October 10, 2024 Duke's Creek Falls, Helen, Long-lost cousin

Thursday, October 10

46 degrees this morning.  Time to get out an extra blanket!  The clouds are low, settled into the hollows and valleys in the mornings.

Today we are headed to Helen, where Greg's cousin Shawn Weisgerber and his wife Penny now live.  Haven't seen them in a long time and they moved to this area from Florida about eight years ago.

We stop at Duke's Creek Falls, which are along the way. The entrance is closed, but there are about a half dozen cars parked along the shoulder of the road, so we join them and walk in.   It is about a mile jaunt to the cascading falls, on a mostly gravel trail.

Shawn sends us directions to meet him at some cabins that they own and rent out, just outside of Helen. We have been texting and he meets us just a few minutes after we arrive, and gives us a bit of a tour of one of the cabins as well as a brick home nearby that is part of the property.  They lived here for several years, but now have a place closer to town and rent this.

Shawn has been in construction and has done most of the work on his properties himself.  The cabins are small but cozy and decorated in a rustic, woodsy style.  He shares that they are in the process of selling them to someone who has a hotel in town that is looking for "overflow" places for his clients. Shawn and Penny have bought other property and are planning a "Doggy Daycare" business which they've determined is really needed here.

From the cabins we follow him back to his home where Penny is waiting.  It is back some small roads so that while near town, has a feel of being in the woods, with a small stream running through it.  They even show us a video of a mama bear and six cubs that came through their property recently. This bear is noted for large litters, and she has adopted other orphaned cubs. They have incorporated lots of wood and stained glass that Shawn and brother Eric created. Very nice!

After catch-up on kids, grandkids, siblings, etc. and drinks, we head into Helen for reubens at a German restaurant along the river.  Helen is set up as a Bavarian town, with everything fitting into that theme.  It is quite a tourist town and promotes lots of festivals year round.  Right now is Octoberfest.  Shawn and Penny are active in supporting the town, donning costumes at times and participating in many events.  They seem to really enjoy the community!

We stop at this old mill on our way out of town.  It still grinds grains and sells all sorts of goodies, including grits.

Lots of trout in the pool at the falls.

Pretty scenery along the way back to our campsite including a few areas of kudzu - the vine which is taking over some areas of the south!

kudzu will cover trees, bushes, abandoned barns or anything else that gets in its way!

We head back to last night's campsite, relax and enjoy another campfire and quiet.