October 13 Back to Alabama, Russell Cave, Boat Ramp

 Sunday, October 13

Nice relaxing breakfast this morning with breakfast tacos and an orange.  First order of business is to find a laundromat.  Once we get on a bigger road we stop for gas and I ask the attendant if he knows where there is a laundromat.  We have haven't had signal for a good while, but he kindly manages to find it on his phone, and shows me how to find Armuchee Laundry, about 8 miles away.  Nice guy.

The laundromat is clean and has good wifi, so we start wash and spread out maps to plan the next few days. I've been texting with one of MY first cousins who lives near the Mississippi/Alabama border, but he has been traveling.  We are making our meandering way back to Texas, but looking for things along the way.  Don't want to drop down to I10.

We cross into Alabama and our first stop is Russell Cave National Monument. Archeologists have uncovered over 100,000 artifacts in different layers covering about 10,000 years in this cave. The oldest inhabitants were paleo-indians who settled this area 10,000 to 14,500 years ago. Grinding stones, scrapers, awls, arrowheads and more have been found here. I just imagine a long line of characters who have spent time in this cave.....would be very interesting to see!

Nice boardwalk to the cave site and further trail.  

These huge fallen leaves are from a kind of magnolia found only in this area.

The ranger told us that there are no bats here presently, as they were hit with white nose syndrome and those that didn't die moved on to a nearby bridge.

Many of the places we are interested in are closed today so we make it a short day and go to Mink Creek Boat ramp, which is next to William Wallace Gross Community Park. Found this on iOverlander app. It is on Lake Guntersville, near Scottsboro, Alabama.  A nice place to pause.

Sunny but a good breeze here.   A few waterbirds in the area but not much activity.  We have heard quite a few birds, but seen few.

Pretty good signal here, so we are able to catch up on emails, facebook, etc.  Beth has thawed out some white chicken chili that we brought from home, so that's tonight's dinner.  Cookies for dessert.  Beth walks to the park to take a few pictures.

About dusk, the boaters begin to return and leave.  Beth talks to one man who says he's been catching a lot of bass today - this area of Georgia is known for bass fishing, as folks come from all around for tournaments, etc.  He says he was actually fishing for crappie (pronounced more like croppie) a smaller pan fish that he likes to eat.  There are also catfish. 

I ask him about the turtle sign and he says there are soft-shell turtles around here that some people like to eat.  He doesn't.

Soon we are alone and enjoy a quiet night.  Lots of lights on boathouses around the lake. Nice sunset.

Saturday, October 12 Fort Mountain, Elijay Apple Parade, Pocket Camping

 Saturday, October 12

 50 degrees this morning and some more nice reflections in the lake.  Air is clean and crisp - wish we could bottle it and take it home.  

After breakfast, we wind down the mountains a bit to Fort Mountain State Park.  We see a few deer and wild turkeys on our way out.  

It is called Fort Mountain because of an ancient 855' stone wall that was built near the peak. They think it was built by early Indians for defensive fortification. 

We hike the trail up to the fire tower.  The wall is pretty much a swath of fallen rock and rubble. The trail is busy, with a few pretty overlooks.  There are a few signs of upcoming Fall color.

This centipede was crossing the trail.  Didn't count the legs, but there sure were a lot!

 We climbed a stone fire tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's.  It was hit by lightening and the top rebuilt.  

Next, we head into the town of Ellijay and two festivals - the Apple Arts Festival is in town, with various booths and tents along with shops. And a larger Apple Festival which is on fair grounds outside of town. We find a nice parking area in town and Greg looks for a place to pay.  A local smiles and says it's free, this isn't Blue Ridge.

 

Folks are lining up to watch the parade, so we join the crowd.

 It is your basic small town parade with the local school marching band, flag twirlers and such.  A few floats,  vehicles, policemen, and people giving out coupons and candy.  Short and sweet. 

 Afterwards, we go through the crafts area and Greg gets a coffee.  There is a shuttle bus that runs to the other festival, but we decide to drive there. 

 Mistake.  Bumper-to-bumper traffic inches along and the parking area is filled so they are directing people to remote lots where you can get a shuttle.  Guess we're getting crotchety in our old age, but it is all too much, so we inch our way out of town and stop at a small Mexican bakery where we get yummy breakfast treats for not much dinero! Strawberry and cream cheese on a flaky, buttery pastry!

We've decided to head back to Pocket Rec Area where we stayed a few nights ago. There are a few more campers this time (weekend) but still only about half full.    Lots of families with kids riding bikes and being kids.

 Greg makes a good fire and also cooks burgers on the grill.  We will start heading west tomorrow, so we look through our books and such for things to do en route in Alabama.