Another One Bites The Dust

You know you are getting older when your little brother’s friends start turning 50. Brother Mike hits that mark in September. Rob Gregory joined the club on March 5th. He is also a longtime buddy of mine and we managed to cross paths for his birthday weekend in Georgia.
He and his family are currently on the road, taking 9 months or so to enjoy and learn about this diverse country.
He is also writing a travel blog and I urge you to read it.
windryder5.com. Good stuff.
He posted a new one yesterday and is now only 4 months behind…
I have to keep current on mine because I forget everything

after a few weeks.
Anyway, Freddy and I stopped at a city campground in Gadsden, Alabama called Noccalula Falls just before going to Georgia.
The campsites turned out to be nothing special but the trails were wonderful.

Freddy took me hiking.

Noc Falls, as the locals call it, is a 90 foot cascade that is the centerpiece of the park. This is not it.

This is the small one under the bridge. I had to planned to take pics of the big one but the three inches of rain that fell shortly after our hike dissuaded me. So all you get from here are a couple more trail pictures.

Several trails converge and diverge in the park and at one intersection I heard the thundering paws of a wild animal.

Here is an extreme crop of the picture above. You can clearly see the upright ears of the black bear cub.

The cub chased me back to my campsite and we rode out the storm together before heading to Georgia the next day.
Rob’s cousin Tony has some property on a private lake and that is where we met for his birthday.

Tony is slowly adding to his five acres with the ultimate goal of buying all the surrounding land and proclaiming himself King of the Lake.
Rob finally arrived and later we met up with more of his relatives at a local mexican restaurant for his birthday dinner.

Some folks think that an ultra wide angle lens distorts the image. That is not true. Rob’s head really looks just like this in real life. That is him on the far right.

After he blew out the candles, everyone enjoyed the cake.

Some tried to stuff as much as possible into one bite.

Rob’s Aunt gave him a wonderful gift. A photo album full of history. And yes his hand is that big. No lens distortion going on here, lol.

It was enjoyable hearing all the familily talk and a few days later I called my dad to ask about my beginnings. He said he was going to Queens University in Kingston, Ontario when he met my mom.  In fact, I was conceived after they spent an evening in a Kingston bar. Not quite the kind of story I was after. But interesting.
Rob asked where I was going next and I rattled off some possibilities. He said I have to go Lake Winfield Scott. Some of his family used to live nearby and they have lots of memories of that area.
So Freddy and I saddled up and headed out. To Lake Winfield Scott.

Add this to the hidden gem category. You can find it in the Appalachian Mountains less than 20 miles from Blairesville. In fact, it is just a few miles away from Vogel State Park which I visited two years ago. That park is featured in a blog post I wrote exactly two years ago today. Look it up.
This campground is broken down into two loops, north and south. The 14 sites in the south require reservations while the 17 in the north are first come first served. Only the north loop is open year round and in the winter offers no water and just a vault pooper. Fine with me. We had the campground to ourselves. Rates were half off as well, just $9, $4.50 if you have an America the Beautiful pass.
In the south loop we liked sites 8, 11, and 12 the best. 11 is next to a creek and a path leading to the lake.

In the north, 34, 36, and 37 are nice ones. Also they are near a trail to both sides of the lake.

Freddy really liked our site, number 36.

Frequent readers will spot the new carpet and tablecloth. Kinda going Martha Stewart with the color coordinated accesories. Probably should pick up some red hand towels…
The trail between sites 35 and 37 splits in two after 100 yards. The left path takes you to the developed side of the lake.

Past the pavillion.

And down to the beach.

Look familiar, Rob?
If you keep going you will reach the south loop. And if you really keep going you will reach Maine, via the Appalachian Trail.

Taking the right fork leads to the undeveloped side of the lake. Just before a footbridge is a nifty plaque.

It is a quote by John Muir and it really resonated with me that day.
“Climb the mountains
and get their good tidings.
Nature’s peace will flow into you
as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own
freshness into you.
And the storms their energy,
While cares drop off like autumn leaves.”
I still get misty eyed reading those words.
After passing over the footbridge and a smaller series of planks, we found the mystery sandal.

The John Muir quote was fresh in my mind as I pondered this single sandal that someone hung from a branch.

But Freddy was impatient so I paused my pondering and he lead me down to the lake.

He wanted to fetch some sticks in the water. I obliged him.

On our way back Freddy noticed the sandal and leaped, grabbing it for a chew.

I fought him for it and won the battle. I hung it up higher in the tree. I wondered how it had ended up there in the first place. What was it’s story?
I can make up many stories in my head about how it wound up there, but after reading that quote I prefer to believe it was there for a reason. A sign.

Rob will be heading to Lake Winfield Scott tomorrow to go camping with his family. I hope they read the plaque and cross the bridge.
I really hope the sandal is still there.

Regards,
Greg (and Freddy!)