Jekyll Island

GeoTagged, [N31.10747, E81.59106]

Trying to blog again from the IPhone. Good trip up I95 to Brunswick Ga and then over the long causeway to the island. For many years it was only accessible by boat. The campground on the north end is very large with lots of trees. Unfortunately I came a little to close to one while backing in and the result is a jammed front brake on my bike. It was stupid and careless on my part. The bicycle trails are the main reason I came. After trying unsuccessfully to repair it, I ended the afternoon with a long walk to the beach and back which I needed after 6 hours of driving. Today I also walked to the nearby remains of one of the first plantations on the island. Then I rented one of the campground pedal one speed "fits all" bikes. It took awhile to stop reaching for hand brakes but I was going slowly and that helped. Hopefully tomorrow I won't back pedal when I need to stop on the tour bikes. For the most part I had the bike path to myself as you can see from the photo. Part of the path is along the ocean front with cooling breezes and inviting benches to stop for a while. The historic areas are well marked with excellent explanatory signs. I managed to find the small Sweet Shop where I treated myself to ice cream. I've been trying to eat up all my refrigerator food since I'll shut it off for the week of the bike tour. As I write this I am baking the left over tortillas to make chips for my return. Aside from pesky bugs (no seeums mostly) this is a great place to visit and I would like to return. The business tycoons of the turn of the century as well as the modern day preservationists have created a special place for all to access with a $5 fee.

Bicycling Trip on the Horizon

Early morning overlooking the Intracoastal

Last Sunday morning I was off on my bike shortly after 7 a.m. on a beautiful peaceful morning.  I rode about 12 miles and enjoyed seeing the pink early morning sky and hearing the birds sing.  My purpose though was to get ready for this year's bike excursion which will begin next week.  This year Judy and I are trying a US ride from Charleston to Savannah.  It's an area I know well both by boat and by car.  Les and I seriously considered buying in Beaufort SC which will be one of our overnight stops.  Our first nights are at the Middleton Inn which looks like a beautiful facility, a former rice plantation.  There we will leave our vehicles for the week.  Judy is driving from Maryland and I am bringing Big Mama and plan to camp at Jekyll Island GA enroute.  Following the bike adventure I hope to do some South Carolina family history research in Charleston and Edgefield before heading home.  So the Old Lady hits the road once again!



50th reunion

Touring Rock City's Rock Run Peddler Garden

"Potluck Group" Dona, Jill, Karen, Marlette, Jane, and Gwen

I’ve just returned from my third trip to Illinois this year. The purpose of this visit was my high school reunion. I had not attended one since the 20th and it wasn’t any easier to recognize people this time. The shock is how many of our classmates have passed away, 110 of the 770+. I had been campaigning for 2 of my friends with whom I shared both high school and college to join me. Fortunately they made the trip, one from Texas and one from Colorado. It was so good to see them again and renew old memories and catch up on all that happened in the intervening years. It was wonderful to also visit the three that had remained in Rockford and one from Madison Wisconsin. We totaled seven of our original 10 “Potluck” (social groups for Rockford girls during our school years) for dinner at Jane’s beautiful house on Friday night and were so busy enjoying our selves, the evening quickly slipped by and the opportunity to attend a 250 person class gathering was not an option. Some of us did attend the breakfast the next morning at the Stockholm Inn (great Swedish Pancakes) and proceeded to tour our old high school. This was a real kick as current seniors toured us around the hallways, classrooms, pool, locker rooms, gym and auditorium, all of which looked in great shape. We compared notes on our experiences, the most amusing of which was the answer to my question about the Home Ec rooms. The student hesitantly asked, “What is Home Ec?” Our class had been the last one before 2 new high schools opened and we had split shifts as well as one way stairs. That seemed amazing to the seniors who shared the school with 1500 students compared to our almost 3000. Saturday afternoon we had another small group reunion with classmates who’d worked on the many theatrical productions during our high school years. That didn’t leave much time to change and get to the class dinner at the country club. There it was difficult to circulate and find people but our small group enjoyed just being together again.

Front row: Dona, Janet, and Barbara

Back Row:  Sandy, Karin, Gordan, and Burns

About a year ago 2 classmates who were active with our church youth group and I decided to try to find some members of that group who were in other classes and schools and see if we could reunite at the same time. It turned out to be more difficult than expected but we did have a few that gathered for an early breakfast on Sunday morning. We looked over old photos and talked about the good times we had experienced. There was enough enthusiasm to try to do it again with more people doing the searching.

At this point in life, it seems important to reconnect with those who remember us from the past. Perhaps it is a desire to remind ourselves of what our lives were like and how far we’ve come today. Part is nostalgia and part is sense that some of these people shared a special time with us and it is worth reliving through the stories of those days.

Traveling South

Cabins at Nesoba County Fair

(Monday, July 26, 2010)Driving through the hills of Mississippi with the straight tall pines on either side of the road, I feel at home again. The roads are well paved for the most part and not well traveled. The towns seem few and far between and sleepy little villages would be the best description. This is the first time I’ve been here with Big Mama and she seems to take the roads ok with only occasional qualms of the driver when the road seems elevated from surrounding marsh lands and no shoulder exists for escape. I even passed other vehicles a few times on some two lane stretches.

The clay soil is a rich orange but everything growing is very green including the kudzu that seems to swallow all in its path including abandoned homes. The heat and humidity I’m told are worse than usual for July. I try to remember my life here in the 40’s and 50’s without air conditioning. I know we went to the “picture show” a lot. “It’s cool inside” the sign in the window said.

My first Mississippi camp ground was Turkey Creek Water Park. I envisioned curly, twisty large slides and screaming children. Apparently what they call a water park is more of a recreation area, fishing, and swimming, boating and camping around a water management area, this one the Chunky River Watershed. The campground was small but with nice paved sites, good electric (much better than the previous KOA) and very quiet. Not many sites were occupied but I was told it would be busy on the weekend. No alcohol and no firearms signs abound. I received a senior discount paying about $17. It was only about 10 minutes from the town of Decatur but very remote along a narrow curvy road.

(Tuesday, July 27, 2010) Tonight I am at a Corps of Engineers park, again a water management area, Okatibbee Lake created in the early 60’s. They do allow hunting here during the fall and winter. This could have been an area where my grandfather hunted and is in the general direction of his farm. The near by town is Collinsville, the campground is Twiltley Branch and the area is part of the Pascagoula River Basin which ends in the Gulf of Mexico.

I have a great site overlooking the water with lots of pine trees. I went for a bike ride before rain kept me inside. I did have a lot of computer entry work as the result of my morning spent at the Newton County Historical Archives in Decatur, where I researched family members who had been in the area since the 1850’s.

I’ll stay here again Wednesday night and head south on Thursday. This will give me a chance to try the Nesoba County Fair. It is known for family gatherings so I may meet up with some kinfolks. I hope I also find some southern cooking. So far on this leg all my meals have been at home. I’m not complaining but some local cuisine would be welcome.

(Wednesday, July 28, 2010) This turned out to be a very interesting day. I’ve always wanted to attend the Neshoba County Fai r. http://www.neshobacountyfair.org/ It began in 1889 and I know my grandmother attended it and perhaps my mother too who was born not far from the location. The uniqueness, to my mind, are the family cabins spread around the fair grounds. Two story attached buildings feature front porches for visiting and colorfully painted and decorated. Some are very simple structures and some very finished and modern. I visit 3 which were all owned by family members some of whom I was meeting for the first time. I enjoyed getting to know them and learning more about our family connections. I came away feeling I had made many new friends and saw a small part of the fair’s activity including carnival ride and harness racing. Motor homes were stacked in so close together that you could have reached out and borrowed a cup of coffee. I was happy to return to my campground in the woods. I’m told the waiting time to get a campsite at the fair is 5 years.

Leaving Chicago

Fountain at Chicago's Millineneum Park

Sister Susan from California meets Illinois' favorite son!

It's been an amazing 3 weeks visit packed with activities, special family events, and weather Florida style. Susan and I had 3 great days in Wisconsin which included celebrating her birthday by attending the American Players Theatre production of The Syringa Tree.  A one woman show running 2 hours without interruption was inspiring, amazing, and emotional.  Set in South Africa toward the end of Apartite, the role required playing a child as well as the characters with which she interacted.  To learn more http://americanplayer.org/

A home grown feast at sister Margarets in Rock City was a big treat and we were able to "camp" in the driveway.  The route back to Chicago took us along the Rock River and a close up of the Loredo Taft Chief Blackhawk statue amidst the "Oregon Trail Days" festivities.

Since Susan's Sunday departure, I've been busy catching up with old friends, breakfasts, lunches and dinners.  One afternoon I had great fun flying a kite with step grandson Josh.  It had been a long time since I tried that!

Now I want to head south for some home time before I return to the area for my 50th HS reunion.  I'll first stop in Springfield to see the new Lincoln Museum and other sights before heading to Mississippi for a little family history research. Tentative arrival home Thursday, July 29. 

Wedding Report

Katherine Barton comes down the aisle

The wedding begins

After months of preparation the wedding weekend is over and the happy couple off on their honeymoon.  It was a beautiful occasion full of love and happiness.  Rain fell off and on but no one seemed to mind and the crowd reluctantly stopped dancing at 11 p.m. 

The cake cutting

Today I took an architectural boat tour of Chicago.  It was my third time but the best ever.  Tomorrow it is back to the road heading to Wisconsin for a few days of camping.

4th of July

Granddaughter in the print dress looking hot on Daddy's Float

I arrived in the Chicago area late Saturday afternoon to record breaking heat.  Of course I felt right at home with the temperature.  We celebrated the 4th in traditional style with the Villa Park parade featuring (in my opinion) my son, daughter in law, granddaughter, and 2 step grandsons.  It was a fun parade and we joined them for an early dinner in an almost empty restaurant afterwards.  I guess everyone else was picnicing but most of the group preferred the AC offered by Houlihans!

Now we are into the countdown for Saturday's wedding.  I've been staying in Clarendon Hills with long time friend Ginny and she'll join me at a Wicker Park (near west Chicago neighborhood) B & B.  We plan to do some Chicago touring as well as the wedding activities.

Here are some notes I took on the trip up:

July 1, 2010 I was awake before the rooster crowed, but not by much. He was really an attractive bird and wandered around together with what looked to me like a “pea hen”. It rained overnight and the morning was misty until north of Montgomery. The KOA campground was ok but I think they should put gravel on the pads. It was pretty muddy when I walked around as I detached my electric cord.

At the advice of the Welcome Alabama staff I didn’t do my planned route past Birmingham. Apparently I 65 is still very torn up with construction. It was a problem that I had last summer and didn’t need again. I took US 82 NW out of Montgomery toward Tuscaloosa. Most of it was four lane. The GPS and I disagreed on a route to NE Mississippi where I had reserved a spot at JC Coleman State Park but I finally reached my destination around 5:30 and had a fantastic site # 53 overlooking the Pickwick Lake area. You can see boat traffic on the Tenn Tom Waterway.  Surprisingly it isn’t hot or mosquito-filled as I feared. A wonderful breeze is coming off the water and there is no need for the AC. YEAH! My site is so much nicer than the KOA and $10 cheaper. After dinner my neighbors invited me over to enjoy their campfire and we had a nice get acquainted visit. They live not too far from here and drive school buses. He also coaches baseball. Other family members are coming tomorrow for the weekend. The park has a swimming pool and cabins for rent. It’s a ways off the road but well worth the drive. It was a long day at the wheel but I always enjoy these back roads with there small towns that fit the “time forgot”
 
July 2 I am camped at Reel Foot Lake Campground, a Tennessee State Park in the NW corner of the state.  This area was created when the New Madrid fault earthquakes of 1811-12 moved the channel of the Mississippi River.  I was concerned I could get a space since there are no reservations and it is a holiday weekend but even with my 7 p.m. arrival I had a number of sites from which to choose.  Again the temperature was very comfortable and the setting delightful.  I had a leisurely start in the morning and arrived in Jackson around noon where my cousins had lunch waiting.  We were able to visit a couple of hours before I headed for other family in the small town of Bradford where members of the family have lived since the early 1800's.  I was encouraged to stay the night but declined knowing that I would not be able to get as early a start in addition to adding at least 2 hours to what would already be a long drive on the 3rd.
July 3  After pumping the holding tanks, I was on the road by 8 a.m.  Today would be almost all interstate working my way up the long state of Illinois.  Fortunately traffic wasn't too bad and all construction and associated barricades halted for the holiday weekend.  However, it appears that most of I 57 is under repair and requires it as I bounced along the pavement.  I will be sure to avoid that route heading south.