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Reflections and Resolutions 2022 – Part Two

by | Jan 17, 2022 | High Rock Lake

With the holiday season behind us, New Year resolutions are top of mind, well, as least for the next few weeks. And many of us go back to the same tried and true resolutions … ‘I’m going to eat healthier; exercise more, perhaps lose weight, get my finances in order, try that new restaurant’, or perhaps clean, donate, or purge stuff gathered in our closets, front porch, or if you are feeling ambitious, perhaps the garage or for those of us that live on the lake, the boathouse? Do you really need to keep those tattered life jackets? Or moldy koozies that got wet on the boat? Or the random boat bumpers and buoys that floated underneath your pier from across the lake due to the lake rising from all the recent rains?

My personal 2022 resolution is two-fold – be a good neighbor and make a positive impact on our local community. Not that I am a bad neighbor; I wave to the neighbors walking and driving by even if I don’t know their names; I socialize with those that I do know and try to meet anyone new moving into the surrounding area and give them pointers on our special lake life. The pandemic continues to give us some reflection time and I am wanting to expand outside of my bubble. For instance, I keep our beach area and lakeside yard clear of yard waste, such as leaves so they don’t find a way into the lake. Keeping our lake clear of debris for our waterfowl and boaters alike is a must.

But there is so much more that we can do.

During the New Year holiday weekend, before the big chill and rains, I grabbed my gloves and plastic trash bags and headed for the roadways surrounding our cove. If there is trash on the road, it will find a way into the lake, especially with these winds off the lake. Why there are big gulp cups, beer cans, tobacco tins, and water bottles on the side of the road by the woods is beyond my comprehension. I live on a dead-end road, there is little traffic coming and going, especially during this time of year. Let’s all do our part and take care of our own stuff.  Plus, this gave me a great opportunity to hit a few of my resolutions in one fell swoop – exercise, meet neighbors and keep our section of the community clean.

One community-wide initiative that I am very active with is the annual HRL CleanSweep held each September. As a board member of HRLCleanSweep, I organize both Davidson and Rowan trash collection sites, communicating to our event volunteers, Board of Advisors, and sponsors. But our volunteer committee needs your help by joining the effort, to amplify the event so that we can all make a real impact. Last year, we removed more than four tons of man-made debris from High Rock Lake; more people volunteering can double that load.

More community involvement can also include visiting local businesses and farmers’ markets. I went to a new market on Saturday in Lexington, and met great artisans, selling their fresh baked goods, handcrafted products, or items I didn’t even know I needed.

I did get to check off one new restaurant visit in the new year – Shug’s at Brooklyn Square South. A fun place for brunch with lots of warmth and a relaxing rustic atmosphere. Their Facebook descriptive says Speakeasy. With eat, music, drink, and art. I’ll take that. The menu is progressive, and the food is summed up in a word – yum.  Check out their website for upcoming entertainment and menu, shugsnc.com

We have so many great places to visit in Rowan County and upcoming activities, including the upcoming Wine about Winter 2022 on Friday, February 4th. Tickets are available and the event is a great way to meet more neighbors and get some exercise walking around downtown. One price gets you a tasting pass with up to 20 wine samples and a signature glass. It’s a win-win – with wine. And you can check out our wonderful downtown Salisbury retailers and restaurants. Check out www.visitsalisburync.com/plan.special-offers/wine-about-winter.

A NEW YEAR BRINGS ABOUT A NEW CAMPGROUND TO ROWAN COUNTY

Did you ever think that you wanted something, but didn’t know it until you hear about it? Well, recently, I was introduced to Benjamin Thackston. He and his girlfriend Jennifer moved to the area not long ago. The couples are outdoor aficionados and visionaries, Benjamin is set to create a designation property in Rowan County that we haven’t had in our Rowan County tourism portfolio – Eagle Creek Camping.

For Rowan County residents that do not have a friend on the lake or a boat, there are few places for water access for recreation. There are a few options such as kayaking from Eagle Point Nature Preserve, fishing, and camping at Tuckertown reservoir or enjoying the view and food at one of the three different lakeside restaurants – Tamarac Marina and Lakeview Family Restaurant on Bringle Ferry Road, or Waters Edge off Providence Church Road.

Benjamin and Jennifer’s vision for Eagle Creek Campground is to provide the people of Rowan County an outdoor escape close to home. No matter how you love to experience the outdoors, they are building this for you! Eagle Creek Campground plans to offer gorgeous cabin rentals for families of all sizes, with modern comforts including your own kitchen, fireplaces in the cabin, televisions, and Wi-Fi, outdoor fire pits on the patio of each cabin, and an “Escape to the Real World” option to get away from all technology including a lockbox for all your devices and Wi-Fi lockout if you choose! Eagle Creek also offers rustic primitive campsites where you can pitch your own tent or hang your own hammock with drive-up parking to each site. If you prefer to bring your home on wheels with you, Eagle Creek will also have several powered RV sites for you with nearby bathhouses with hot showers and private bathrooms!

Eagle Creek Campground is currently looking for investors to make this amazing attraction a reality for our friends in Rowan County and is planned to be right next door to High Rock Lake. The vision for Eagle Creek will bring a natural haven to the High Rock Lake region for everyone to enjoy for generations and improve the local economy at the same time!

“The Rowan Chamber is excited about this new business at High Rock Lake. We’ll have several of our Dragon Boat teams who will certainly want to stay there,” said Elaine Spalding, President, Salisbury-Rowan Chamber of Commerce.

www.eaglecreekcamping.com is now live.

“We are still working on making contacts with investors to get the ball rolling,” shared Thankston.

I am sure all of us will be excited I’ll keep you posted on the development.

I would love to hear from you on what your favorite lake activity is, or someone that you would like me to feature in 2022. Please email me at highrock@YourRowan.com

 

#itsaROCOthing         #lakeliving      #YourRowan   #BeAnOriginal     #HighRockLake   #LakeLife

About The Author

Joyce Caron-Mercier

After three decades of working in the motorsports industry from track and team management to public relations, and overseeing sponsorship and driver contracts within NASCAR, NHRA, IndyCar and World of Outlaws competition, Joyce wanted more. She came to ACS Charlotte in February 2020 as the staff lead for the annual Taste of Hope Charlotte gala. Joyce’s role encompasses event production, sponsorship cultivation and implementation, public awareness, and interaction with the Charlotte gala Board of Ambassadors, and launched the Young Professionals CLT ABOA in 2022. Joyce and her husband Paul of 32 years discovered High Rock Lake, situated between Rowan and Davidson Counties, and quickly became full-time lake residents on North Carolina’s second largest lake with their two Great Danes, Max and Molly. Joyce writes a monthly blog for Your Rowan, a county marketing initiative to share the positive attributes of Rowan County with its residents and visitors. Joyce’s blog and social handles are called ‘Joyce on the Lake’. Being community minded is important and I serve as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the High Rock Lake Association, High Rock Lake Clean Sweep, and assist the Rowan Chamber with their annual Dragon Boat Festival.