, arts and crafts and yes as mentioned before – “As Seen on TV”.  Even thought the day was quite chilly is was fun and well worth the time.

On our way out of the park – as promised – we stopped for a bag of maple cotton candy.  Arriving at the tent beside the train tracks which was our holding pen for our return train ride – we were informed the the train coming from NY was running about an hour late.  At least we were under the tent (which had sides and gave us some protection from the brisk breeze).  It was most humorous to hear everyone commenting on our delay – you can just imagine how some people reacted.

About an hour late – the train (#79) out of New York arrived and stopped on the railroad crossing  and we began the loading process.  We found our seats – waited somewhat patiently for the conductor to come check us in and then we were off to the lounge car.  Cheese burgers, Cabernet and beer began our dinner in the lounge car as we road down the tracks towards Greensboro, NC.  After the cheese burger was gone – dessert was – yes indeed – the mapple cotton candy and another Cabernet.  We all decided that the train ride was the most fun of the entire day.

With our trip over and the work week beginning we have started plans for a longer trip.

Disney here we come.