9-25..Arrived in Mayberry (Mt. Airy) about 11AM and headed to Snappy Lunch for our pork chop sandwich. Sorry for all those who couldn't have one!! Greeted Emmett Forrest and Jim Clark while there, as well as Charles Dowell who owns Snappy Lunch. After eating we went across the street to Mayberry on Main and had a cup of Lemon ice cream...delicious! After walking to a few stores we stopped at the playhouse to leave off a few things for the silent auction, then checked into the Hampton Inn for 3 nights. Friday 9-26 - Raining! A bright full rainbow greeted us when we walked out the hotel! A Rainy day in Mayberry beats a sunny day at work any time! Ate next door at Biscuitville then headed downtown. Checked into several more stores before heading to opening ceremonies. The rain stopped and stayed stopped until about one minute after the ceremonies ended! All the guests were introduced and given an opportunity to speak, then Hizzonner the Mayor spoke. One thing he did was present Emmett Forrest with an engraved crystal plaque for his service to the town of Mt. Airy, and the Mayor even had a National Guard helicopter do a fly-by for Emmett! We walked to the playhouse but due to the rain not a lot was going on, so we went back downtown for our lunch and to check out a few more places, some for the second time. Then we headed to the playhouse for the Dillards concert, then to the Library for the trivia contest won by Dennis Beale and Pat Bullins second. We soon headed back to the hotel for some coffee and hot chocolate where we met up with George Spence and had a good long fun talk with him. We then got our baths and headed to the hospitality room where Praise in H armony was gathered in an impromptu concert. About 9:30 LeRoy Mc Neese came in and joined in with them, then joining the group was Michael Hoover and Jeff Branch and we had a real concert! Things ended at 11:50 and we turned in for the night. 9-27, Saturday...still raining. We got our biscuits from Biscuitville again and drove downtown, got a parking space on the street and ate our food, then got our spaces for the parade. At 9 the parade started and was over fairly fast today as the rain kept many units away. What people need to realize, real Andy fans are there rain or shine! Those who were there had a good time! After the parade we attended the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new building for Emmett's collection and a few other things. That was also inside due to rain! We checked out the silent auction, in the lobby of the playhouse, before heading downtown to Barney's for lunch. The rain had let up some so we walked down to Wally's, through the replica courthouse, and looked at some of the great old homes with nice design. Time to go get our baths and head back down for Col. Tim's Talent Time and what a show this was! Miss McGruder was a real beauty it there ever was one....in the beauty contest, no less. But she lost out to Big Maude! That was just one of the skits done and part of the great entertainment for 3 1/2 hours! What a show and the ones who put it on and took part in it are to be commended no end! Sunday found us once more at the services in the amphitheater, led by LeRoy and Janice McNeese and it was wonderful, as usual. What a great addition to Mayberry Days! I think this is either 3 or 4 years they have done this. After the services several of us gathered at Sagebrush to eat an early lunch before saying our good-byes until next year. We headed up to Fancy Gap, then south on the Parkway to Bluffs Lodge in Doughton Park for 3 nights to watch the wildlife and breathe the cool mountain air. Once again Mayberry Days has come and gone. This was our 12th one and we have enjoyed every one of them! We first heard of it thanks to David Browning, who was playing the Mayberry Deppity at the opening of a new Cracker Barrel restaurant about 20 miles from us, so we went down for that and he told us about Mayberry Days and we haven't missed since....1998. If there is one vacation you take a year, make this a part of it. It will be the best vacation you ever take, but make room reservations early and get show tickets early. Next year will be the 20th year of TAGSRWC so we this is going to be BIG. Really BIG! I mean no other word can describe it but BIG! BE THERE!! Welford the Camera Nut!!
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