[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]
In Jul. 1994 we had an interesting Elderhostel in Kennesaw, Ga.
7/24/94 Pensacola/Kennesaw, Ga.
Left home about 6:45 for Kennesaw Mtn. Elderhostel. Arrived about 1:00. Came up via Rts. 29, 113 to 65 to Montgomery. From there we drove to Atlanta via 85, 285 + 75 to Cartersville, our destination at the lodge. Since our room wasn’t ready until 4 o’clock, we drove over to Allatoona Dam + mineral museum. One thing I didn’t mention was that at Newnan, Ga. where we had lunch at McDonald’s we saw Jim G from church. Small world.
Had a nice dinner, get acquainted fun time, then retired to our room at the lodge.
We’re watching TV rooting for the Braves. Retiring early after a long day.
7/25 Kennesaw Mtn Lodge
J. B. Tate, a history professor at Kennesaw State College was our extremely interesting + informative speaker this a.m. He discussed the three causes of the Civil War 1) emotional 2) economic and 3) political as there was no single cause.
After lunch we had the birds come visit us. Monteen McCord brought Sam, a horned owl, barred owl + broad tail hawk.
We were on our own the rest of the afternoon so we drove to the Kennesaw Nat. Battlefield Park + to the Shanty Museum to see the locomotive “General” which was the site of the big chase in Andrew’s raid.
Triska Clark was a very humorous guest speaker, including slides of the area, for after dinner entertainment.
Saw two deer grazing in our front yard in P.M.
7/26 Kennesaw Mtn Lodge
Highlights for today included a short walk on the trail before breakfast where we saw several gold finches, a bluebird feeding outside the dining room and two hummingbirds who were also having breakfast.
Dr. Ed Bostick gave us a complete course on kudzu as well as a wonderful account of the geology + biology of Ga.
After lunch + another short walk we had a lesson on the music + artillary of the Civil War by John Carruth and a discussion by J.B. Tate on the second aspect of the causes of the war – the economics involved.
We had a movie “The Great Locomotive Chase’ featuring the famous locomotive, The General.
7/27 Kennesaw Mtn Lodge
This a.m. we had a combination of Civil War/music and a taste of the artillary including a demonstration of the workings of a canon by John Carruth. Interesting. Because of rain, the firing was canceled.
After a hearty lunch including yaka soba, we drove up to Exit 126 at Cartersville + toured the Weinman Museum – a vast display of minerals, gemstones + fossils. The huge amethyst geode was the favorite for me. Awesome!
We motored on to Exit 131 to New Echota which was the headquarters for the Cherokees from 1825-1838 when they were forced from the land to Okla.
A quick swim before dinner and a film on the Etowah mounds completed a very interesting day!
7/28 Kennesaw Mtn Lodge
Today’s activities began after breakfast at 9:00 A.M. when we boarded the Kennesaw State College bus for a field trip to Atlanta. Our first stop was at the Atlanta History Center where we saw the Gone With the Wind memorabilia as well as many Civil War exhibits. We enjoyed a box lunch at Grant Park + then toured the interesting Cyclorama and a stop at the college campus book store.
When we returned to the lodge, we went to the conference center for a slide presentation on the native birds. Had a barbecue on the patio – ribs, chicken, baked pot., corn cob, salad, strawberry short cake – all delicious.
Joe Head, admission director at the college was our guest speaker this eve. Spoke on the “General.”
