A Civil War Cemetery & a Peanut Farmer who became President

Oct19/15 Weather sunny but cool high 65 low 45.  Within 65 miles of our Twin Oaks RV Park in Elko, Georgia are two National Historic Sites run by the NPS.  It will be an easy ride with our leathers on today; our first stop is about 30 miles to  Andersonville then on to Plains for our second stop.

150 years ago the Civil War claimed 750,000 lives in America when it ended in 1865.  We are at the Camp Sumter Military prison site, also known as Andersonville.  A mere 26 1/2 acres that was intended to hold a maximum of 10,000 prisoners. Hastily built it started taking prisoners in February, 1864 and by August over 32,000 soldiers struggled to survive in what men called 'hell on earth'.  The museum highlights the difficulties a POW endured.   Death was rampant averaging 130 men per day from disease, starvation or exposure.   

Next to the prison is the hallowed ground of the Andersonville National Cemetery.  Mass grave rows were dug where bodies were laid beside each other then buried.  Monument markers are inches of each other.   Rows and rows and rows.  Over 13,000 prisoners buried.  Monuments from the Union States representing the soldiers are scattered throughout the cemetery.  The footprint of the prison and cemetery is small, but Andersonville left a large mark on American history.  Lest we never forget this very sad time. 

We left with a shadow hanging over us.  Riding on another half hour we were both deep in thought and reverence for the soldiers.  

We pulled into a little crossroads of a town called Plains, Georgia where the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site showcases the 39th President of the United States. 

Few Presidents have kept such close ties with where they were born and raised, and come full circle back to live out their lives.  You can tour the Plains depot which was Jimmy's headquarters, the Carter Boyhood farm, the Plains high school and drive by where Jimmy and Rosalind still live today.   In the nearby Marantha baptist church Jimmy still teaches Sunday school.  In 2002 he won the Nobel Peace prize for his work for peace and humanity.  

The simplicity of what Jimmy Carter did was pretty incredible.  Running for President now seems light years away from 1977.  

Surprises in Perry, Georgia & stripes make your butt look big

Oct 17 to 19/2015 Weather is sunny low 70's, nights low 45.  Really nice. 
Driving thru Atlanta was ok, then we hit a 1 hour delay for 9 miles. Construction brings I75 to its knees.  And we thought we were so smart taking the bypass thinking it was a breeze!
 Once we got moving again we decided that stopping around Perry Georgia would be a good enough day.  This time we called ahead to Twin Oaks RV Park to reserve a site.  The fellow said he had a site since the National Fair was ending soon..... Oh oh what fair?  Well it runs for 11 days and there will be about 500,000 visitors, 1800 rabbits, 75 lamas, and every year since 1999 Alabama plays to a sold out crowd!!!  They even had a Scarecrow competition.

 Couple miles away from our exit at Perry the traffic came to a grinding jam again today.  About 45 minutes later we pulled into the park.

  The Fair sounded interesting, so maybe we should stay a couple of days and check it out.  The owner was so great when he was telling us about things to do around here; and he gave me his last day pass to get in free!  Also nearby is Andersonville National Historic Site & Civil War Cemetary and in Plains is Jimmy Carter National Historic Site.  

The Perry Fairgrounds are huge and the facilities for livestock and exhibitions was very impressive.  Much like our Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Only much warmer climate!!  

They had rides and fair food (more BBQ pork than we've ever seen on a grill) and big name entertainment and livestock and arts and crafts and flower competitions.  

It kept us walking around all day, till our feet said to go home.   Such a great surprise to us.  Now we know all about The Georgia National Fair! 

Love this quilt that won the people's choice award.  The quilter has a great sense of humour.  She called it ...............hahahaha.  "Actually yes I think they do make your butt look big"

Migration of the Snowbirds

Oct 16/15  Weather Sunny and 75 this afternoon, tonight 45.   It was a really nice driving day.   No construction on I75 today in this area.  I forgot to mention yesterday that Ohio was mile after mile of construction.  It does stay two lanes mostly but it is not pleasant driving, that's for sure.  The leaves are turning colour and really pretty. 

along I75 in Tennessee

We stopped at Holiday Travel Park of Chattanooga about 3 pm.   We did not have a reservation but had stayed here before and it is quite a large park.   As we pulled in we saw a trailer pull out.   Odd time to pull out.   Hmmm.   Oh yes, they are completely full all weekend long.  Huh!  Well Rosey how do you like going by the seat of your pants now???  Oh oh.  What's going on?  Two days in a row the campgrounds have been really full.  The camphost said "it's all the Snowbirds".  

Snowbird Migration

Back on I75 we go.  About 5 miles south in Ringgold, Georgia there is another campground called Battlefield RV Park.  They had a site for us to pull thru for the night.   Then I guess we are back on the road south again tomorrow.
Watch out for that Snowbird Migration.....   Did everyone hear about the frost warning up north???  

Whoa hold up!

April 15/14 weather taking a severe cold turn!!! Frost warning down to Atlanta!! Snow hit the Great lakes overnight.

We jumped thru Atlanta this morning with no problems however the wind was blustery and made driving miserable.  We stopped for fuel and found that we should keep it a very short day.  We will drive an hour north of Atlanta and call it a day.  Stopped at Cartersville KOA.  Gusts of wind were pushing 39 mph!!!

Scary emails came in from all our northern based friends.  Pictures worth a thousand words!!!  4 inches of snow at home and a record low of. 20 f predicted.   Think we will wait another day.  Lol.   Not sure we want to push snow with our RV!

Georgia has burst into blossoms; the Dogwoods are beautiful.

Sad time ... Time to head north

April 14/14 weather - rain storm coming but warm and humid, followed by a cold front with winds

Trying to decide which route to take to Ontario will be solely based on the weather forecast. Looks like I75 has a better travel forecast right now.   We have 7 days left before our extended health care runs out so we must venture slowly north.  It appears that another extreme cold front is making its way to the Great Lakes so we need to be careful on not getting too far north and hitting frost zones during the night.  An hour is tolerable but we want to avoid 4 to 5 hours of freezing temperatures in a row.   So we will move from St. Augustine, Florida to just south of Atlanta, Georgia the first day.  This sets us up for a good time the following day to take the 285 west bypass about 10ish in the morning. 

Staying at KOA Forsyth, Georgia.  We like the KOA's when we are in transit.  They always have big pull thrus with easy ins and outs.  Bonus: after check in  brought us complementary warm baked chocolate chip cookies!!!

Golden Isles of Georgia Coast

Nov 12 to 19  Weather Unsettled all week - only two nice sunny days - cool and grey
When we get a nice sunny day we ride and explore when you get a week of unsettled forecast weather.  This was perhaps the longest stretch of so-so weather we have had since we have been on the road over the last year.  No complaints though we are still just happy and lucky to be doing what we love to do.

We are staying in a very new RV park just south of Brunswick - Coastal Georgia RV Park - beautiful long concrete level sites, easy in and out.  You have grass and some landscaping between neighbours and there is a small pond with a pavilion which has a big stone outdoor fireplace.  It is only about 10 mile to Jekyll Island our first excursion.  Once over the causeway you pay to enter the island.  It makes you feel like you are stepping back in time.  The homes are antiquated and many are historically preserved.  The main hotel is a National Historic Landmark 'The Jekyll Island Club Hotel'. 

 It reminds us of the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island.

At the turn of the century this was an island frequented by the rich and famous - Vanderbilts', Goodyears', Rockefellers', Pulizters'..... the list goes on.  

OK, ok and yes Commodore Frederick Bourne..... here we go again.  Last year Billy found his old cousin Daniel Bourne at the Alamo and now he thinks he has found another cousin!!!  Yes it says so on the memorial sign Jekyll Island Club Wharf.  He always sends these pictures to his sister Liz; so they both know where the family was.  (he gets quite a kick out of thinking they are related, ha ha).
The campground is a very naturalistic setting amongst big weeping oaks and the moss with many bicycle and walking trails. 

One thing we never knew before is that this spanish moss is 'NOT' to be handled.  Did you know it is full of little bugs that are nasty biters!  Chiggers or Red Bugs they call them.  Small mites that  will burrow into your skin in very delicate areas - causing much irritation and itchy rashes. 

On St. Simon Island you will find beautiful housing developments with plenty of rental properties and weekend and getaway homes, condos and cottages. 

It's the opposite of Jekyll Island.  Numerous restaurants and boutiques and the day we visited there was an art fair going on which we stopped to browse at. 

Birdhouses crafted like old buildings

3d boat dock and piers

One stop we had to make was at the Southern Soul BBQ.  It's another place that Guy Fieri has visited with Diners, Drive-in's and Dives.   Brunswick GA is famous for Brunswick Stew.  I had to have it... whatever it was.   Turns out that is is a chicken, tomato, lima bean stew.  Piquant and good.   Billy had the rack of ribs all out the big wood fired BBQ outside!

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

Found it!!!

Not sure if I told you that after this book came out they actually had to move this statue "The Bird Girl" from the Bonaventure Cemetery to the Telfair Museum in downtown Savannah - there was too much traffic at the grave site.  There is also a movie based on this novel with Kevin Spacey and John Cusack.  I am a firm believer in the book is always better so I will read it before I watch the show.  
Yesterday we were on Jekyll Island and there was a very cool Bookstore in one of the Historical Houses

 - 2 floors of books and I got the last copy she had :)    I had to promise Billy I would not wander too long in the place if he would just please stop at it.... He's such a great guy.
As it turns out there is such an irony to this Jekyll Island Book store.  It makes it's home in the old Jekyll Island Club Infirmary building. This Victorian original was first built as the Furness Cottage. Later, Joseph Pulitzer owned it for a time. Then the Goodyear family bought it and donated it to the Jekyll Island Club for use as an infirmary.  And we all know who Joseph Pulitzer was ~ The Pulitzer Prize!

Rosey found her book

Now I almost hope for a couple of rain days so I can sit and read it.

Savannah, Georgia

Nov 5 - 12, 2012 Weather at beginning of the week was cool, low 60's and 39 at night; warmed up every day as the week went 78 and low of 55
From reading we know that the downtown historical Savannah is the same era as Charleston so it will be nice to explore.  This time we thought it would be fun to do a walking tour so we met "Savannah Dan" downtown at the Johnson Square by the Sundial....    What a personality this fellow is.

You can't miss him - he is 6'5" wears a Seersucker Suit with a bow tie and a stylish straw hat.    Well it was such a great way to spend two hours walking the historic squares district with him and a few others - he is a wealth of information on old Savannah and you are intrigued into his conversation while his stories make you want to know more! 

Owens Thomas House - National Historic Landmark

The city was laid out in the 1700's in squares parallel to the river.  Property along the river was for the working port area and today it has been turned into a touristy riverfront and down river there is still one of the largest working ports in the U.S. today.   Just a block away from the river the squares start and ingeniously there are 4 civic areas and then 4 residential areas; these kept multiplying as the city grew.  The troops would train in the 'green' squares and camp there and it also allowed for a buffer zone if fires sprang up in the city.  It kept growing till there were 24 squares and those are all public park areas today and have statues in honor of prominent Savannah heroes, or water fountains of beauty.  Truly a unique layout of the city which really beautifies it.

One thing we Northerner's find strange is the fact that Savannah and other old Southern cities developed over top of ancient cemeteries and thus there are stories of hauntings because of this.  There is an old Indian burial mound that was unearthed in one of the squares, which is bad mojo.....   and another city block that was a Jewish cemetery which is totally gone except for a single stone memorial!  Now you know those souls are restless......

St. John the Baptiste Cathedral

The city has many, many great restaurants and more than enough history to last you for days.   There have been many movies and books based in the city as well.   I have heard so much in the last few days of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" (book and movie)  that I can't wait to read it.

Praline + Bearclaw

As in every local there are certain specialties and Georgia and Savannah are know for their Pecan Pralines.   Along the streets you will see many candy stores which you cannot resist...  when you enter you get a sampling which leads you to the counter to get a box of goodies.  Gosh this was not suppose to be our lunch!!!  We had to stop taking bites and get ourselves into a restaurant.