#93KDay

Coach Kirby Smart got his wish!  He asked Bulldog fans to fill Sanford Stadium for the annual G-Day spring scrimmage, and, boy, did they!  The official count released was 92,700.  The actual number had to have been much higher - there was standing room only, and people were standing two and three deep in the aisles and along the walkways. The stadium was packed!

We sat here in Section 108 with Jim & Christy who were kind enough to reserve some space; Tim & Lynn, David & Marie headed to the upper deck to claim one of those empty seats.  By the time they arrived, those seats were full, too!

The weather was perfect for a spring game - bright sunshine, bearing down warmly - hot enough to run thousands of spectators out of the gates by the half.  We were among them.

We climbed the hill(s) of north campus, making our way across Broad Street and down to a rocking little pub where we met the rest of our group who had given up the scrimmage sooner than we did.

It was fun to be a part of history-in-the-making: being at Sanford Stadium on #93KDay, welcoming Kirby as Head Coach, checking out the prospects of the Fall season ahead.

If two people are in the picture, is it still a selfie?

While waiting on a street corner for our limo-bus to pick us up, we were entertained by a three-person purple-clad folk band, who advertised ten cent photo opps with the giant.  He really was extra tall, and their music added pleasantness to our wait and our people-watching.

Jamie & Lynn with the purple-clad folk singers; the giant is standing - this photo doesn't do justice to his height.

Our camp host at Big Dog Tire apologized profusely earlier in the day; we didn't think much of it, until we heard the "music" at the party.  Not sure that can be called music: heavy thuds, indistinguishable utterances -- some call it rap music. At least it lasted only until 11:15 PM, and we had been forewarned. We were in a college town on a beautiful spring weekend with a football game - outdoor parties were to be expected.

David, Jamie & Tim hanging out before the scrimmage

The camping sites overlooking the Middle Oconee River behind the tire company on Atlanta Highway are level - a big plus when arriving late at night like we did.  No water or sewer hookups - fill your tank and bring your generator.  There are some bathrooms, but if there's a big party going on, you will not want to walk through the crowd to get there.  Limo shuttles will take you to the stadium and pick you up.

A generator is a must at the Big Dog Tire campground 

We reserved four sites for our group; there was plenty of room for others for G-Day.  On a typical fall game weekend, the sites are fully booked.

The Big Dog welcomed us to camp.

Miss Joy & SFC Tabb joined us Saturday night in the canned ham; they were in town for a family function. Of course, Jamie prepared his now-famous breakfast burritos Sunday morning.

The troopers catching up over morning coffee

Another travel trailer adventure in the books! Many more to come . . .

Rocky Bend, Again

We love Rocky Bend! So it's the perfect getaway when we have weekend commitments at home: we can camp and we can attend family functions.

This weekend was especially JOYful.  We arrived at camp late Friday afternoon to find that our good friends Jerry & Angie were set up and waiting for us, and Miss Joy had already set up her new vintage-inspired canned ham camper.

Not only have we known Miss Joy practically all of our lives, but she's the mother to a State Trooper - of course, that's close to Jamie's heart - and, with her formal title of Dr.,  she served on my dissertation committee several years ago.  We were delighted to have her join us on her first outing in her adorable canned ham.

Ol' Grillbilly Jerry marinated our steaks and fired up the grill while we ladies prepped the rest of our dinner.  Miss Joy's appetizer of cream cheese and butter with a stir-in of herbs and garlic hit the spot; I was hungry. Did I miss lunch again?





Becky and John came for the grillin' - another great feature of camping close to home - and brought the potatoes and salad, and with Miss Joy's loaf of bread, dinner was complete .

We visited by the fire pit until deep into the night.
 

Miss Joy decided it was time to turn in, so she made her way back to the canned ham only to realize that she'd inadvertently locked the door. Oh, no! It's a good thing our two public safety officials know a thing or two about unlocking locked locks. Success!

A screwdriver and a flashlight - always a must have!

Lesson learned

Jamie shared his best campsite breakfast burrito the next morning, and we enjoyed listening to the river rushing over rocks and around trees.

Breakfast - Sara & Kayleb joined us Saturday morning 

The Flint River was out of its banks, minor flooding evident at Rocky Bend.  Throughout the weekend, the water level was dropping.  We were amazed as we watched various markings go from completely covered to completely uncovered over several hours.

Flood waters at Rocky Bend

Notice how far up the boat ramp the flood waters run

Saturday afternoon Grillbilly started up his magic again when he put a Boston Butt on the grill and a dutch oven of baked beans on the fire; dinner was, yes, quite delicious.

Pulling butt

Frying bacon in the dutch oven to add to the baked beans

This cook is pleased with his iron pot!

We lazed around the campground, soaking in the spring sunshine, reading a few chapters of a just-arrived Amazon delivery, smelling the grill and poking the fire.

On Sunday, Jamie and I joined his parents in Hopeful for a special baptism service and then family lunch at their home.  Afterwards, we headed back to Rocky Bend for our Sunday afternoon nap, lounging riverside; ahh, sleeping to the sounds of the river rushing past . . .

My Sunday afternoon nap view

But all good camping trips must end.  Monday's coming. 

We're counting down the days 'til Friday because we're heading out for Spring Break.

Easter at Lake Claiborne, Louisiana

Rain storms pounded south Georgia, but we were headed west to Louisiana with the SolAire for a long Easter weekend to visit with relatives.

What beautiful weather we experienced!  Sunshine and pleasant spring temperatures made this a perfect camping weekend. We arrived at Lake Claiborne State Park shortly before sunset, set up our rig, and then went on into town to have dinner with our hosts.

Electric jacks make setting up & taking down so much easier.

The eleven hour trip was long, but so worth the time we got to spend with our 98-year-old cousin and his daughters, who've always been some of my favorite cousins - maybe because they were chic twenty-somethings who were never too old to entertain me when I was a little girl.  

We returned to camp well after closing to find the gate locked; luckily, we had the code. But, oops! The gate came off the hinge. Gee whiz!  

Arriving at our campsite, we saw our neighbors watching an outdoor movie projected onto a white sheet hanging on a clothesline.  The smell of popcorn filled the air.  Had it not been such a long travel day, we would've joined them.

Jamie and I ventured into Ruston, LA, Saturday morning to complete some errands.  We rambled through the campus of Louisiana Tech just as the National Anthem played on the loudspeaker to begin a midday baseball game.  The field was gorgeously manicured in lush green stripes and brick red clay.  With the clear blue sky and bright sunshine - perfect ballgame weather -, we exercised great restraint not to go to the game.

We enjoyed the Easter service at First United Methodist Church of Homer and lunch at the country club, followed by a Sunday afternoon nap.  Jamie checked out some dockside fishing in Lake Claiborne, but threw back his tiny catches.

A beautiful lake - a bit rough as this cloud passed over

Just gotta cast that rod a time or two . . .

What a catch! Throwing that baby back.

Daddy joined us for the trip, but only braved one night in the camper; the first two nights he spent at our cousin's house.  We learned that we need to give a better orientation to our overnight guests: he got cold during the night sleeping on the king-size sofa bed; he didn't know where to find the extra blanket (that was on the chair near his head) or how to turn on the fireplace (that was located just beyond his feet).  I hope he'll give camping with us another shot one day, but I'm not convinced he will.

Jamie and Daddy drinking their morning coffee before packing the rig and heading back to Georgia

Though we didn't have much time to enjoy this lovely state park, we were quite pleased with our choice for weekend accommodations.  The sites are paved, though they are closely situated and the pavement is narrow, with drop-offs on either side, making backing into the spot somewhat challenging. Fortunately, someone is an expert backer, and someone else is a decent radio communicator: "Come on back. On back. Stoooop! Now cut it sharp! More to the passenger side. You got it. Whoa!"  At least I can use my quiet voice with the two-way radio instead of hollering out for the whole campground to hear.

Beautiful view through the trees over Lake Claiborne

Crossing the mighty Mississippi going and coming fueled our dreams of summer vacation.  We'll be heading up the Great River Road in June.  Time to read Life on the Mississippi and reserve our campsites for the big adventure. By the way, it is possible to order a book on Amazon while traveling Interstate 20 near Vicksburg and have it arrive at your doorstep the very next day.  Just saying.

My view from the backseat: crossing the Mississippi River at Vicksburg

Colorful sunrise through the trees

Wander On Over to Wanee

This dreary, cold winter gave way to some warmer weekend weather, so we took advantage of the opportunity with a short distance trip.  It was just what we needed.

On the way to the campsite, we stopped by Carroll's Sausage in Sylvester to pick up some meat for the grill; a couple of hours later those steaks & baked potatoes were quite delicious! Just a few miles north of town on Highway 112, we found our spot.  Wanee Lake Golf and RV Resort, Ashburn, GA.

We had no idea what to expect, and it seemed a bit corny to camp so close to home at Turner County's country club.  Fortunately, we were pleasantly surprised.

A few wintering couples in their home-on-wheels and a few unoccupied rigs inhabited the campground, which was located just off the fairway.  The locals filled the clubhouse on a Friday night.

A leisurely breakfast gave way to a shower, and I headed off to Tifton to a Saturday afternoon "Meet the New Husband" tea to visit with a cousin, leaving Jamie alone at the resort.  Later, he shared he'd walked down to the lake, caught a fish, and taken in some much-needed sunshine; I couldn't resist having him accompany me Sunday along the same path. The weather was just perfect for a lakeside stroll.

A view of the fairway and the lake beyond

A stroll through the golf course

Saturday evening, we ventured over to Lake Blackshear by invitation and joined family dockside in watching the South Carolina election results, hashing out the pros and cons of our favorite candidates.

The International Space Station also made a flight path across the evening sky; we two nerds insisted on the party viewing the spectacle with us.  Terrific view!  The clouds cooperated.  Are we really the only folks who track the ISS?

In no hurry to return home, we lingered later on Sunday than usual.  How nice!  Just a bit of warmth and sunshine lifted our spirits.

Sunday Lunch

We're ready to go again - anywhere - anytime - soon.

Circling the lake at Wanee Lake Golf & RV Resrot

A bridge across the lake

My favorite chef gearing up  for some cooking

Taking in some sunshine!

Mercer Reunion at Rocky Bend

Feburary 5-7, 2016

Baby, it's cold outside!  The river is high and flowing fast following heavy rain and flash flooding last week.

Not sure this photo shows just how high the Flint River is ...

... Unless you can compare it this photo from last spring

Erosion at Rocky Bend is evidence of January flooding.  Marks on the trees show the height the water reached.  It sure was smart to put those cabins on stilts!

Our weekend at Rocky Bend Flint River Retreat was a working trip.  Jamie's Mercer relatives were in town, so we celebrated an upcoming graduation on Friday night, then "the old folks" reminisced and studied their genealogy on Saturday.  We capped it off Sunday morning with breakfast before saying goodbye to the ones who chose accommodations at Rocky Bend.

We love the Pavilion at Rocky Bend - it's perfect for mid-size gatherings.  It's become our go-to spot for family events.  Sandra & James stayed in the Lighter Knot; others chose the two bedroom Cypress Knee; and Pat & Stephen brought their Airstream Bambi.  Yes, we will do some buddy camping with these relatives in the near future.

Just look at the artistry in this kitchenette - the cabins at Rocky Bend are fabulous.  (Photo: Rocky Bend)

It was much too cold for camping, but having the SolAire there made the hospitality work easier.

We've got camping fever.  We're ready for some warmer weather.  Somehow, watching Sunday afternoon television in the SolAire while parked in the backyard just doesn't fulfill the need to go camping.

This sums it up - thanks to the internet for sending this photo our way.

Fall Finale

Tailgating Camp-Style
The Georgia-Auburn game has become one of our fall highlights.  We look forward to this gathering of friends and family each year, alternating between the hayfields in Auburn and the campground behind Big Dog Tire in Athens.

Nighttime in the hayfields

This year was no exception. Our menfolk headed out of town on Thursday, campers in tow, to set up camp in the land of the War Eagle or the Tigers or whatever those Orange and Blue fans call themselves.  They snagged an ideal spot plenty large enough for five rigs and a roaring campfire. Buddy camping at its best.

Plenty of firewood ready to keep us warm; Game Day playing on the TV

A tent full of food at all times

Lots of food, warmth by the campfire and fun-filled team spirit occupied our time in Auburn.

Some of our group attended the game; others of us kept the campfire burning.  Afterwards, we watched the Georgia bus convoy leaving town; Coach Richt drove separately - we wondered why - the news Sunday morning answered: he flew to Washington state to recruit.  It wouldn't be but a few weeks more before we'd learn of Richt's departure from UGA.


Thanksgiving at Hannahatchee
After enjoying a scrumptious Thanksgiving Dinner at the lake with family, we headed over to Louvale to Hannahatchee for a couple nights of camping with John & Becky in their new camper.

We learned that we can survive a few days with a generator and a full water tank in place of electric and water hookups.

Boondocking at Hannahatchee with Becky & John

Thanks to the Gator at the farm, we ventured into the badlands under cover of darkness - oh, it's creepy! Remember when we visited last spring?

On Friday, our foursome toured the Infantry Museum at Fort Benning.  We were especially intrigued by a tiny exhibit on the 1983 invasion of Grenada as we have a cousin who was involved in this operation.  No Black Friday shopping for us!

New Year's at Mike's Place
We rounded out the year with a final trip to St. Joe Beach.  We arrived at the campsite to find the neighbors had celebrated the season with lots of lights.

Signs of the season lit up the neighborhood

We met our friend Mike and his companion there, endured a cool and breezy boat ride up the canal, and watched fireworks on the beach.

The sun came out for a few minutes - seemed like a good idea to put the boat in the water and take a ride.

The rain is about to start. Again.  Can you tell by the photo that it was cold?

We included the traditional New Year menu items to ensure our luck for the coming year: black eyed peas and greens with cornbread.

Always keeping warm with a campfire. Christmas lights remind us the season's not quite over.

We watched movies and television shows while it rained.  With friends around and adequate indoor space in the SolAire, we rang in the New Year just fine.

And, we marked our 50th night in the SolAire: January 1, 2016.

Autumn Escapes

He's been bugging me about not updating this blogspot.  If you've been wondering what happened, I haven't written about our fall and winter escapes because they are just that - escapes!  I left the laptop at school, took no work with me, and enjoyed the chances we had to get out of town.

I figure I'll do some catching up here and maybe that'll get me primed for our spring and summer adventures.

North Georgia Mountains
In October we visited Whispering Pines Campground in Morganton, GA.  Located just off the highway outside of Blue Ridge, this quiet campground is nestled alongside the gently flowing Hemptown Creek. Nestled is the nice word - tucked tightly is more like it.

Hemptown Creek flowing next to the Whispering Pines Campground in Morganton, GA

We arrived late in the evening after all the other campers had burned their day's ration of firewood and called it a night.  Our reserved space spanned a few feet between two other campers.  With a narrow driveway, a couple of trees, and a propane tank all perfectly situated, we tested Jamie's parking prowess. This was a one-shot backup - no retries.  We caught a limb, but luckily no damage.
It was so late, and the campground so quiet, that we chose to forego our usual careful leveling for the night.

Fall in the north Georgia mountains is delightful.  The temperature was pleasant, the leaves colorful.
With Jamie's mother and aunt, who stayed at their cabin, not in the campground with us, we enjoyed the Blairsville Sorghum Festival and the Punkin Chunkin in Brasstown, NC.  The Punkin Chunkin was a real treat - we'd never seen anything like it before. Man, they could toss a pumpkin!  That was some serious engineering for such silliness.

Punkin Chunkin 

Fortunately, I had made an advance reservation at one of my favorite spas, Serenity in the Mountains. I relaxed and enjoyed the pampering on Monday.  To how much I like this spot, read my previous review.

Prior to this trip, we had purchased an Oster roasting oven.  We tried it out.  Oh. My. Yum!  We baked a turkey breast and treated Sandra and Jan to dinner in the SolAire.  It was so delicious that we used the oven again at home for Christmas.

The Oster Roasting Oven

We baked cookies in the Oster.

My lumberjack keeping the fire burning

St. Joe Beach
Fall at the beach is another of our favorites.  We made a quick trip to St. Joe Beach in late October. Sunny afternoon on the beach.  Football on television.

Baked a cake in the Oster!  This little gem is incredible.