21 April 2019
Happy Easter! I hope you found the plastic egg I left you with the $100 bill inside.
I had pre-packed the jeep so all I needed to do this morning was throw in the cooler and attach the bike rack and the bike. I left the house at 6:25 am and arrived at High Falls State Park, just outside Atlanta, around 4:30 pm. By my calculations, that is 10 hours of driving. Actually, the trip up was pretty smooth with only a few crazies to keep you on your toes.
California may be in the middle of a super bloom but so is Florida, at least along I-75. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to take photos but I feel sure I recognized species of Coreopsis, Verbena, and Tradescantia (spiderwort). The roadsides were full of flowers and I noticed Florida was not cutting them with their road crews whereas Georgia had road crews mowing the sides of the on interstate on Easter Sunday. Can we say time and a half?
In any case, there were plenty of blooms in the park.
High Falls is an interesting park. It is pretty much split in half by the Towaliga River. I think we can assume an Indian name here. Fortunately for me, the camping area is also split. The lake side camping area was pretty full and packed with picnickers. Every pavilion was rented for Easter. It was bustling and noisy and I was glad I was on the “river” side away from the day trippers.
The campsite is perfectly canopied. I sometimes worry when there are too many overhanging trees, particularly when the park doesn’t trim the dead branches from on high. My site is perfect and there are no dead limbs over my tent. (Famous last words!)
The tent went up and the equipment inside within 15 minutes. It’s predicted to be 47F tonight so I got out one of the heavier sleeping bags (good to 30F). I also have two pads underneath me.
I did the tourist thing to see the falls and then did a bike ride around the river side campground. Those of you who follow me know my first bike was stolen at the Ramada Inn in Ventura. I used my United mileage to purchase a new one. I like some of the features of the new on better than the old one but there are some features of the old one I like better than the new one. Seems a fair trade off.
Tonight’s dinner is a leftover Subway Italian sandwich and a left over Dunkin’ Donut. Life is good.
Tomorrow is about a 4 1/2 hour drive to Cherokee, NC and the Fort Wilderness RV Campground. Unfortunately, that was the only thing available within several hundred miles. Of course, the real test is to get through Atlanta. Sherman did not do a very good job of burning the city – it’s still there.
Post Script. I don’t know when I’ve spent a more restful night. The campground was quiet, The roar of the falls drowned out any background noise and it was cold enough (it actually dropped to 44F) to snuggle into the down sleeping bag. At one time, I dreamed a raccoon ran across the surface of my tent and peed on it as he went. I know it was a dream because I checked. The tent was dry this morning. Something did walk through my tent area early this morning but I assume it was a deer looking for some greenery. Breakfast this morning was hot, steaming oatmeal and freshly ground Blue Bottle coffee. I also have to admit I’m falling more in love with my tent. When I first purchased it, I wasn’t sure it would work out. I’ve now spent about 10 or 15 nights in it and I’m beginning to appreciate some of the better features of the tent. That, and I’m getting better and getting in and out of it without falling over.
