A Presidential Farewell to Georgia

As much as I’ve enjoyed being in Georgia, seeing my family, visiting parts of the state that I had heard of but never seen, I do have to go back to Nashville.  There are still things to be done there before going off to Okefenokee in December.  With a scheduled dental appointment awaiting me, but not until Thursday, I headed home, but making the miles count along the way.

My first stop is the visitors’ center in Plains, GA.  The hostess there was very informative and spoke with a very soft southern voice.  I loved it!  She gave me a map and carefully explained where President Carter and his family live and just how close I could park to take pictures of the “compound” without being shot by the secret service.  I opted to simply drive by and not stop since I really couldn’t see much except fences, guard shacks, and a long row of beautifully blooming crape myrtles.  But I did visit the Plains High School (now the Jimmy Carter library), the large peanut with the big Carter toothy grin, and most definitely stopped at the Billy Carter Gas Station Museum.  I loved the row of seats out front which gave it a kind of Mayberry feel.  Of course I had to buy a Coke out of the machine to take home to Pam which brought back a flood of childhood memories for her. 

Next stop was Columbus and the National Civil War Naval Museum.  I didn’t spend too much time there for two reasons: 1) I just think it would be more fun to go through with my brother Mike, and 2) there were 3 young boys running through the museum yelling and playing on the displays with no one trying to stop them.  Sorry, but this killed it for me.  I will return with Mike one day and hopefully those boys won’t be there.  Besides, it gave me more time for my next stop.

It was nearly 2:00 before I got to Pine Mountain and drove through Franklin Roosevelt State Park.  I thought about camping there for the night but opted to simply drive through today and come back when the weather is cooler.  This heat is just brutal.  Besides, just 12 more miles to Warm Springs and FDR’s Little White House.  This stop was one of the best of the trip.  I have taught FDR in class so many times, and I’ve always included his attachment to Warm Springs.  I lingered so long on the grounds of the house that I didn’t get to the actual springs before they closed.  But I did get to see the unfinished portrait, the car that was adapted by local prisoners for him to drive, even his special built wheelchair. 

So that’s it for now.  Horizon Seeker is once again parked in the backyard.  Gus and Brenda came by to check out the new floors and slipcovers.  The laundry is washed, dried, and put away, and I’m early for my dental appointment. 

But Georgia is still on my mind --- and Kentucky, Arkansas, Arizona, Alaska, Montana - well, you know what I mean.