Trip to Concord, NC (June 11, 2017)

If there is the Dale Earnhardt statue (which is at left) then it must be Kannapolis, NC. Went there on Sunday, June 11 sadly for a funeral for a friend. Not the best occasion, and was rather sudden to go. Headed out early Sunday morning down I-95 to I-85. Lots of road work both in the Charlotte area (going into Concord/Kannapolis) and as I had read for a good distance from the North Carolina border to the Virginia state line. That work was not bad going down to NC, but was a bit slower (though not terrible) from NC back to Virginia.    

Had a few hours though and wandered to some familiar places. After visiting some sights in Kannapolis, I went to Concord. This house was once owned by James W. Cannon, founder of Cannon Mills. Kannapolis once was the largest unincorporated town in the US.  The Cannon Mills factories were huge when I first came to live in the area. Now, they are all gone - torn down and replaced with the North Carolina Research Center. In Concord on Union Street there are many fine old houses which make for some interesting exploring.    

This is a big part of what people know about Concord, which is where it is actually located. It is the Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is home during the year to two Nascar races and the Nascar All-Star race. The first of the two big races is the Coca-Cola 600 which is (by a 100 miles) Nascar's longest race. Other events are also held at the racetrack and there is even a chance thanks to various businesses to ride on the track in a race car. I have done that thanks to the Richard Petty Experience. You get to both go on a Ride Alongs and/or to drive them yourself.  

My final stop was to visit Cabarrus Brewing which just opened up a few years ago. In fact it was not open when I lived there. I do like the Craft Beer to be had in the Richmond area, and Concord now has Cabarrus Brewing. Nice place with some tasty beer.
I saw some other sights in a whirlwind tour as well as made it to the funeral home, plus saw a few friends while there. Had a quick dinner in Kannapolis and then headed back to Richmond via the highway. It was a nice drive on a hot day. Weather was good though and rain was never an issue. It was great to be back at one of my favorite places to visit. It was a real good time in the 14 years that I lived there.