We were up and on the road before 6am. We watched the sky turn peach and lavender as we traveled north and east.
We were so fortunate to avoid traffic. We made is easily through Richmond and Washington DC…a Thanksgiving miracle! There was a terrible accident that had southbound traffic backed up for miles.
We got hooked up and settled at Kyle’s. I had to go and pick up pies and then I got groceries and gas. We are looking forward to seeing the family after work today!
We will be here until mid-December and we will post again then.
1324 November 24, 2025 To Maryland For Thanksgiving
We woke up at 4:30 this morning. We wanted to avoid Atlanta traffic! We were on the road at 5am. It was dark. Tim’s strategy worked. We got onto 285 and then 85N and we drove away from the city. As we went, we could see the traffic building as people made their way to work.
Tim drove all day. We stopped often at rest areas for stretching breaks. We arrived at Henderson, NC in early afternoon. We put 75 gallons of diesel in the RV and then stopped at Skipper Forsyth’s Barbecue to buy dinner for tonight and tomorrow. Tim was born in Henderson and coming here is a homecoming of sorts. When we pass through, we like to camp at Satterwhite Point on Kerr Lake.
We both needed to rest but we also enjoyed some quiet time; sitting in the sunshine by the beautiful water.
We walked down to the boat ramp and then watched the sunset…at 5pm! It quickly got dark and chilly.
We ate our BBQ inside. I’m thinking an early bedtime tonight. We are more than hallway home and hope to get to Kyle and Allison’s tomorrow afternoon. We can’t wait for some toddler cuddles and fun!
1323 November 21-23, 2025 A Most Excellent Stone Mountain Adventure
On Friday, we picked the boys up from school and went to the house to pack a few last-minute books and pillows and toothbrushes and lovies.
We got to Stone Mountain and Oliver and Austin were excited to see the new RV for the first time. Tim made a campfire and we cooked dinner outside and ate at the table by the fire. The boys loved adding pinecones to make the fire burn bright and hot.
We roasted marshmallows and told stories and giggled. It got dark and late and it was Friday after a long week of school. The boys showered and then we all climbed into bed. We did some silly Madlibs and we laughed hard. They asked to watch bedtime stories. It makes me happy that they are still young enough to enjoy the Three Little Pigs and The Three Billy Goats Gruff. They both read for a while and then they went to sleep.
Saturday morning everyone was awake at 6am. The boys wanted to make gingerbread cookies but I needed coffee first. They enjoyed their special croissants from the Dekalb Farmers Market. We had cookies baking before 8am! We walked to the campground playground.
We were at the camp store waiting for them to open at 9. We bought worms and we packed fishing gear. We drove to the “island” and found nice flat fishing spots with not too many branches and roots in the way. The boys baited their own hooks and really got the hang of casting. We had a bunch of nibbles and stolen worms but the only thing they caught were wet leaves! They really liked it and they definitely want to go again.
We hiked around the perimeter of the island. We found chipmunk and squirrel dens. We saw a Canadian goose and Ollie spotted a lizard. We identified types of rocks and plants.
We went back to the RV for lunch and a few minutes of downtime. The boys and I played a new game called Uzzle. It took less than a minute to learn and we had so much fun!
In the afternoon, we drove to the ropes playground.
Oliver really wanted to walk up part of Stone Mountain. Austin was tired and so he and I found a shady place to wait and PopPop and Ollie walked.
They were hot and tired and we went to get Icees at the store.
The men watched college football.
We had dinner at the RV and then we went to see the lights at Stone Mountain Christmas. We were there for the parade which Austin said “was not all that!” He was right!
We stopped for ice cream and then headed back for showers and bed. By the end of the day Tim and I had about 12,000 steps. Austin probably had twice that many. We watched The Gingerbread Man and then they were both tired and ready to sleep.
Sunday morning, we got to sleep in until 7.
The boys had croissants and packed up all of their stuff. They played some catch and threw the football. At 9:45 we left to take the Skyride to the top of Stone Mountain. It was a beautiful day with cloudless bright blue skies and the view of the city was spectacular. The boys used their new cameras to take pictures.
We got to David and Dre’s by noon. We spent the day watching Red Zone and NFL football with a friend from school.
We had venison burgers (thank you Kyle) for our dinner.
Tim and I said goodbye and left to go back to the RV. The weekend went by so quickly. It is important to us to share our love of camping and nature with the boys while making memories. We are leaving Atlanta tomorrow but we will be back in a couple of weeks to celebrate Christmas!
I took one last walk at Indian Springs. This is believed to be one of the oldest State Parks in the nation. It was built in 1927 and the Civilian Conservation Corps did much of the work. I When we decided to come here, I thought it might be old and run down but this park is really lovely and well-kept. There is a new campground loop, there are freshly paved park roads, and there are yurts under construction as well. Perhaps in the future we can come back for another stay!
Morning mist on the lake.
I walked past the old cemetery.
We had just a little more than one hour to travel to our next destination; Stone Mountain Park. As er approached Atlanta, the traffic began to increase. Thankfully, we were able to avoid driving on the beltway around the city.
We arrived just after noon. We will be here for the next 4 nights. We called Oliver and Austin last night and invited them to come and camp in the RV with us this weekend. We are all very excited!
This evening, we went to David’s house and received a warm welcome. The boys did baseball drills, impressing us with their throwing and batting skills. We ordered food and visited.
We made a list of stuff to pack and gathered things together. Tomorrow after school, we will get the boys and our fun weekend will begin!
I walked and did laundry this morning. There was only one washer in our campground loop so it took some time to get it all done. There were about thirty daddy long leg spiders there to keep me company as I folded clothes!
We are camped beside a hickory tree. There are squirrels…so many squirrels. They are all working hard to harvest as many nuts as they can!
Today we went to the spring that this park is known for. It is believed that the water that here has healing properties. We went to fill a couple of our fresh water gallon jugs. We met people who had driven more than an hour to come and get this special water. One woman was filling many jugs of all sizes. She had a wagon at the top of the steps to haul it all to her car. She filled more than 30 gallons. She makes the 1 ½ hour drive every two or three months.
We walked along the stream.
We found a carwash…all those dusty red dirt roads!
We drove to the nearby town of Monticello. We walked around the square.
We found a café called Five Loaves for lunch. The sandwiches were very good. I had turkey, cranberry, and brie on sourdough.
We drove into Jackson as well.
This evening, we took our picnic to the lakeside and then took a walk.
39 degrees but sunny and a nice morning for a walk at George Smith State Park. It was so silent and still.
Last night we realized that we were 1 hour and 20 minutes away from Savannah. It has taken us three weeks to get here. We have certainly taken a circuitous route, one that allowed us the opportunity to see lots of new places!
As we left this campground, we once again elected to take the back roads.
We made a quick stop at Simply Southern. Tim ran inside to give our card to Selena and John.
Tim was craving another cup of coffee. We knew that we were approaching the town of Kite and we were hoping to find a coffee shop. We passed the Dollar General and then there was one requisite gas station. I went in to get coffee…no coffee today! The town of Kite was slightly derelict. There were lots of ramshackle and abandoned buildings that were being claimed by vines and other vegetation.
This building was labeled as the Kite Visitor Center…someone has a sense of humor!
This was the second gas station…the third looked even worse for wear.
We made our own coffee and then we were done with Kite.
The next small town was Wrightsville; “The friendliest town in Georgia.” There was a really cute little coffee shop right there on Main Street.
We passed more towns and farms and fields and forests and it became very hilly.
We were on the highway for a short time.
We drove through Milledgeville, the home of Georgia College. We stopped at Central City Park to have lunch and for a rest/stretch break. We sat on this bench in the brilliant and warm sunshine.
We arrived at Indian Springs State Park in mid-afternoon.
We took dinner and found a beautiful spot on the porch of the Conference Center.
We took a walk along the lakeside as the sun went down.
It was a chilly November morning. I walked in this gorgeous place. I found myself at the end of the park and on a dock. I was standing at water level and so near the cypress trees.
I returned to our campsite and decided to have another cup of coffee outside.
We went to Swainsboro. We were glad to find a Walmart where we stocked up on supplies. We went to the historic district and walked around the square.
We drove to Twin City and stopped at Simply Southern Restaurant. The lunch buffet consisted of biscuits and fried chicken and okra and mac and cheese and stewed tomatoes and black-eyed peas. We chose our food and sat down to eat. The owner’s husband had come in for lunch. He started chatting with us about our travels. Tim and John talked about owning small business, raising children, grandchildren, and all manner of other things. He was a kind man of faith who served our country in the US Army. He works hard to provide and his priority is his family. I enjoyed listening to the two men as they shared stories. When we meet someone new, I am always reminded about how much we have in common with most folks. I believe that people are fundamentally good and that we all want what is best for our kids. Today was another chance to recognize what binds us together instead of focusing on our differences and what drives us apart.
We took a red dirt road on the way back, past more cotton fields and lots of smaller homesteads.
These bales weigh almost 500 pounds and is worth about 60-65 cents per pound.
Tim drove down to the dock. I think this is the prettiest part of this park. The thing to do here is to kayak in the lake, through the cypress trees but because the lake levels are about 4 feet low, there are no kayak rentals at this time.
This afternoon, we returned to the campground and Tim noticed a large amount of water flowing from the RV. This was definitely NOT GOOD! Tim turned off the water at the spigot. I went inside and saw that the water faucet in the rear bathroom had been left on. This was entirely an accident. This morning, there was a water main break in the park. I had been cleaning and when the water supply was turned off for the repair, I must have inadvertently left the faucet on. We were gone for hours. In the meantime, our grey tank filled completely and overflowed. We packed up the RV and went to dump the tank. Fortunately, there was no overflow in the bathroom. We believe that the washer hose may have backed up and we had some dampness behind the washer. We used fans to dry things out…crisis averted!
We fixed omelets for dinner and ate outside by a campfire.
I walked by the lake this morning. It was so beautiful and peaceful.
We left Waycross today and traveled further north. On our way we passed a large lumber mill. We knew there had to be one nearby. We had seen so many trucks filled with tall pine logs.
We continued on 121N. This was really pretty country. We have not spent too much time in rural Georgia. We passed blueberry farms and orchards and drove through lots of forest. There were more deciduous trees mixed among the pines. It was gradually less green and more brown with some autumn colors and falling leaves.
There were deer stands and logging sites. There were hayfields and soybean fields and fields and fields of snowy cotton.
There were a few small towns defined only by a church or two, a Dollar General, and a singular gas station. Every gas station had a sign for beer, ice, and bait. Deer corn was for sale everywhere.
We followed the Woodpecker Trail though we saw no woodpeckers; there were certainly plenty of trees.
We passed cows and barns and unassuming humble homes, set back from the road and on scattered patches of land. We also passed some grand houses with imposing entrances. We passed a vineyard and a brickyard.
It was a good road and a nice ride. We felt like we were seeing more of the “real Georgia.” This state, like Maryland, has a huge diversity of landscape from the shore to the mountains and lots in between.
In Metter, we found a town square where we could park the RV. We ate lunch and then walked around the square. This is a cute little town!
We arrived at George Smith State Park in early afternoon.
We both took bike rides later in the day. This is another scenic park. The lake is dotted with cypress trees.
There is a syrup shed.
Sasquatch lurks in the trees.
There is a covered bridge that serves as a history museum for the sawmill and gristmill that once operated here.
It was pleasant enough that we watched football on the outside TV. Tim started a fire. We grilled steaks and onions and had dinner with a view of the lake.
1317 November 15, 2025 Waycross and Motor Speedway
When Tim got up, it was still dark out. I could see stars in the sky. I rolled over and went back to sleep. When I woke up, he was already out and on a walk. He walked around the lake and there was a pretty layer of mist on the water.
I decided to take the Nature Trail as well.
We took the Jeep with our bikes and drove to Historic Downtown Waycross, Georgia.
We found a Farmers Market and we had to stop and see what we could find. Unfortunately, the produce season is at its end. There was just one huge truck filled with collard greens. Most of the other vendors had yard sale items although Tim did find a gentleman selling his wife’s baked goods. The banana nut bread was still warm!
As we were parking, a guy in a Jeep pulled in to the parking lot. He was from Waycross. He was warm and welcoming, with old fashioned southern hospitality. He asked us if we liked to take the Jeep out and he gave us some trail suggestions. He even offered to guide us if we were interested. He recommended restaurants in town. What a nice man!
We biked through town, meandering up and down the streets. Waycross is a little bit woebegone. Many businesses were shuttered with boards on glass storefronts. The sidewalks were wonky and there were lots of places where there was no ramp, making biking difficult. Tim bounced down several curbs but I got off each time and then got back on to resume my ride. It is a quaint town with lots of potential but it could use some love.
We went to a five-star Mexican restaurant and had a delicious lunch.
We took the advice of the Waycross neighbor. We left town and decided to find Swamp Road and see “the real Georgia” and the Dixon State Forest and the Okefenokee Swamp. Unfortunately, the dirt road we took was blocked by a gate and a sign…closed for hunting!
We tried several other access roads but we never did find the swamp. We did see acres of blueberry bushes.
We saw miles of pine trees. The air smelled so fresh and clean. A truckload of timber sat ready for hauling.
We saw a few hawks and one wild turkey and several areas where it looked like feral pigs might have been rooting.
We returned to the campground for a short rest.
This evening, we went to the Waycross Motor Speedway to watch the Southern Clash at the dirt track. The air was filled with the smell of BBQ and red Georgia dust and racing fuel. It was loud and fun!
I walked loops again in the campground. We packed the RV and prepared to leave. For the past 7 weeks we have slowly made our way down the east coast. Today we veered away from the shore. Our route took us to 95N and the around Jacksonville on 295. We took Route 1N over the Saint Mary’s River and into Georgia. Can anyone guess where we are going?
We found a park In Folkston, Georgia where we could stop and have a snack and take a break. Tim napped and I walked.
We saw a bunch of people standing by their cars. A sheriff’s car pulled in and the officer talked with some of the bystanders. Suddenly, 3 busses full of high school students; football players, cheerleaders, and marching band members pulled through the gate on their way to a playoff game in Macon County. The sheriff’s car was in the lead. All of the people lining the curb got out their phones and they were cheering and blowing their horns and we could see that they were holding signs for their team; the Indians. Friday night lights!!!
The stadium was named for Champ Bailey. He went to school here and became a famous NFL player for the Broncos. He is in the Football Hall of Fame and is recognized as one of the best cornerbacks in the history of professional football.
Screenshot
We settled for the night at Laura Walker State Park. We are nestled among so many tall pines. The park sits beside a lake. It is lovely here. The weather was perfect.
We took our bikes out this afternoon. We passed through the front entrance and stopped to take pictures of the cleaver display. The characters all have faces made with gourds.
Tall pines.
We tried pedaling on the sandy side roads but the sand was too deep and we were fishtailing when we hit soft spots. We rode for a couple of miles and then turned back and rode through the park.
This evening, we grilled some chicken and made some salads and took our dinner to eat at a picnic table by the lake.
The alligator sign was posted near the swimming area…maybe the alligators know to stay on the other side of the swim area boundaries…maybe…
We went for a Jeep ride on the sandy back roads; just wandering. We passed through more miles of tall pines all planted for harvesting.
We passed soybean and cotton fields. Tim drove until dark and then we headed home.
