Time In Georgia

I like Georgia! Good thing, because I’m spending a bit more time here than I anticipated. Way back on January 22nd I was able to have a follow-up appointment in Jonesboro for my wrist and the news was good. I don’t quite have full mobility and sometimes it hurts, but it’s healing fine.

You may remember that the 22nd came right before the 23rd, which is right about when the ice storm made it’s way across the southeast. The worst day in Atlanta (where I fortunately, was able to stay in an Airbnb) was Saturday…so cold my van doors were frozen shut. By Monday the roads were clear in Atlanta but I decided to stay put until Tuesday, hoping I’d then figure out where to go where it would be if not warm, at least less cold. I considered going down into Florida, say Panama City on the gulf coast, but the tornado warning there took that off the list of options. I considered going further south into Florida, but I would have had to go pretty far to get to warmer weather, and it wouldn’t have been that warm.

I made my way a little further south to High Falls State Park. It was cold but the sun was out, the hikes were pleasant and the campground pretty.

After a few days there I headed for Macon where I visited the Tubman African American Museum (https://tubmanmuseum.com/). It included an unusual mix of exhibits, including one on the history of disability rights, an art exhibit, and stories of the accomplishments of African Americans from the area. Tyler Perry made his mark there as well, with an exhibit that featured a living room scene from and other props from his movies along with a video of him sharing his story, strongly undergirded by his faith. It’s a powerful story. The museum contained a wealth of information and was uplifting in its emphasis on success and the strength of the community.

After a good night’s sleep in the Cracker Barrel parking lot, I headed to the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park the next day. This is land that has been inhabited by various tribes for the last 12,000 years. In the 1930s the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and other programs began an archeological dig with 800 men (the largest ever in the U.S., according to the exhibit), uncovering tens of thousands of artifacts and the actual floor in the Earth Lodge Mound dating back to 1016. Several other mounds and indicators of the nature of life were also uncovered. I’m really glad I went to this site. Learning about the history of the land, the tribes, the recurring theme of the exploitation of people through force (there were treaties that were ignored and the site was actually a plantation worked by enslaved people) and the arduous process of uncovering the history was gratifying.

Savannah was my next stop after Macon and I stayed at a Harvest Host site – Coach’s Corner – for a couple of nights. After an ICE OUT rally and march that felt impactful, e.g. lots of people cheered in support as they drove by or stood in shop doorways as we passed (and only one jackass sneered and flipped us off!), I started the 3.5 mile walk back to Coach’s Corner just as a sprinkle of icy rain began to fall. By the time I got to the van it was snowing and I started to get a little worried about sleeping in the van; it would definitely be a night to turn on the heater. I went to the restaurant to have a quick dinner, betting that the place would close early – the staff weren’t crazy about driving home as conditions worsened and the Fleetwood Mac cover band playing that night had canceled.

I woke up to a quiet town with the snow already melting. so with the roads clear, I headed out of town to my next destination, Fort McAllister State Park. I stopped for a few things at the grocery and discovered that at 11:50 on a Sunday I couldn’t buy the wine I had in my cart…note to self: 12:30 is the golden hour if you want booze on a Sunday in Georgia.

Fort McAllister is a lovely campground sitting along the Ogeechee River with a civil war museum, a couple of hiking trails and highly socialized wildlife. I’ve seen deer, armadillo, raccoons, lots of birds, a ridiculous number of hyperactive squirrels, and dolphins. I had planned on three days but added four more at a site removed from RV city. My neighbor was on a bike trip, having left Akron, OH a couple of weeks prior and planning on “dipping his foot in the Atlantic and in the Pacific on this trip, returning to Akron by election day because there’s no way he would miss voting in person!” I was impressed. it was really nice to settle in for a bit and I hiked an easy trail one day and then biked it the next – lots of roots but no other obstacles or hills to navigate, and that’s a good thing as I get my wrist re-accustomed to biking again.

Today I made my way a little further south to Jekyll Island, a campground that feels quite luxurious and an Island with resorts and a high-end vibe. There’s a tennis center, at least one golf course and shops with names that tell you they cater to tourists. I’m heading into town shortly to explore before I go to Wee Pub to watch the Super Bowl – hoping I’m not the only Seattle fan in the place, but given I’m on the east coast I’m not making any bets on that. Hmmmm….polymarket anyone? Beach time and bike rides are on my to-do list for the next couple of days (with wool hat, leggings and gloves, I’m sure). Then it’s on to Brunswick where I hope to get some repairs on the van (power issues and a leak), and check out more of the natural environs down here before I head north and finally make it to Athens.