Lake Oconee area

I have not felt moved to write this week. It is not that I detest writing; it is just that life has been relatively uneventful, especially when I compare it to the last 12 weeks on the road. It feels good to limit incoming stimuli. It is now rest and putter. Barb is off to the Athens, Georgia mall this morning and some thoughts and an email from LeRoy finally spur me on to write.

We did drive the 60 miles west to Atlanta for Thanksgiving at Penny’s sisters’. Ben and Penny drove up here Friday evening and stayed through Sunday afternoon. Other than that, it has been Barb and me in this lake home, which is a little larger than our home in Puyallup. We putter about painting, some maintenance, but the bulk of time is spent reading, watching evening television (they have Dish), on line research and reading the newspapers from back home, and gazing at the lake. We have visited some of the local towns (average pop 4,000) and have done some local history research. Madison is a pleasant town just 15 miles away. It was spared from destruction in Sherman’s march to the sea because a local citizen was a US Senator and a friend of Grant’s and had voted “no” to succession. Madison has many antebellum mansions dating from the early 1800’s and their tours and displays draw people from all over the area. Thus, Starbucks is there with many other quaint eateries and shops which capture Barb’s interest. Lake Oconee has many homes and a few resorts, including a Del Webb and a Ritz-Carlton, around it so Barb has many shopping “opportunities” available. There is also a WalMart, Lowes, and a Home Depot in the area. By and large, however, the surrounding land is forest and farm. Only a small percentage of homes are seen from the road as homes are often tucked down a road that disappears into the trees.

There are Civil War battle markers in the area. In my on line research, I did find an interesting story from this area. In 1964, three men with links to the KKK drove up to an African American man and shot him several times with their shot guns. The dead man, who was an Army Captain and a Bronze Star recipient, was driving through this area on his way home from Fort Benning, Georgia, to Washington D.C. The three men were arrested, tried, and even though one confessed, they were acquitted by an all white jury. The Feds were livid and rearrested the men but were only able to charge them with violation of civil rights. The men served six years in prison. The soldier is buried in Arlington National Cemetery

One morning I drove to a local marina to talk fishing with the locals. I ended up drinking coffee with five other men about my age, three of which spend their retirement hiring out as local fishing guides. I did not sign up but they were very friendly and helpful with local fishing details, which is very different from fishing the clear waters for trout or salmon in Washington. I haven’t really been driven to fish but I did buy a license, which was very reasonable. One of the men asked as to why I was out here all the way from Seattle (I told them but they knew I wasn’t from here as I “talk funny”). When I mentioned that Ben came out here years ago to attend Georgia Tech, they all guffawed. This is country. The country people and a many city people are Georgia fans. Tech fans are Atlanta based for the most part. As I have driven around the community, I have seen many Georgia flags and decals. I have yet to see a Tech symbol. Ben related that when he deals with local contractors, he mentions that Penny graduated from the University of Georgia.

It got down to 34 one night and was in the mid 40’s for most of two days. Two days were in the 70’s and the rest were mid 50’s to 60’s. It is 55 now at noon. We’ve had two days of needed rain. Weather can really vary here in the midst of winter. It can be 70 or it can be in the teens.

We anticipate that our lifestyle as described above will continue for the next 5 weeks. Blogs will be few and far between. As for the rest of the day today, I have some decisions to make. I could paint the door trim downstairs. I could try fishing. I may just read and watch the lake. Sometimes I like having to make decisions.