Sitting here under the stars in the Georgia mountains. It’s just after midnight and the fire is burning down. It feels like fall, in the high 60’s, a slight chill in the air. Listening to Drew Halcomb’s Feels Like Home.
I’m sitting by the fire in River Campground in Lakemont, GA. The Talulah River is about 50 yards in front of me. The crickets are singing a symphony. I cooked salmon over the fire tonight. I would like to say that all is right in the world but that would be dishonest. It is however, not a bad place to be.
It’s been a stressful and heartbreaking summer but I find myself once again on the road. Exploring the beautiful earth. Meeting locals and adventuring. I’m thankful for the time I got to spend with friends and family this summer but I’m glad to be on the road. I need to be in the unfamiliar, away from from the known. Away from the reminders of what was and instead discovering what will be.
I dropped in on Currahee Brewery on a whim on Monday evening. I went in a stranger and left a local. I’m attending a weekly ritual with the locals on Friday night. I’m looking forward to it. Life is what you make of it. Growing up I always wanted to live like Jimmy Buffett and now on some level I am. I can see Jimmy walking into a bar he had never been to and leaving a local.
I may not be doing it the same way but I finally feel like I’m back adventuring. No, it’s not the way I had envisioned it. I never expected to do it alone. My first adventure plan was going to be me and my best friend Rick in my parents ‘52 Airstream. Our folks derailed that one quickly. Then I thought it would be with my soulmate but alas that was not to be. I find myself setting out across this great country on my own.
I thought I would feel sad or nostalgia when I cleaned out my house and garage. I had many wonderful memories after 20+ years in my house. I didn’t. All I felt was relief. I’ve adapted to living in a few hundred sq/ft and would never go back to a big house. A small condo someday maybe.
It wasn’t easy, the choice to push forward with this dream of mine. In the end I realized that the experiences and adventures were still there to be had and I’ve put the adventure off too long as it is. We have a finite time on this earth and I didn’t want to finish with a bunch of, I wish had had done this and I wish I had done that.
What’s the Latin…Carpi Diem! Is that right? Seize the day!
One of the great things about our modern world is the availability of information. I’m finding plenty of Facebook and MeetUp groups so I can go on hikes and paddles with people who know the area. As much as I have enjoyed some solo hikes. It limits your choices because you cannot some of the more challenging hikes safely alone and it’s never safe to paddle alone.
The adventure reboot started in Blue Ridge, still with no refrigerator. More on that in another post. Anyway, One of my best friends met me in Blue Ridge and we paddled the Toccoa River Canoe Trail. I highly recommend this trip. Such a beautiful paddle and so much to do in Blue Ridge.
Now I find myself in Talulah Gorge for a week. I’m about halfway through my stay. I came here to hike but the weather has conspired against me. I had planned to hike most every evening after work and have not hiked a step yet. Hoping tomorrow and Saturday will work out.
If you have never been to the Talulah Gorge area of Georgia you need to put it on your list. You can hike, paddle, boat, swim and about any other outdoor activity you can think of. There’s good food and breweries. Lakes, rivers, mountains and canyons.
I highly recommend coming during September. The days are warm but not hot. It’s below 80 every day. At night it’s been in the high 50’s to mid 60’s.
Update:
The Friday night before I left I met up with my new local friends at Moonrise Distillery for music bingo. This was so much fun. The distillery bottles it’s own cocktails made with it’s liquor. I had one that was bourbon and peach tea that was amazing. Took some bourbon home.
Managed to get two hikes in. Due to weather and other things I didn’t get to hike the trails I had planned. However, I did hike Angel Falls trail which has three waterfalls. I also hiked Bear Gap to Terra Incognito Vineyards. The first totally alone and stopped for Pizza after on Lake Rabun. The second I hiked up alone and back with the nicest young couple from Athens. You can find both hikes on AllTrails.
- Campgrounds, Curveballs, and Cold Beers
This summer was supposed to be spent in the great state of Wyoming, checking off some more national parks. The President and Mr. Musk had different plans. Due to the federal cuts, the national park scene has a lot of uncertainty. - Chateau Le Coeur
Just a short ways off of I-10 you will find a winery named Chateau Le Coeur. The owners moved to northern Florida from the Great Northwest. They have wineries and vineyards in Washington and Oregon. They have an interesting story they tell about starting the winery. - Sunday Morning Musings Ep. #6
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” – T. S. Eliot - WildEdge Brewing Collective
The food was delicious, at least the chicken salad sandwich, was very, very good. The locals were friendly and as I often do I spent a few beers in bar side communion with them. I am a little bummed that I did not pick up any packaged beer or swag from here. - Sunday Morning Musings Episode #5
So I’m sitting here listening to the rain, having coffee and reflecting on this journey so far. I’m currently in Del Norte, CO. I’m at Woods and River RV Park and my site is right on the Rio Grande River. It’s been such a nice week.
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