2018 On the road

Well, we are finally "On the Road Again". We had a few problems getting started due to medical problems for all of us, including Freddy. We were supposed to leave Sunday, 6/3/18 but were delayed again due to a broken rear window on the Honda CRV. Got that changed on Monday and left Tuesday. We made it as far as White Springs, FL, then on to Unadilla, GA.



Packed-up, Hooked-up, Golf cart loaded in the Honda and ready to go















 Me at the wheel



Freddy holding Cathy down














leaving Florida




into Georgia.
We stopped overnight in Unadilla, GA. If you are a bar-b-que fan, this is the home of Myron Mixon, the "winingest bar-b-que cook" in the country. He is also the Mayor here.









First attraction, Stone Mountain State Park, GA.



Our first view driving in.



The RV park



Parked and ready to see things




Now for a trip to the top.


Stone Mountain is a quartz dome and the site of Stone Mountain Park near Stone Mountain, Georgia. At its summit, the elevation is 1,686 feet  MSL and 825 feet  above the surrounding area. Stone Mountain is more than 5 miles  in circumference at its base. The summit of the mountain can be reached by a walk-up trail on the west side of the mountain or by the Sky ride aerial tram.



The sky ride made more sense





Looking down



At the top






a view of the other car going down















The view of the carving just starting up on the tram 

The largest bas-relief sculpture in the world, the Confederate Memorial Carving depicts three Confederate leaders of the Civil War: President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (and their favorite horses, "Blackjack", "Traveller", and "Little Sorrel", respectively). The entire carved surface measures 1.57 acres. The carving of the three men towers 400 feet above the ground, measures 76 by 158 feet. The deepest point of the carving is at Lee's right elbow, which is 12 feet  to the mountain's surface.



The carving was conceived by Mrs. C. Helen Plane, a charter member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC). The Venable Brothers, owners of the mountain, deeded the north face of the mountain to the UDC in 1916. The UDC was given 12 years to complete a sizable Civil War monument. Gutzon Borglum was commissioned to do the carving. Borglum abandoned the project in 1925 (and later went on to begin Mount Rushmore).

The carving was completed on March 3, 1972.




The actual size of the stars on Lee's collar





A comparison in size to other monuments
This one         76 ft
Mt Rushmore 60 ft













At the completion, they held a formal picnic on the back of Lee's horse, Traveler















I don't know the significance of this 36 star flag but I thought it was neat.















The laser show is a "must see". the pictures did not turn out very good.

There is a movement to have the carving blasted off the mountain. They call it inoffensive.
My personal feelings, if it is inoffensive to you, don't pay the price to get in to see it!



We toured around the park on a Duck, real name DUWK given by General Motors as the designation. D is the year 1942, U is utility, K is all wheel drive and K equals two rear axles.

At 17, I was in the US Army reserve. I learned to drive one of these at Camp Leroy Johnson in New Orleans during our two week summer training.




A view of Stone Mountain not seen by most. In a restricted area, but the duck's could go there




Getting ready to enter the lake




Splashing in



Floating

















Our Captain








The water side of our favorite restaurant there, the Colonial




Stone Mountain from the lake






I did get to drive




Back to the ramp
















If there is a covered bridge around, we will go see it.
When it was built, it cost $2,470.
It cost $18,000 to move it from the Oconee river, Athens GA, 60 miles, to Stone Mountain Park in 1969




























Remember the picture of the Colonial Restaurant, this is why it was our favorite, Deep Fried Ribs with aioli sauce, black eyed peas and garlic potatoes.















Our view while eating was not bad.

















Now time to leave. I will do another in a few days























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