Amy's Rear View Mirror

Atlanta Area

February, March, April, May & June 2005

I left Desert's Edge shortly after 8 AM and arrived at Desert West Coach just before 9 AM. I reviewed the list of work with the service writer, unloaded the bench from the car, and Lady & I went gallivanting for the last time around Phoenix. I looked for a handsfree kit for my new phone (didn't find one), went to Starbucks for a drink, stocked up on my favorite flavored water from Sprouts (just in case they don't sell it in Atlanta), stopped at Fry's to get soda for the trip, and met some Dial people for lunch. We ate at the Biltmore Fashion Plaza since it's dog friendly and after lunch we took Lady to the Three Dog Bakery for her special treats from the bakery case. I got back to the RV repair place after 2 PM. The work was completed by 3 but they didn't want the slides to close for a few hours. So I sat around there until 4:45 PM, they checked the silicone and all was good to go. So I closed everything up and re-hooked the car. Now all recalls are completed, all warranty repairs are done.

I took I-10, headed south, and stopped in Casa Grande AZ at Campground Buena Tierra for the night. I continued east on I-10 stopping at SKP's Dream Catcher in Deming NM for the night. I left Deming NM around 8 AM and stopped at the Ft Stockton KOA around 3 PM. I left Ft Stockton early in the morning, it was still dark, stopping around 3 PM at the Thousand Trails Colorado Preserve in Columbus TX. This preserve is really nice. It sits right on the Colorado River and has deer that walk through around dusk. When I was walking Lady around 9 PM I heard something rustling in the bushes behind the motorhome. I moved the flashlight over that way and finally found what was making all the noise ... a group of Armadillo. The entire field was covered. The light didn't seem to bother them so we just watched for a while.Then when I got up in the morning, I went to go outside to walk Lady and unhook the motorhome and the herd of deer was in the field and all in the campsites. I spent about 20 minutes watching them. It was so cool!!! I left the campground around 7:30 AM, took I-610 to go around Houston and I-12 to avoid New Orleans and was originally planning on spending the night in Hammond LA but I got there around 2 PM. So instead I decided to drive all the way to Summerdale AL and stopped at SKP Plantation for the night. I called a friend who lives in the area and we went to out for supper. I left Summerdale AL around 7:30 AM and drove north on AL-59 then AL-287 to get to I-65. I took I-65 to Montgomery AL and then I-85 into Atlanta from the south. I got into the campground in Marietta GA around 2:30 in the afternoon.

After sleeping in one Saturday, I got things together and left the campground around 11 AM headed south on I-75 to I-85. I took I-185 south to US-27 which goes to Pine Mountain where I stopped at Callaway Garden's Country Store. That's where I buy my grits ... Speckle Heart Stone Ground Grits. They're made just for Callaway Gardens to sell these days. I was talking with the ladies who work inside and they agree they taste better and can't be bought anywhere else.

After my little shopping spree, across the street from the store, I entered FDR State Park.  In 1975 the Pine Mountain Trail was built ... a 23-mile footpath crossing and following the Pine Mountain ridge in West Central Georgia. The trail takes you through woods, across streams, past waterfalls and rock outcroppings, and scenic overlooks.

Much of the land that the trail crosses toward the eastern end once belonged to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His farm was located near the present site of WJSP-TV, FDR frequented Dowdell Knob, and the area of the Wolfden and Cascade Falls as well as the fish hatchery ponds built by the CCC. On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt died at the Little White House at Warm Springs, less than a mile from the trail and Cascade Falls.

I drove about 9 miles up GA-190 where I parked at the WJSP TV Tower Parking Lot and Picnic Area. This parking lot has access to the Wolfden Loop Trail which has several small waterfalls along the way including Cascade Falls. The trail is a 6.7 mile loop but not very strenuous. When I was done with my hike I headed north on Alt US-27 which met up with I-85 near Newnan GA where I took I-85 to I-75 back to the campground.

One Sunday, I headed out for another hike. The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area covers a 48-mile section of the Chattahoochee River which includes 14 parks along its corridor. The entire length of the park lies in the Brevard Fault. The Fault is the dividing line between the Appalachian and Piedmont regions in Georgia. It begins at Lake Lanier's Buford Dam, near Buford Georgia, and continues downstream through four counties to Peachtree Creek near downtown Atlanta.

For centuries the river has been used for food, transportation, and power to run mills, factories, and homes. Today people come to float down the river (the locals say "shoot the 'hooch"). The Chattahoochee River is rated Class I and II for canoeing, kayaking and rafting with just a few sections at Class III. There's also hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult, fishing, and picnic areas. The visitor center offers nature walks, workshops and evening programs.

Wednesday morning, June 8, I headed to Kansas for the OZ GTG. I left Atlanta on I-75 N, then took I-24 through TN & KY where I got on I-57 N to I-64 W to I-70 W. I stopped for the night at the TA on I-70 exit 58. People arrived at Outlet Park all week with the last arrivals being late Friday afternoon.

Friday afternoon we went to the TA ... a ladies only lunch for Shari. We got a few of the guys to watch after Buzz and we took Shari away for several hours. Then Friday evening was our appetizer potluck. Lots of great food as we caught up with everyone's news and travels of the past year. It rained so hard during the night and early Saturday morning that we had to postpone the biscuit and gravy breakfast, hosted by Bill and Doris, until lunchtime. We took a few moments to recognize those who couldn't be there in person but were there in spirit and in our hearts.

Saturday night was the big potluck with all sorts of great foods. And of course more thunderstorms and warnings. What would Kansas be without them this time of year.

Sunday I drove from Outlet Park to Plano TX, 419 miles. I left Outlet Park in the rain around 8 AM . Once I got about 20 miles south, the sky was clear. US-75 was great the entire way down. I decided to take the Indian Nation Turnpike (only a $5.50 toll), then US-69 back to US-75. US-69 was a horrible road but saved me some time. My visit there was really great but too short.

Tuesday morning I drove across I-20 to make it back to Atlanta around 8 PM. My neighbors were waiting to help guide me into my site and they cooked burgers on the grill to feed me supper.

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