Arnoldsville to Mountain City GA

It has been a week since the last post, & we have been on the go. Left Atlanta on Monday 5/12 with it in our rear view mirror heading to Arnoldsville (where I was born). We took a side trip on the way to show Chuck & Gail some spectacular old southern homes in Madison GA. Stopped in town & took out walking/exploring. We were walking down a little side street & walked by a gentleman walking down his driveway - being the friendly people we are - we said Hi. He asked us the usual questions “Where ya’ll from & what you doing” after telling him he invited us to his backyard & gave us a history lesson of the area. His house backed up to a extremely old cemetery (1700’s). He is a retired judge from Atlanta - very interesting man- another memory making moment. We hiked the cemetery then headed to see some of the old homes in town. Back on the road again headed “HOME”. We pulled into my brother Steve’s yard and it became Bray’s KOA. We are getting good at creating our own RV parks.
Tuesday morning we took Gail & Chuck with us as I took a ride down memory lane - schools - church - hangouts & places like that. One of our old hangouts was a neat old covered bridge. We headed to Athens for the grand tour & took them to “The Varsity” for lunch, one of the largest drive-ins in the state. This place is a real landmark- & the best indigestion going (not sure if Chuck & Gail will want to go back).
Wednesday was family day - as many as could - came for dinner. Chuck & Gail were so sweet to indulge me for this family time.
Thursday was moving day - we made our way to northeast GA - stopping in Mountain City. We went to the Fox Fire museum - check out their web site if you aren’t familiar with this place & the books. It truly is a wow place.
Clayton was the next town that we toured
Friday we went to Tallulah Falls & Gorge stopping by one of the lakes for a little picnic You will see the pictures *PRETTY*
Today we took a ride to Helen - a very pretty little German village. It was very cute but I am sad to say it has become a little too touristy for me. Then we went to Hiawassee GA. This area is so beautiful. The mountains are so green with lakes, streams & rivers everywhere.
Tomorrow we start exploring North Carolina.



These are just a few of the wonderful old homes in Madison





My brother's Jerry & Steve



http://www.foxfire.org/museum.html.



The house in Arnoldsville where I grew up



Bray's KOA



Our 1st view of the North GA mountains

These are just a few of the very old buildings at the Fox Fire site



This lady is making brooms-just 1 of the
many examples of old crafts they
make/teach there



Tallullah Falls & Gorge

Helen GA

Vienna to Atlanta GA part 2

 

this is a plantation not far from Atlanta





Stone Mountain
it is the largest exposed solid piece of granite in the world



 



The 732-bell carillon plays
everyday at Stone Mountain



My niece & nephew - Kristen & Chris
we had short but sweet visit with then today

Georgia St capitol building
the gold on the dome is from north GA

Our last dinner in Atlanta area~ on to Athens tomorrow

Vienna to Atlanta GA part 1









Diane Couch's KOA in Vienna GA






this is one of our fav places - Diane's back porch-



Now the party starts - Chuck & Gail join Diane, Greg & me
on the SRS porch (sit-rock-sip)



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Dinner at Laura & Joel's



The well at Andersonville Prison - it is said the water started to flow
after a bolt of lightning hit the ground



just some of the graves at Andersonville

 

Therapy Pools at Warm Springs


  

This is Anne Hudson - Pres. Roosevelt's therapist


 

Anne is the 2nd on the left. 



The Little White House
Warm Springs GA



this is the bed where Pres Roosevelt died



this is the portrait he was sitting for when he died
it was never finished





Dinner on the river at Pats Fish Camp







We left Brunswick for Vienna on Monday - 5/14. Chuck & Gail headed to Savannah for some time alone to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
Greg & I pulled into Vienna & parked in the yard behind Diane’s house. I know we started much talk in town - new KOA campground in Vienna-. We did some house keeping and visiting with my family on Tuesday. On Wednesday Chuck & Gail joined us at the new KOA campground. That evening we all went to my niece Laura’s for dinner.
On Thursday we went to Andersonville - one of the largest Confederate military prison during the Civil War & now a national POW memorial. What a place - this is probably one of the most moving places I have ever seen.
After Andersonville we went to The Little White House in Warm Springs - this was where Roosevelt went to try to recover from polio. While we were touring the therapy pools we were lucky enough to meet a lady who was one of the physical therapist that worked with Pres Roosevelt there. She is 103 & very sharp. Boy, did she have a great since of humor. She said her only claim to fame was “she stretch Pres. Roosevelt’s hamstring”. This was a great memory making moment on our trip.
The boys took off by themselves on Friday for Warner Robins Air Force Base to check out the museum while the girls did a little retail therapy (we needed it-don’t want go into withdrawal). That night for dinner we all went to a place on the river for dinner - Pats Fish Camp- it truly is a fish camp.
Saturday was a sad day - had to leave my sisters. We made our way to McDonough - just south of Atlanta - checked out the area & not too much to see. Today we checked out Stone Mountain - the capitol in Atlanta & had a nice but short visit with my niece & nephew who live in Marietta. Tomorrow we are going to my brothers. We will be there until Friday when we start our trek northward.  There will be a part 2 to this post - can't get all the pictures on this post.