The Back Roads to North Carolina

 Some folks are all about making good time and then there are others who are all about having a good time on a road trip. Count us in the later group. Besides, if we stayed on the busy roads, how would I get to take photographs???

I took a bunch of them on this trip, so expect any number of posts to exhaust my output. I want to do it justice because, frankly, it was one of the best trips ever for all kinds of reasons. 

Let me count the ways:

1. Being out in the country is just the place to be this time of year when the leaves are changing, and crops have either been harvested or are in full bloom. Plus, sometimes you see large animals. Score!

(taken near Lake City, FL)

2. Wildflowers are prolific right now; we saw any number of types, mostly yellow which always brings joy.

(I would have to get out the atlas to tell you the name of this road which turned out to be more winding than I'd hoped!) Georgia, USA

3. Solar panels and lots of them! We tried to figure out what had been harvested to no avail.

Georgia, USA

4. How about cotton fields? Goldenrod anyone? It's a twofer! I am totally in love with this photo but hey, I'm allowed to be, right?

Georgia, USA

5. You may have to wait for a train and in our case,  we waited at least 10 minutes! More than 100 cars for sure. Little did we know when it began. :)

Georgia, USA

6. Small towns both in good shape while others not so much. Shall I begin with a not so much? This is actually a most puzzling sign. 

Georgia, USA

6a. Social Circle, GA  What a name!

Social Circle part two: Good Food for Good People

Social Circle, GA

6b. And then along came Lakeland which had the most interesting murals of which I am going to show you a few.  Alas, you can read more about the project here. 

Note the list on the wall, that's how many there are! Just something to whet your appetite.

Isn't it neat? So lifelike in person.

They are all depictions of local citizens from the 1925 era.

Behind the fence bar is the label of who everyone is on that front porch. A big family is who!

I wonder if these folks had children?

And lastly some citizens of high repute.

Seriously there were loads more with each one being so compelling.

6b. And then along came Nashville, where I met the woman responsible for revitalizing downtown. 

Serendipitous actually because as we pulled into a parking lot for Bruce to have a little nap, I mentioned to him that the town looked as if it was in the midst of doing just that. Sure enough, if Winnie has anything to say about it, along with folks who are willing to take a chance on a small Georgia town. It is already pretty tidy which is why this scene caught my attention.

Actually I met one couple who is very busy putting in a few stores, as well as an air-b-b in the building on the right.  She gave me her card which directed me to this facebook page which looks pretty cute. I admire their enthusiasm and if Ben and Erin can do it in Laurel, MS, why can't they in Nashville, GA? Well maybe HGTV has to get involved but still if it happens you can say you read about it first in Camera Crazy.

Another absolutely adorable town was Monroe. Oh my, oh my.

Here's a crazy fun coincidence. While we were at Unicoi Lodge, sitting around an awesome campfire that Bruce built, other folks joined us and began telling us their stories. Well, of all things, this couple was from Monroe and I showed him the above photo. He quickly pointed out that his grandfather once owned a jewelry store that sat behind the door to the right, admittedly is a little hard to see, but still, how cool is that?? 

We were still in Georgia which is darn long to get through. I should check that but hundreds of miles for sure. At any rate, this route afforded us a tiny glimpse into other folk's lives and surroundings. 

Almost all of the towns that were in decent shape were county seats including Monroe. The imposing courthouses are generally at the center of most of the towns.  Porches, Southerners love their porches even at the courthouse.

Monroe is having a moment with new folks starting cute new businesses. Looks like they are bringing a little South Beach to South Georgia! Then again, according to this, they deal in lots of old stuff too. 

And here's something else. Yeah, published weekly.

7. History baby! We were traveling on well-worn routes which is another reason to love it.

8. The roads are empty and I do mean empty.

Our first destination was Helen, North Carolina, but it was just too darn far so we spent the night in Macon, a somewhat poor choice on my part, but you live and learn. In the morning, we walked to the car and found this.

This sort of thing just happens to me. I walk outside in the overcast early morning and a photo-op presents itself. But what really gets me excited is the first glimpse of the mountains. Oh yes indeed.

9. Is it possible to go wrong with both mountains and sunflowers? I should think not!

More in a few days! Lots to catch up on here, and of course there is pickleball to play.

your friend,

Gail