Trip East - Rabun Beach, GA - Final stop

Our last stop before heading home to Waynesville, NC

Rabun  Lake. GA

We fall in behind a group of Coachmens

It's a pretty drive along the lake

Renovating this restaurant that is almost in the road.

We hit a bit of a snafu when we encounter a tree down with a power line in the road

Made it!

There is a trail to a waterfall just down the way in the campground.

Come on guys!

 

 

Glad someone cleared the way

A break

 

and then we're there.

 

 

Nice Falls!

 

There is a beach across the road

Last fire before heading home tomorrow!

Trip East - McKinney USFS, Acworth, GA

 We leave Louisiana and head to Georgia.

I think Gary made a wrong turn as I see the Statue of Liberty ahead.

We make it to Georgia.

Almost to the campground when we get delayed by a train.

Arrived!  MicKinney is north of Atlanta.  I had tried to book a COE campground but they were either full or not opened due to lack of volunteers.  This is a  US Forest Service campground.

Oh good - I hate surprises!

The roads are hilly and winding and alot of the campsites are on steep inclines or descents.  I booked up a Handicap Sight hoping to be close to the bathrooms and showers as are the COE campsites, but not the case - both were a good walk away.

We did however have a lake view with a dirt path down to it.

A short distance away is a small beach.

Tucson looks longingly at the lake.

Our second day is sunny and fairly warm, so we let him go for a swim.  

Sunset

The Canadian Geese enjoy an evening stroll.

and the Palm tree lights up over at the Marina across from us.

We gathered some downed wood and had a nice early evening fire.

There was a Battlefield nearby so we drove out to check it out.

Allatoona Pass

It is a self guided tour with informational plaques

The Battle of Allatoona was one of the most deadly and stubbornly contested of the war.  The Union lost 35% of their troops and the Confederate 27%.

and a memorial to the fallen soldiers from both sides

There is a loop trail

We walk part of the trail and decide to turn around as there are 

many offshoots and we don't have a map.

Original House from the time of the Battle

Left over railroad paraphenalia from the battle.  The twisted railway rail is an example of a Sherman's Necktie.  They were a railway-destruction tactic used in the American Civil War. Named after Maj. Gen. Sherman of the Union Army. They were heated until they were malleable and then twisted into loops resembling neckties. Since the Confederacy had limited supplies of iron, and few foundries to roll the rails, this destruction was very difficult to repair. 

an interesting and informative trail

 Next stop - Rabun Beach, GA - then home!

Trip East - Forkland, LA

It is an Army Corp of Engineers Campground.  Out of the way and quiet,

We passed this on the way in - Jim Bird's Farm.  Started in 1993, this farm is a large field that's filled with whimsical characters and sculptures made from a variety of materials such as hay, scrap metal, and other junk.

He began the project, as a result of problems encountered with his hay baler. Bird’s hay baler started spitting out bales that were rejected because of their out-of-round shape. Jim Bird used some of the rejected hay bales and created a caterpillar to surprise his wife, Lib, who was out of town.  Bird used to be spelled out in branch letters over the Arch.

Jim vowed never to spend more than $5 on any of his creations and he pretty much stuck to that.

Chainsaw man

Unicycle Rooster

Except for the 30' tin man which required $40 of aluminum paint.

A ship on rolling seas

Race Car and Big Bird

A Matador in  trouble with a charging bull

Ba Bye!

Snoopy crashing the Red Baron's plane into a tree

So Long Jim Bird Farm - it was fun!

The Campground had a really nice 1.5 mile loop trail

A relaxing few days, next stop McKinney COE in Acworth, GA