CNCDay4
By Gary Gilbert
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Day 4 took us from Thomasville to Sanford. Highlight for the day for NASCAR fans was the Richard Petty Museum (I skipped it). It was the longest day at 75 miles with an optional century loop. I don't know anyone who did the century loop. I was happy to have reclaimed my camera and took many photos today.
The route description for the day:
Today will be a challenge. We just have one question for you. Do you ride the 76 mile route (a challenge in itself) or do you take the challenge and ride the century loop? The question is yours and only you will know the answer. We’ll depart the Children’s Baptist Home and almost immediately cross over into Randolph County, home to the Uwharrie Mountains and the long stead hills that accompany them. You’ll need your legs to get through today’s route, but it will be well worth It. Our first stop will introduce you to the Legendary Richard Petty Museum. Race into this museum showcasing the career of the King of NASCAR from the early dirt days to the present. Cars, trophies and awards honoring the 7-Time Winston-Cup Series Champion are showcased throughout. You might even see the Legend in the flesh. We’ll continue making our way east and making memorable stops at Ramseur Lake and the Carbonton Dam. Both will offer great backdrops for this long day of riding through the Uwharrie Mountains. We’re over half way done with the week and we are now out of the mountainous terrain. It only gets flatter from here
Downtown Thomasville was painted with a scene from the glory days. Industry in NC has been disappearing. The hosery mills and furniture makers have moved to Asia.
In past years, I have concentrated my photos on the scenery and almost forgotten to take photos of cyclists. This year I made sure to get a few cyclists in my photos.
Water is always provides a good opportunity for a photo.
Rivers in this part of the country are dark with tannen.
An interested subject.
Cedar Falls was at a cross roads. There wasn't much evidence of people and the post office looked to be closed.
This steam engine sits on the way to Franklinville,
1897 Franklinsville Mfg. Co. Corliss-type steam engine. The original steam engine installed by the Franklinsville Manufacturing Company in 1882 had been purchased from the William A. Harris Company of Providence, Rhode Island. Harris had worked with the original George Corliss company before starting his own factory, and specialized in large mill engines using the highly-efficient Corliss valve gear. The original engine had a 14″ diameter piston with a 36″ stroke; its flywheel was 11 feet in diameter. On July 29, 1897, the Franklinsville company ordered a new engine having an 18″ piston, 42″ stroke, and 13-foot flywheel designed to carry a 24″ leather belt to power the mill’s lineshafting. After installation the engine was used continuously until December 23, 1920, after which the mill was renovated for electrical drive. On July 21, 1921 the engine was sold and removed to C.R. Preddy of Builder’s Sash and Door Company of Rocky Mount, N.C. On April 5, 1933, it was again sold and moved to Williams Lumber Company of Wilson, N.C. Williams Lumber was bought out by Stevenson Millwork in 1965, and the engine operated until that business was liquidated in 1972. It was disassembled and stored in a field in Smithfield until 1977, when it was purchased by Shell Williams of Godwin, N.C. Williams moved the engine to his home on U.S. 301 in northeast Cumberland County and re-erected it on a concrete block foundation. It was located there in 1995, and identified from the original W.A. Harris records now in the possession of the New England Museum of Wireless and Steam. Inside the upper half of the flywheel is faintly visible, in red paint, “Franklinsville Mfg. Co., Franklinsville, N.C.”
Anyone know what kind of flower this is?
We had a very nice lunch in this diner. Sandwiches were very in-expensive. I had a BLT for $2.25.
We saw much of this tall grass. I was looking for several days for a chance to take a photo and this was the first time I was able to do that without power lines or a driveway interfering.
We took a break at Bennett. Most days there were 3 rest stops.
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