Our third trip out in the Beach House --the trip to the beach will happen eventually!
More bad weather forecasts, but we forged ahead just like the two times before. This time it all worked out better. We left home Thursday afternoon, had some rain overnight and the next morning --but the skies cleared and we enjoyed our first truly nice weekend out in the Airstream.
Had to start with a little challenge though...... setting up camp has already become routine, but for a little problem with the tongue jack. It became frozen, completely bound up --would not move in any direction despite all manner of coaxing. Of course it was quickly becoming very dark as we worked and worked with it. Kinda nice to have no artificial light in the camp at all --but not a good place to work! The camp host brought her flashlight and helped as much as she could, but in the end, we pulled the scissors jack out of the Jeep and leveled up the next morning. Only 4 inches out of level that first night.! Noticeable but OK. Working in the dark, just wasn't working and dinner time had come and gone --but we didn't skip dinner of course, just a little late.
The hitch chores were completed after the rain subsided mid morning. We were able to explore our area, the camp area is small, only 28 sites, most of them with great views of the lake, none of them far from the lake at all. Nice trails to the beach area.
Saturday morning we had bacon and eggs underway pretty early --we could tell we were in for a very pretty day. Our first really nice sunny, reasonably warm day of the season. The season we started out intentionally very early! Anxious to get out!
The camp area is pretty, Spring has not really arrived yet, but we have a nicely wooded area, gentle hills on the shore of Lake Russell. The park includes the camp area, a separate cottage area (very nice cabins which all look quite new), a beach area, waterfront picnic and playground area, and the old steel trestle bridge.
We ventured out on the extended trails on Saturday late morning, miles and miles of tails. Our hike was much longer than planned, since we misunderstood the signs. why would we have "The Cottages" and then "Cottage Loop Trail" as two distinct areas? One with cottages and one without. It was about a two mile side-trip, which is OK, but we were feeling a little lost in the woods --not a great feeling in the early season in unfamiliar territory and few other people around! Just a slight tinge of panic. We finally found the cottages and found a more direct route back to the campground.
The side-trip afforded lots a great view of the woods and the water. We would have missed a lot if we stayed on the direct trail.
Saturday afternoon, we drove to Bobby Brown Outdoor Rec Area, south east of Elberton --another state park (decommissioned) much the same as Lake Russell Park. Nice camp area and water views. this is a huge parks -lots of trails, huge natural area far from the highways, really secluded overall.
On the way home, another side-trip, planned this time to the Georgia Guidestones. About 9 miles directly north of Elberton. Lake Russell Park is about 9 miles northeast of Elberton. The guidestones are weird all around. Hard to understand how the project was ever important to anyone, but now we have a fun curiosity in the area. Stonehenge it's not.
Kerry insists it has the fingerprints of Ted Turner. Who knows who funded this in the early 1980's. Pretty well guarded secret. http://www.thegeorgiaguidestones.com/Message.htm
Back to the camp for steaks on the grill. A very nice warm evening with campfire and lots of kids running around. Pleasant kids actually --but very active!
On the way home, a stop at Watkins Mill Bridge State Park. A very interesting covered wooden bridge -and very pretty setting on the river, rocks, mill stream etc. The truss is a diamond truss --a little unusual -- fastened with wooden pegs. You can drive through the bridge if you are less than 9 feet tall and weight less than 3 tons. We were out of luck on both counts.
I thought the sky above the bridge looked like a nice airbrush job.
The bridge in the distance --rocky river bottom --perfect for play in warmer weather I'm sure. The park has a large equestrian component, a nice campground. Again a small campground with sites arranged around the rim of a ridge --views into neighboring valleys all around. The sites are spread out nicely too. The covered bridge is not only means of crossing the river, so one must plan which side to access. Campground and trails on one side, equestrian area and riverside picnic areas on the other. You can walk the covered bridge as well --traffic was certainly not a concern at this time of year anyway.
Back home mid afternoon on Sunday. The trip is 97 miles each way --but not an interstate trip at all, so the 97 miles, reduced speed with our rig, and many small towns and stop signs makes it a solid 2 1/2 hour trip each way. Still not that far from home!
