[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]
In May 1995 we went to an interesting Elderhostel in Amicalola Falls, GA. Then we drove to Charleston and met Kent, Tamiko + Brynne.
5/21/95 Pensacola – Amicalola Falls, Ga.
Mileage 9803 on van 8 a.m.
Took I-10 to Rt. 29 – 65 to Montgomery.
Took Rt. 85 from Montgomery to Atlanta.
We had lunch at Hardees just before going into Ga.
Stayed on Rt. 85 right thru Atlanta. Saw signs 425 days until ’96 Summer Olympics.
Took I-75 to Exit 115 – Rt. 575. Beautiful red, pink + white poppies planted in the median all along the way.
Arrived at the lodge about 4 pm. 420 miles.
As we checked into our lodge – whom did we meet but Shirley + Dave M formerly from Rocky River now residing in Davidson, S.C. Ate dinner with them – had orientation from staff, then retired to our beautiful fourth floor room overlooking this magnificent view of the Appalachian Mtns.
N. Ga. State College is located in Dahlonega – about 18 mi. from here – more about that later when we tour the campus.
Monday 5/22 Amicalola Falls
After breakfast we had a unique way of getting acquainted. We divided into groups of 5 + interviewed each other on paper – then picture taking time where we viewed each person’s picture with a little blurb about each one.
Break time 10:00-10:30. Now class.
Bill Hooks, Land + Sea Instructor - *Great
Don + Laeta Smith – Interesting course on Mtn Music + Its Roots
1) Migration 1700’s – 1860’s – Scots – Irish influence more important than from Eng. Isolates
2) Civil War – 1861-1865
3) Sears Roebuck – 1890-1900 German influence, farmers - more money to buy instruments
4) Discovery – 1900-1925 – Frank Walker – 1922
5) Electrification – 1930-1940
6) Homogination –
Brian Murphy – Your Rights + My Rights in the eve. Political Science from the college
5/23 Amicalola Falls
These are instruments used in the mtns:
Migration – Fiddle, Mtn. Dulcimer, Irish Harp
Civil War – Banjo (linked to Fiddle)
Sears Roebuck – Harmonica – “Devilish Mary”
Horace Kephert (1904) Whisky period
Cecil Sharp – 1918
Discovery – Guitar
Electrification – Accordion
Then we had a short lesson on the 4 Shape Notes – “Bright Mornin’ Stars”
More Mountain Music + Its Roots after lunch
They demonstrated fiddle sticks + fiddle.
Claud the Cloud Hopper – a handmade rhythm instrument. “Baby-O”
Southern Mtn Dance Music was introduced and we’ll put it to music Thurs.
Bill Hooks talked to us about Light Energy: Producer Consumer Disposer
Susan Sullivan came in the p.m. with her yarn + spinning wheel to entertain us after dinner.
Quite a full + interesting day!
5/24 Amicalola Falls
The day began with Bill Hooks + Land and Sea after breakfast. He compared the forest with an apartment building. Rock, soil, litter area (greatest activity – woodland mites+ decomposers here), herbaceous layers (flowering plants), shrubs, underbrush, + then canopy on top.
We boarded the bus at 11 am + went to the No. Ga. College campus.
Brian Murphy, our political science professor, gave us a great lecture on Article IX – rights + spoke on abortion.
A box lunch was served, then we toured the town of Dahlonega, starting with a 25 min. film on gold mining. We stopped at the Amicalola falls enroute to the lodge + dinner.
Bill Hooks was our evening speaker who continued lecturing on the Land + Sea. Very entertaining!
5/25 Amicalola Falls
The day began with Brian Murphy, our Miami U. graduate + a professor in political science who gave us a lot of food for thought regarding one’s rights. (What’s legal + what’s illegal according to the Supreme Court.)
After the break the Smiths came in with their musical instruments. The afternoon was free, but I decided to attend the Smith’s workshop on the Shape Note singing.
The evening was fun! After dinner we had square dancing and singing in the lounge. I was part of the Amicalola Fa La La Singers + we sang “Babylon is Fallen.” One of the guys compared our singing to an Amish prayer meeting!
Packed up for leaving in the a.m.
5/26 Amicalola Falls (Mileage 10,223) – Charleston, S. Car. (Mileage 10,565)
Arose early with the serenade of birds outside the window.
Brian Murphy was our speaker after breakfast. We discussed sexual harassment. The first case was in 1976. In 1980 EEOC was enacted. Quid pro quo – “This for that exchange.”
We had to call it closed at 10:30 + at 11:00 a.m. we hit the road.
Our route – 52 to Dawsonville
Rt. 53 to Gainsville, Ga. where we ate lunch at K-Mart, bought a new battery + watch strap + a bottle of Nexus Shampoo.
Rts. 129 to Athens, 78 – 20 to Augusta
We passed beautiful Lake Sidney Lanier and the Chattahoochee R.
Rts. 78/278 to I-26. Crossed the Savannah R. which divides Ga./S. Car.
These are crops we saw: sorghum, watermelon, peanuts – oats – quail – cattle – nurseries (pines).
Checked into Masters Econ. Inn 7:20 pm.
5/27 Charleston, S. Car
Had a hearty breakfast with the kids at Shoney’s before taking off for a self-guided tour at Middleton Plantation. It was first settled in the late 17th C + stayed in the family until it was engulfed by the Civil War.
After lunch we all soaked up rays at the pool + Brynne dove for pennies.
Kent, Brynne, Bert + I went to the Footprints in the Garden, a giant puppet theatre from Canada. This was part of the Spoleto Festival. (It’s an adaptation of the Noh play from Japan.)
We had dinner at Locklear’s with the kids + Tami’s friend, Marsha C. I had fried green tomatoes + Shrimp salad that was really, really good.
5/28 Charleston, S. Car. (Mileage 10,648) - Valdosta, Ga. (10,935)
We had a nice buffet type breakfast at Holiday Inn with Kent, Tami & Brynne.
Our trip began at 9:30 a.m. + took these routes: US 17 – US 21 to I-95 at Point South. Then it was I-95 South to Exit 14 in Ga. We traveled US 84 through Jessup + Waycross. The latter is a very attractive old railroad town. We stopped here for a frosty at Wendy’s.
Going southwest to Valdosta, we saw lots of rich good farm country - rice + lumber (pine nurseries) and peach trees.
We shopped at the outlet mall at Valdosta, had dinner at Cracker Barrel + retired early at Shoney’s Inn – Lake Park.
Had a little shower mid afternoon, but most of the day was sunny + hot.
5/29/95 Valdosta, Ga. – Pensacola
At 7:15 we left Shoney’s Inn, Lake Park. We filled the tank with gas - $1.02 per gallon. The following routes:
Rt. 84 to Quitman + Thomasville
Rt. 319 to Tallahassee
Rt. 10 to Pensacola
Thomasville, Ga. is a beautiful small town + wasn’t ravaged by the Civil War. As a result, many of the wealthy Northerners came here seeking a warmer climate during the winter months.
Pebble Hill Plantation is an example of the beautiful winter “cottages.” This one was built by the Hanna family of Cleve.
The mileage on the van was 11,209 as we arrived around noon.
Wonderful vacation!
