JACKSONVILLE, FL: Celebration Time!!

Yesterday, we had a relaxing drive from Milledgeville, GA to Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park just south of Mayport, Fl, mostly on non-interstate roads.  We've stayed at this park many times since it's a short drive from our daughter's house in Neptune Beach.   The park includes a very large,  gated campground set in a tropical forest, so care is needed to move around on the narrow roads and to back into some of the sites.  We love the natural state of this park and it's always  a quiet refuge from the busy world around it. 

There are sites for any size RV...just choose carefully. This is a typical RV site in the park.



There are also cabins for rent. Because of the wooded environment, satellite TV is usually not an option, but many TV stations are available with the rooftop antenna. 

We're in this area to attend our grandson's wedding on Friday, and then we'll enjoy family time over the holiday weekend before heading north on July 5th. 

MILLEDGEVILLE, GA: Time to Head Further South

The weather has continued to be hot and humid in central Georgia over the last week.  During the last few afternoons, there's been thunderstorms with heavy rain, so at least that has helped to cool things down a little for a short time.

Tomorrow, we'll get the wheels turning again and drive to Kathryn Hanna Park in Atlantic Beach, Fl.  Our family will be gathering for our grandson's wedding on July 1st,  so we'll have even more reasons to celebrate over the holiday weekend.

MILLEDGEVILLE, GA: Nice Place to Visit

Milledgeville, GA is an interesting place to be, but summers are definitely hot here!

After a 4 hours trip from Hiawassee, GA in the mountains, we arrived at the Scenic Mountain RV Park in central Georgia on Wednesday, June 15. We're about 35 miles northeast of Macon just south of Lake Sinclair.  Milledgeville has played an important role in Georgia's history, and has been the location of the state capital twice.  There are still many beautiful antebellum buildings throughout the town..  Georgia College takes up a large part of the center of town and the Georgia Military School is also there.   http://www.visitmilledgeville.org/

Scenic Mountain RV Park is in a nice hillside setting just outside of town, with good hookups, mostly level sites (some shaded), a pool, clubhouse, 6 fishing ponds, free TV hookup, iffy free Wi-Fi and friendly personnel. 

With daytime temperatures nearing 100,  we're spending most of our time indoors, with a few trips out to explore the surrounding area.  We'll be here until June 29, when we'll travel further south to northeastern Florida.

HIAWASSEE, GA: A Wonderful Stay

Our stay in the mountains was wonderful although the weather was not as cool as we hoped.  The first 5 days, there were afternoon showers, but the next 8 days were very warm and dry with temperatures rising to near 90.  But there was often a breeze which helped keep us a little cooler.

Seven other couples from either the Metter  Roadrunners or the RV Radio Network joined us, most for at least 5 days, some stayed longer.  Another couple joined the group for dinner one night.  Most days, we had Happy Hour at 4 P.M.  We had a group dinner last Thursday with fried catfish and hush puppies provided by the campground, and side dishes and desserts provided by the group. With no other group activities planned, there was plenty of time for socializing or seeing the 'sights'.


These pictures were taken the on June 2nd, before the group arrived. We were on site H3 with the Hiawassee River behind us.

The view to our right

The view to our left.

The Hiawassee River, very shallow, but full of bass, catfish and trout.  Also used for tubing.

The back of Little House with the ham antenna extended

On June 9th, we took new friends, Mike and Darcy, with us and drove about 12 miles to Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia - 4784 ft.  Our Senior National Park Pass covered our admission. The road to the parking lot was very steep.  There was a General Store and Gift Shop at that point.  To get to the top of the mountain, you can either hike a paved, very steep path through the woods, or take a shuttle for $2 per person.  We took the shuttle up  another very steep road to the summit where there's a 360 degree observation tower, a visitor center and ranger station. Needless to say, the views were awesome!

Down below is where we parked the car.

The shuttle brought us to the bottom of this ramp.

Lake Chatuge has many coves and miles of lake shore.

On top of the world with Mike & Darcy

The ranger station is on the top of the observation point - no public access.

 Today, the afternoon showers have returned. Hank has already done most of the outside departure chores since there is more rain possible in the morning.  Tomorrow we'll pull up the jacks, and get Little House moving once again as we travel further south in Georgia to Milledgeville, the eleventh and thirteenth capital of Georgia. (Atlanta is the 14th).

HIAWASSEE, GA: Back in the Mountains

On Tuesday, May 31, we drove from Jemison, AL to Riverbend Campground near Hiawassee, GA in the northern Georgia mountains.  The trip was uneventful other than the usual stop and go getting through downtown Atlanta on I-85/I-75 and the usual heavy traffic in the Atlanta area.  North of  Atlanta, the terrain quickly turned hilly and soon we were winding our way up and down the Blue Ridge foothills.  Riverbend Campground is in a beautiful setting about 15 miles north of Helen, GA and just south of the southwestern North Carolina state line.  Our site backs up to the Hiawassee River which has plenty of trout, bass and other fish in it..

The campground offers level gravel sites, full hookups, free cable TV and decent WiFi.  The facilities are well-kept and the workers are friendly.  The town of Hiawassee is about 10 minutes  away and the area is surrounded by parts of scenic Lake Chatuge.

During our stay we'll be joined here by other members of the Metter Road Runners and the RV Radio Network.  We'll be here until at least June 15 enjoying our friends and exploring the area.

JEMISON, AL: May 26-31

After a great time visiting with family in the Louisville area last week from May 23-25. we enjoyed more family time in central Alabama over the Memorial Day weekend.  Our family gathered to celebrate our grandchildren's accomplishments  - 2 college graduates, 1 high school graduate and 2 8th-grade graduates and there were several birthdays to celebrate among the group. Included in our festivities were 4 our of 5 children including those from Athens, AL and Neptune Beach, FL, 10 of our grandchildren, and some extended family members from the area as well. 

Sunday afternoon, we were entertained at the Margarita Grill in nearby Hoover, AL by grandson Steven.

He was joined on stage by Hank's brother, Rick. from time to time.

A few other family members also took their turn on stage, and it goes without saying that a good time was had by all!

Memorial Day was a quiet one as the out-of-town family members returned to their homes.  We enjoyed lunch with daughter Debbie and her husband, Robert, Joining us was a co-worker of Debbie's, Kim and her husband Randy, who are just starting their full-time RV lifestyle.  That was followed by a good supper visit with daughter Kathy and her husband, John.

Today we're getting the wheels on Little House moving once again and  traveling to Hiawassee, Georgia.

SHEPHERDSVILLE, KY: Family Time

Yesterday, we moved from Brookville, OH to Grandma's RV Park in Shepherdsville, KY. This is a convenient place to stay while we visit with family and maybe an old friend or two.  Louisville is our home town where we lived until 1983. and we'll be here until Thursday morning when we'll head further south for another family gathering in central Alabama.