3 November 2022
A the sun sets on the Smithgall Woods stay. Or, I should say, the sun rose on the last day at the cottage. Usually, I’m the first one out the door to head home but Jimmie and Stephen beat me to it this morning. After I saw them off to Greensboro, I took my time packing up things and loading the jeep. I finally pulled out of the park around 8:30 am and pulled into Lake City’s Home2 Suites by Hilton at 3 pm – a 6 1/2 hours to the minute of my estimate. Tomorrow’s trip home is gonna be a little over 5 hours depending on how crazy the Florida Turnpike is and how bad traffic slows at West Palm Beach., Helton C
On this trip, Jimmie and I visited two waterfalls: Helton Creek Falls and Anna Ruby Falls. Technically, Anna Ruby falls are two falls in one location. This was my third trip to Anna Ruby and I’d still go back again.
In North Georgia, there are seventeen significant waterfalls (counting the two at Anna Ruby): Amicolola (the tallest in the state) Anna Ruby, Desoto Falls, Dukes Creek Falls, Chunanee Falls, Helton Creek Falls, Hemlock Falls, High Shoals Falls, Horse Trough Falls, Panther Creek Falls, and Tallulah Gorge. Tallulah Gorge has five separate waterfalls: Tempesta, Hurricane, Oceana, Bridal Veil and L’eau d’Or. Of the 16 waterfalls in north Georgia I’ve been to 12: Amicolola, Anna Ruby, Desoto, Dukes Creek, Chunanee, Helton Creek, and all five of the Tallulah Gorge.
I guess I need to make a few more trips to North Georgia. Actually, in Cloudland Canyon State Park in northwest Georgia, I’ve been to both of those waterfalls: Cherokee and Hemlock, so that’s an additional two.
I pretty much try to visit any waterfall anywhere near where I stay. Over the years, the one thing I can confirm is that Bridal Veil Falls is a very common name for waterfalls throughout the U.S. Every waterfall is, of course, unique to the terrain and every one amazes. There is something calming about the effect of falling water.
Often associated with waterfalls are rapids and cascades. One would think that South Florida would be a stranger to any of these water features but the Miami River at one time had a set of rapids. My understanding is they were blown up to allow vessels access to the upper reaches of the Miami River.
Now it’s time to head home and start getting ready for Thanksgiving. It’s been a great trip. Thanks for coming along with me!