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.

Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Don't look for daily blogs until after the new year when Barb and I hit the road again. We are relaxing on the lake and thoroughly enjoying the area.

Landed and settling in

November 19, 2007

Ben and Penny arrived at the campground around noon and Barb and I were ready. They led us on the short drive to their lake house and we parked the rig on a paved pad next to the house. It was mid 60’s, the trees are in full color, and the lake surface was like glass. Pisgah and Charlie (B&P’s dogs) frolicked in the leaves and in the water. Their lake retreat is a 5 bedroom, 3 bath house, enough room that Barb and I may not run into each other more than twice a day. We have it alone during the week, but we look forward to the weekends with Ben, Penny, and dogs. B&P bought the house seven months ago and have done a major remodel, much of it themselves. It is light, open and artfully done. Barb and I are pleased that there are some minor projects for us to do. We have missed yard work and puttering around. However, there are two lounge chairs and a canoe at the dock and the fish are jumping. That area may receive considerable attention. The drought has lowered the lake level approximtely 3 feet. This area has not been effected nearly as much as the lake north of Atlanta which is down 25 or so feet.

The picture on the right is sunrise, this morning.

Landed

We are currently parked at a campground near Ben and Penny's lake home. We will do maintenance on the rig today and tomorrow and move into their place in the p.m.

It snows in the mountains

November 15

As we near the final leg of our march into Georgia, we realize that we have experienced one of the warmest and driest autumns in record on the eastern seaboard. Yesterday, it was 66 degrees in the mountains. It rained through the night last night. Today, at the base where we are camped, it snowed. It is not sticking but temperature forecasts for tonight are in the high twenties. It is time to go south. Wait a minute, we are in the south. However, at 3000 feet, we are in the mountains. They get snow here every year. I knew the risk in coming to this area so late. However, the beauty of the area and the proximity to Ben and Penny dictated that we visit this week.

We did drive in to Asheville (pop 70,000) today. It is often rated as one of America’s top cities in which to live. Vanderbilt built his 120,000 acre grand estate here in the late 1880’s. Much of the estate is now part of the Pisgah National Forest. Rich people followed him here and the downtown architecture reflects early 1900’s. The climate is usually fair, the mountains are colorful, and Asheville is now one of the art centers of the U.S. We noted the unusual downtown architecture and visited a folk art center.

The first picture is the county court house and is representative of the unique architecture of the city.

On top of old Smoky

November 14,

The clouds/fog was still hovering around the mountains but we decided to explore them via Jeep today. The weather was a warm high 60’s. We entered the park and ascended from 3000 to 7000 feet. One of the first familiar plants we recognized was rhododendrons. They were quite prevalent and in some places completely covered a wide area. It must be extremely beautiful to take this drive in April when they are blooming. The trees were still holding about half their leaves. We drove through the other half. At times the sun broke through but most views were fog shrouded. Fifty miles later we exited the park in Gatlinburg, TN. We had a late lunch there and walked the streets of this destination resort. The sun appeared to be breaking through so we headed back over the mountains toward home again. Alas, the fog won out as we found few clear views. Smoky Mountains, indeed.

Smoky Mountain High

November 13

The mountains were “smoky” today. Thank goodness it was not due to fire. It is dry here. The temps were in the mid 60’s. The television reports that rainfall is 14 inches below normal. However, they get an average of 50 inches of rainfall a year here. Even though it is dry, there is water around. The fog rolled in and a few raindrops fell. Not much. Not what they need.

We are settled near Waynesville, NC, which is located at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The early settlers named them “smoky” because of the blue haze that hangs over them. We are at the last campsite before we travel a little more than 150 miles to Ben and Penny’s lake home. It is difficult to focus on another of God’s special creations and another historical area when we are so close to Ben and Penny. It is not that we are tired of seeing the glory of creation. It is not that we are tired of our RV. We enjoy our home on wheels. It is just that there has been so much to absorb and process. And a goal set so long ago is so close to reality. Our RV will sit on Ben and Penny's place in Georgia. We will to be around family. We will gather with Ben and Penny at dinner. We will sit at their lake, as depleted as the drought depicts it so, and process, drink coffee, read, and take afternoon naps. We will relish in their environment and we will rediscover ours. Again, we will retire. I’ve missed my naps. A perk of retirement I wish to revisit. Family rediscovered. Via Ben and Penny.

This is tobacco country. I have gained two perspectives. Cigarettes are cheaper here than any place I have seen. Secondly, we stopped at a grocery store today. The chew tobacco display was larger than the wine rack. Yes, the USA is a varied culture.