dinner time

Date: Jul 28, 2007

dinner time

Date: Jul 28, 2007

We rode the CNC for the first time last year and our experience was great. Each town had shuttles running on a continous basis from the campgrounds with stops at several different locations for different restaurants. Since people arrived at the campsite at different times and left on the shuttles at different times, we rarely had a problem with waiting. Everyone is having such a great time that any waiting is a time to meet new friends, talk about the ride, and brag about the speed you rode today!!! I believe that there is a dinner option at the campsite (you will hear about that by email when the time gets closer) but we enjoyed going out with friends we met during the day. There are always shuttles to the fast food places but we asked the locals (and there was a welcome booth at every campsite last year) where to eat. We ate Mexican, American, and other ethnic foods during the week. Never had a bad meal!! I can recommend getting the breakfast option at the campsite as there were not alot of places to eat after you left the towns. We were on many back roads, so the convenience of the early morning meal was good for us.

Date: Jul 30, 2007

The only time that was an issue last year was in Banner Elk at the beginning of the tour. They had one or two main restaurants and they were quite overwhelmed. Still, we got fed and had a good meal. I ate out every night, and most overnight towns had a plethora of restaurants to choose from. The shuttles were great though we did need to get a cab one night to get to the place we wanted to eat. In general, there was great food and cheap beer in every town.

We did completely overwhelm a restaurant in LaGrange at lunchtime on the way from Smithfield to Kinston. It started to rain and a lot of folks stopped there. The only lady working there impressed a couple of cyclists into duty in the kitchen and eventually everyone got fed. The rain stopped too.

Date: Jul 30, 2007

I personnally like having a meal waiting for me in camp after I come in after the ride. The meals are pretty good although I couldn't pass up not eating out in Kinston. They have great Bar BQ.. I would difinitly go for the breakfasts.

Date: Jul 31, 2007

This year will be my seventh CNC and I have purchased the total meal plan every time. I would make the call that 95% of those meals have been just fine. So yes a few have been lacking but you can get the same in a overwhelmed restaurant also. Some meals are catered by local groups that are raising money for some program so I like to help out in that aspect. It has been said that people like to meet new people in the restaurant and that is great but you can do the same thing at the camp meal. You also don't have to wait in line for the shuttle. I do like to go into town and check it out on the bike or shuttle later when the line quiets down, you can always find a colorful local good for a few stories. Now for the caveat, you can ask my wife, I am not a picky eater, just about anything put in front of me will disappear. Anyway that is my input it will be a great ride no matter where you eat and whatever the weather, looking forward to it as always.

Date: Jul 31, 2007

I have never gotten the meal paln, and I won't again this year. A big part of my CNC experience is going into every town we stop in, seeing the town, and eating in a local establishment. It is great to see how many of the CNC riders go out and meet in the local eateries. As another plus, it gets you out of camp. Once you get there at noon, and set up your tent, what else do you have to do all day? Going out and seeing small town North Carolina is as much a part of this trip as the time you will spend in the saddle.