DeSoto State Park (AL) (June 25 - 29th)

On Friday June 25th We arrived at Desoto State Park, Ala. Rain clouds had followed us and sure enough we had our fist summer storm since May 3rd. We were happy to know we had cable TV to entertain us through the evening. Very nice park-spacious sites, with full hook-ups. We went to Mountain Lodge in the campgrounds and feasted on a All-You-Can-Eat Seafood Buffet. The grilled Tilapia was Great!!! Then the rain had stopped enough for us to take a little stroll on the Cascade Trail Boardwalk. On Saturday we ventured on a very long hike around the campground at 90* to Laurel Falls and to Lost Falls. At times we felt we were lost, but we enjoyed the Falls and made it back safe and sound. This was Buddy's kind of day. He was drafted as our Trail Leader. Since we were in "Falls Territory", on Sunday we drove to see the Desoto Falls, Little River Falls, and Indian Falls. Through our scenic drive we passed thru a quaint rustic little town called Mentone, Ala. Little businesses in log cabins on both sides of the road. Even the restaurants were in log cabins. Very Nice!! I saw on the Alabama State Map  another Covered  Bridge in the area. You know I had to find it. It took me awhile to find this bridge, but I did, it was at Cloudmont Resort. Darlene wasn't interested at all. If you are ever in this area take the Little River Canyon Rim Scenic Drive. [Ala.176] We saved that drive for our next visit.  Our last favorite adventure, and the reason we camped in this area- we drove to Scottsboro,Ala. and visited a store called " Unclaimed Baggage Center" Here lies all the lost/unclaimed baggage contents left behind by the airlines and freight carriers. Lost Baggage  items from around the world.  It was amazing to see the variety of items- nice clothes, cameras, and scuba gear, musical instruments, etc. and of course luggage and bags of every sort. And very reasonably priced. Mike had a field day. What an interesting place!! We wondered if anyone went there and really found something they left behind or the airlines lost, if they had to buy it back. Well, that wraps up our adventures at Desoto State Park in Alabama.  

PS.  One Final Note regarding the restrooms at this State Park, they are centrally located in the campground- actually kind of hidden and you have to trek a pretty rough trail to get there. Once you get there, it was a beautiful new building, only a year old.  We think they purposely hid them so people wouldn't use them too much since full hook-ups were provided.





  FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS AREA

    GO TO:            www.nps.gov/liri
                 DeSotocampground@dcnr.alabama.gov
                       www.unclaimedbaggage.com
                        www.cloudmont.com

Calloway Gardens

While I mentioned our visit to Calloway Gardens in a previous blog; its beauty is more then words can say.  Thus we have included only pictures in this post.  Please keep in mind that it is June.  The best time to visit is April when the Rhodendrums, azaleas, daisies & daffodils are in full bloom!!!  This is where I want to be buried when I die!!!!  It is simply heaven at its best!!!

Franklin D Roosevelt SP (GA) (June 19 - 25th)

History.  That is what this campground and its surroundings are all about.  Such a beautiful campground and we think we had the best site in the whole park.  Right on Lake Delano, in the trees and not to mention, plenty of squirrels to entertain us.  This is the lake Mike caught his first fish -- a 15" catfish.  Threw it back in because he didn't want to clean the ugly thing and I surely wasn't going to cook it.  This park was built by the CC Corp that Franklin D Roosevelt put in action during his days as President to create jobs during the great depression of the 1920's.  We took a tour of his Little White House which he used as a retreat in the great Pine Mountain area.  It was the house he died in as he was sitting for a portrait being painted of him which was never finished.  There was a Flag lined walkway with each of the state's flag, their date of becoming a state and their native stone.  We also visited Warm Springs where he built his spring fed therapeutic pools for his paralysis from polio which he opened up to many with the same disease including children which he loved.  On another day we spent at his stone built olympic size swimming pool as the temperatures again reached in the 90's.  We also visited his favorite picnic area overlooking the valley from Pine Mountain called Dowdell's Knob.  There we had a picnic and enjoyed the peacefulness and beauty surrounding us.  My favorite excursion was Calloway Gardens.  Callaway Gardens is a spectacular 35,000-square-foot complex nestled on 13,000 acres of beautiful Georgia countryside in the Appalachian Mountains. Home of the world’s largest azalea display, one of North America’s biggest butterfly conservatories, and a magnificent vegetable garden where PBS’ “The Victory Garden” is filmed.  We took the bike trail (10 miles) around and through the whole grounds ending at Robin Lake where we gladly took a swim to cool off after our ride.  There were two 18 hole golf courses, nature trails, horticultural center, a discovery center, lodge, villas & cottages to stay in.  You can play tennis, fish, water ski or do the Ropes course.  Something for everyone and within the beauty of nature itself.  Our last full day at camp we decided to take a scenic drive on the Georgia Scenic Byway.  There we visited the towns of Manchester, Molena, Gay and Woodbury.  Sites we saw were UFO Satellites (so feel safe because the Georgians are looking out for you), the flat shoals, where the Cotton Pickin' Fair is, and the Historic Covered Bridge.  So I believe we have pretty much covered the whole area before we said good-bye and headed to our next stop, De Sota State Park in Ft. Payne, Alabama to find the lost luggage in nearby Scotsboro.

websites to visit:  http://www.callawaygardens.com/gardens/georgia-gardens.aspx
                           www.GeorgiaStateParks.org

Georgia Veterans Memorial SP (GA) (June 14 - 19th)

My love of trains headed us a little out of our direction of going back to Michigan. We traveled our way to Cordelle, GA. to board the SAM Shortline Excursion Train at the Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park Station. Off we go by train to Americus, GA. World Headquarters for Habitat of Humanity. You can walk across the street from the train station to Habitat's Global Village Discovery Center or Take the Americus free shuttle or trolley to downtown. You can shop and dine in Americus's many different establishments and then jump back on the shuttle to return to the station. We took the trolley to downtown; stopped in Habitat's World HQ. and then walked though town to the Discovery Village Center. We thought it was a children's center. Boy Were We Wrong!! It was filled with all kinds of information, videos, types of homes built around the world  by volunteers for Habitat of Humanity. You can walk through a village filled with  slum shacks to different types of homes built in  various countries. Very Interesting and worthwhile. Since I volunteer for Habitat I had to support there fund raising efforts, I bought another brick for the village. All Board!! Off we go to Plains, GA. Home of the 39th President of America. That's Right!! You Guessed It!! "JIMMY CARTER"   Plains, GA. Train Station right in town. So we walked across the tracks and had lunch at the "Old Bank"  and  stopped in for some delicious Peanut Butter Ice Cream at "Carter's Old Peanut Warehouse" now called Plains Peanuts. Quaint little town of shops and antiques. Heard the train whistle!! Got To Go, But not before buying some peaches at the train station  fruit market. ALL BOARD!! Off we go back to Georgia's Veteran Memorial S.P. station to a park that has everything and no excuse for nothing to do!! From Fishing, Boating, Walking Trails, Disc Golf, Outdoor Fitness Center, Marina, Boat Rentals, Museum, Restaurant/ Bar with Entertainment, Lodge, Cottages, Swimming Beach, and I couldn't leave without playing Golf on their 18 hole course called Lake Blackshear. Darlene kept my score so I could concentrate on my game. But that didn't help. This was the first time ever to have the whole golf course to ourselves at 93 degrees. We had a great time anyway!!! On one of those HOT Days here we did our usual town tours of Cordelle, Ga. and took the back roads to Macon,GA. to return a Coleman Gas Grill to Bass Pro. Found out Bass Pro has a warehouse there. We found out later this State Park was in knat haven area. Darlene kept complaining about them but they didn't bother me. We didn't care we're out of here as we head north-west to F.D.R. State Park in GA.


                   For More Information Go To:  www.samshortline.com
                                                                  www.habitat.org/gvdc
                            For Nuts Go To:            www.plainpeanuts.com
                                                                  www.basspro.com
                                                                  www.gastateparks.org
            Jimmy Carter National Hist.Site      www.nps.gov/jica/

White Oak Creek Campground (AL) (June 10 - 14) Army Corp of Engineer Park

Well Gang, We have deterred from the State Parks and moved on to check out the US Army Corps of Engineers parks.  They operate more then 2500 recreation areas and over 850 campgrounds throughout 37 states.  They are beautiful campgrounds and have spoiled us.  Plus they are pretty economical and guess what?  They don't even charge sales tax as the Florida and Georgia State Parks do.  In fact, while we thought Florida's state tax of 6.5 percent was high and Georgia's 7 percent; we were shocked to find that Alabama's state sales tax was 9 percent!   We would surely hate to buy a car in this state.

We landed a lakefront site on beautiful White Oak Creek/Walter F. George Lake which is the Bass Capital of the World.  In the high 90's, a lake site was welcomed.  Except the water must have been around 85 degrees!!! Humidity high and no breezes made us stay in the motor-home more then we wanted to.  Buddy couldn't handle the heat either as his coat of hair diminishes fast. Buddy and Mike did there usual kayak trip along the whole park's shoreline and ended up in the lake swimming.  However, during our stay we did manage to ride our bikes through the parks nature trails which were very nice and connected the four loops of campsites along the water.  Nearby the campground was a very Historic Town called Eufaula.  Its Old Huge Mansions lined boulevard treed streets and were quite beautiful and each one unique.  The Shorter Mansion (the picture with the huge pillars) once made home to the Governor of Alabama was featured in the movie, in Sweet Home Alabama.  At the Eufaula Visitor Center we traveled the Yoholo Micco - The Creek Indian Trail (part was an Rail-to-Trail) on bikes which took us 6 miles around town and ended up at the Indian Creek Park.  Of course then we had to ride back.   Probably lost a pound of sweat for sure.  We would definitely camp at another Army Corps of Engineer Park. While we were here it was the first time we were able sit out all night star-glazing  with no bugs and complete quietness until some teenagers moved in next door on our last night. They were so bad I had to call the ranger at 2 in the morning.  Oh well, now Eastward to Georgia for Our Next Adventure. For More Information on Camping with The Army Corp. of Engineers- Go To: www.recreation.gov