tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9165747097521914412024-03-13T01:53:24.641-04:00Life Outside My DoorEnjoying life one adventure at a time.Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-5750210329124908792017-08-18T06:58:00.000-04:002017-08-18T06:58:07.268-04:00Suwannee River Rendezvous Camping and Kayaking Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Camping with friends is always better! Camping with friends that have kayaks is more better! Camping with friends that have kayaks in a campground less than two hours from home is even better than that! This was the case for our most recent camping trip to Mayo, Florida's Suwannee River Rendezvous Campground. And while I intend to keep this post as a form of review for the campground, it should go without mentioning that the highlight of the trip was our six mile kayak trip on the beautiful, historic, Suwannee River.</div>
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Having been recommended to our friends, Allen and Kim Thomas, Allen and I decided to make a recon trip down to the campground a few weeks prior to scope things out. Since it was about 80 miles away, we planned the trip down on a Saturday afternoon prior to an evening cookout - good food and great friends! We located the park easily after inputting the address into the "Maps" app on our phone, and the drive is mostly flat and pleasant for those of you towing a camper.</div>
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The park is divided into two sections. There is an older section which contains the office, kayak/canoe outfitter, restaurant, riverfront, boat ramp, Convict Springs, cabins, lodge, primitive camping sites, and a few 30 amp sites for trailers less than 25'. The newer section of the campground has many level sites, including pull-thru sites and back in. There is a picnic table, lounger, and a small fire ring (tire rim) in each site. Some sites even have a type of outdoor canopy for an extra charge. 30 and 50 amp is available, along with cable and free Wi-Fi. Each of the sites in the newer campground are also full hook-ups, and there is a bathhouse with a laundry room included. Allen calls this section of the campground "rustic".</div>
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Within the new campground is a clubhouse with multiple bathrooms, showers, a reading room, and a laundry room. There is a pool area which also includes a spa and a smaller pool (3 total). Next to the pool is a covered pavilion with picnic tables, a large fan, a dart board, cornhole boards, horse shoe pits, and a ping pong table. There are also a few grills nearby. I though this was a great area, and it is very well maintained, and it is a much newer section of the campground.</div>
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The sites were fairly close to each other, but there was not a cramped feeling that you get at most private campgrounds. I found the landscaping within the sites to really aid in a feeling of having some privacy, and they tasteful and pleasing to look at. Our friends weren't necessarily crazy about the crushed gravel/dirt sites, but they were pretty level and I didn't really have a problem with them. They were quite chalky, however, and that could cause a problem for those that have carpet in their campers/rvs. There was also a trash can located at every other site out by the road that was emptied daily.</div>
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Lastly, there are plenty of things to do here: bingo, pigeon races, volley ball, canoe/kayak trips, swimming, etc. The park is pet friendly and even has a dog wash. And if I haven't already said so, I found Suwannee River Rendezvous to be very well maintained. We found the park hosts to be very friendly and polite, too. In fact, if I really had to nitpick one thing about the place, it would be the camper/rv parking near the office for check-in. There are signs posted directing you as to which way to go, but if there is more than one trailer there at a time, the road to the office can become very congested, making it difficult for cars, or other vehicles to get by. We found this to be the case during check in and check out.</div>
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Overall, I'd give this park 5 stars based on my personal experience. Considering it was our first time there, and the fact that we had zero issues, I highly recommend the <a href="https://www.suwanneeriverrendezvous.com/" target="_blank">Suwannee River Rendezvous!</a></div>
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Please take a moment to let me know what you think. Have you stayed here? Does it look like somewhere you'd like to try in the future?</div>
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Please take time to visit their website for more information!</div>
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Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-31349701055459875562017-06-23T06:42:00.000-04:002017-06-23T06:42:34.528-04:00The Bear at Black Rock Mountain State Park, GA!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Call me crazy if you'd like, but one of my "bucket list" photo opps has always been to take a picture of a bear in the wild! And as many of my friends have heard time and time again, I've never wished that this opportunity stemmed from an up close and personal encounter, say while on a trail, or having one stick its head in my tent during the night! Rather, this opportunity happened in a way that I was most comfortable with...from the friendly confines of my truck.</div>
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As we were making our way back up the mountain to the campground at Black Rock Mountain State Park (Georgia), we came across this Black Bear cautiously making its way out of the tree line. From what we could tell, the bear was eying a Pringles can that someone had carelessly discarded along side of the road. When we noticed the bear, we slowed to a stop in the middle of the road just long enough to take a few pics. We did make a few passes, however, and each time we came back by, the bear stood ever so apprehensively within the friendly confines of the trees. In fact, after a few seconds, the bear would slowly back its way up until it was out of sight if we lingered too long.</div>
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When we showed the pics to the Park Ranger, he concluded that the bear was probably a female due to the length of its snout. Also, he said that there appeared to be some missing fur on the shoulder which is sometimes indicative of cubs rubbing their heads into the area.</div>
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As I previously stated, this was indeed a "Bucket List" photo opp for me! How about you? Is there a photo that you've been after? </div>
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Let me know.</div>
<br />Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-37469300942681375532017-04-02T06:26:00.001-04:002017-04-02T06:26:57.658-04:00A Camper's Checklist: Choosing Your Meals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_43GbDOo4y0UoCL8DkRvixcFLEC2wSoLbii7Q2e0IVv9J4dF15uRyytrn-aa9Em6XqEWnjUp4YfE-Nn0qnD9J2uf8bXuBr-ZJizLxUbAAoI-Gxa3EJf0IU03fQ94ZnINxcsjYqysSTE/s1600/IMG_6425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_43GbDOo4y0UoCL8DkRvixcFLEC2wSoLbii7Q2e0IVv9J4dF15uRyytrn-aa9Em6XqEWnjUp4YfE-Nn0qnD9J2uf8bXuBr-ZJizLxUbAAoI-Gxa3EJf0IU03fQ94ZnINxcsjYqysSTE/s320/IMG_6425.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Having previously noted that choosing the right camping destination in advance should be number one on a camper's checklist, it's time to move to a second important thing to consider - the camp meals. Depending on how elaborate you wish to be with your campsite delicacies, I'll try to list some helpful tips for what is considered by many to be one of the most memorable times of a camping trip. The following advice comes from our experiences, and if you have others, we'd be glad to hear about them.<br />
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Pre-cook meals at home. Quite frankly, this tip was introduced to us by my parents. Up until we spent a weekend with them at Red Top Mountain State Park, GA., we had always prepared our meals at the campsite. This time, however, my mother had cooked ribs at her house the day before our camping trip. When we decided to eat them on a Saturday night, we simply threw them on the grill (still wrapped in foil) to heat them up, and then we served them with corn on the cob and baked beans. From that time on, my wife has prepared a few of our favorite campsite meals such as stews and soups at home prior to our trip. Though we aren't usually very elaborate with our meal planning, we definitely see the wisdom in pre-cooking our meals prior to our trip. Besides, unless you simply finding meal prep at the campsite part of your relaxation, this will help you save time to do more exploring or relaxing.<br />
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Buy your food at a local store convenient to where you are camping. We used to buy all of our groceries at our local grocery store prior to going on our trips. This usually involved bags of ice, coolers, and other measures to ensure our perishables did not perish. Eventually, we decided that it was much more convenient to stop at a store in the area where will be camping. Whether or not we do it before we get to our campsite, or after we set up, it doesn't really matter. The point is that we no longer have to worry about all of the extra care involved with keeping things at proper temperature, unless of course you are preparing your meals in advance, as noted in the paragraph above.<br />
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So there you have it - two simple tips that you may have never thought of. Be sure to add these to your camping checklist and look for others to come soon.<br />
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What is your favorite campsite meal? How much time to like to spend in preparing meals at the campsite? Do you find the meal prep work to be a relaxing part of a camping trip? We'd like to know. Please take the time to comment and let us know.<br />
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Thanks!Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-81384516002076139412017-03-26T07:38:00.001-04:002017-03-27T03:50:46.621-04:00A Camper's Checklist: Choosing The Right Destination <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSI-BqWEFLLRu5UFOb3jn4v_ZuVO_8VaJPcXl83v5Ej5sFzXVnPX2Iq8_Kgafs892dZJgCGCcx2vdFP_0103NtJX5BxS9X5dr50YtewhOjFoVBC89biFDMKy-3MecFd8aB1ZrW-mldovQ/s1600/IMG_8317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSI-BqWEFLLRu5UFOb3jn4v_ZuVO_8VaJPcXl83v5Ej5sFzXVnPX2Iq8_Kgafs892dZJgCGCcx2vdFP_0103NtJX5BxS9X5dr50YtewhOjFoVBC89biFDMKy-3MecFd8aB1ZrW-mldovQ/s320/IMG_8317.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Since falling in love with camping a few years ago, my wife and I have procrastinated entirely too long in preparing our own "camper's checklist." Though I have read many posts on various pages touting the importance of such a list, for whatever reason we have simply failed to create our own. I suppose we have come to appreciate the drama associated with getting to our destination and realizing that we forgot something (note the sarcasm here). There have been quite a few times that we've been bailed out by the local Walmart. Because of such improper planning, I feel confident in saying that we have an over abundance of "stuff" in our camper, and I feel completely safe in saying that we'll never use some of it...but WE'VE GOT IT JUST IN CASE. With that being said, I will attempt to give you a few tidbits of information over the next few posts about what we've learned about preparing for our camping trips and why I feel that it is important to have a checklist. Whether you're a tent camper, or have some sort of RV, I trust that you'll find these articles helpful and entertaining. And don't forget, I always welcome your comments.<br />
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<u>The Destination.</u> For starters, I'll assume that you have already chosen your destination, but for those of you that are interested, let me add a tip or two that we've found to be helpful. Since most of our camping is spent in the Georgia State Parks, we've learned that if we plan on spending the weekend in a campground it is best to try and check in on Thursdays, especially in some of the smaller parks. The Georgia State Parks do not allow you to reserve a particular spot, so by checking in on Thursday we can usually beat the crowds and get a "prime" location. If checking in on Thursday is out of the question, you can usually show up prior to the official "check-in" time on Friday (or Saturday) and they'll let you go ahead and go in. The downside to this approach is that you may settle on a site too early and a better site may be vacated at the last minute before the official "check out" time. Nevertheless, if you're like us, we're pretty easy to please and we've never relocated after setting our initial site.<br />
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A final tip for those of you that are choosing a camping destination would be to scout out campgrounds prior to your camping trip. If you do a lot of traveling like I do, check out available campgrounds in the areas (as you are nearby) that you'd be interested in camping. I like to drive through and make notes. From time to time I take pictures of particular sites. I check out the bath houses/comfort stations. I stop in the office and get a brochure and rates, and I try to find out the answers to the following questions: Is the campground pet friendly? Does it have cellular reception? Does it have cable hook-ups? Is hiking available? Is there a lake/water? Additionally, we spend an ample amount of time on the internet reading reviews from sites like Trip Advisor.<br />
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So, our first tip for a successful camper's checklist is to make an informed choice for your destination. With a little bit of pre-trip homework, you'll assure yourself of a little less stress, and a bit more relaxation.<br />
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Do you have any tips about choosing a destination? If so, I'd love to hear about them. Please feel free to comment.<br />
<br />Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-58206707275579132182017-03-21T19:09:00.000-04:002017-03-21T19:09:17.986-04:00New Adventures Coming Soon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBOnFopwpJey5KM-zOAPL-mA8iJP6BEEoTK69zRYhQ5MK27SbSRekH4xUXrrAhcZRNEUbHi6LD3HeQzm52ErEHV8FzURAOOUF1DlI5Vxst2dDlkmm9EwVlJhBoCBbQJz22vDHARiGJIM/s1600/IMG_3348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBOnFopwpJey5KM-zOAPL-mA8iJP6BEEoTK69zRYhQ5MK27SbSRekH4xUXrrAhcZRNEUbHi6LD3HeQzm52ErEHV8FzURAOOUF1DlI5Vxst2dDlkmm9EwVlJhBoCBbQJz22vDHARiGJIM/s320/IMG_3348.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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New adventures are coming soon! Stay tuned.Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-27832536899359284632014-11-23T05:51:00.000-05:002014-11-23T05:51:45.701-05:00Memories: A Poem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzYDc8rtClOT4wxduTHwxNYNnc2NqshqVNFPNM9f4EwmGGiV1TR2EzbH6djadKwPdYsJ5XtKNkb1rUN4A-rGQJCmcoLYcLrfbzcl0JC_JqW3N9VN84YHBtUdZfgS6M3VtnQHh2CxTYsQ/s1600/IMG_6470-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzYDc8rtClOT4wxduTHwxNYNnc2NqshqVNFPNM9f4EwmGGiV1TR2EzbH6djadKwPdYsJ5XtKNkb1rUN4A-rGQJCmcoLYcLrfbzcl0JC_JqW3N9VN84YHBtUdZfgS6M3VtnQHh2CxTYsQ/s1600/IMG_6470-001.JPG" height="246" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i>MEMORIES</i></b></div>
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<i>I close my eyes and see mountains tall with golden ray,</i></div>
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<i>Where creatures great and small do play,</i></div>
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<i>And I can spend a glorious day,</i></div>
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<i>Finding rest.</i></div>
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<i>From the toils of a hectic life,</i></div>
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<i>Often filled with stress and strife,</i></div>
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<i>Tis there I go with my wife,</i></div>
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<i>To be blessed.</i></div>
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<i>In the comfort of nature's land,</i></div>
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<i>Purposed from the Creator's hand,</i></div>
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<i>It is here that I too plan,</i></div>
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<i>To frolic, play, and roam.</i></div>
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<i>Yet, should I find this day my last,</i></div>
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<i>With final breath drawing fast,</i></div>
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<i>I'll relish majestic days gone past,</i></div>
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<i>And look forward to going home!</i></div>
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<i><b>Sonny Davis</b></i></div>
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Here's a copy of my latest poem. I hope you enjoy it and as always, your comments are welcome!<br />
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<br />Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-49049606088743999532014-11-15T04:03:00.000-05:002014-11-15T04:20:37.010-05:00Tales From the Trail - "Inspiration...I Think"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzk2xSh7IAmANsFB7coiNsKuZPduLVHY7VTL7AIFeb3clx-hJlyNKzj4B0Ll3hOXqbazZQ9FjTvp20PA2MZyz9okLK_GsHt-CxhyphenhyphensIh96fcAg1-mDLzGfcPLgkO9QRbr1HSY3GzIRp8Y/s1600/IMG_6778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzk2xSh7IAmANsFB7coiNsKuZPduLVHY7VTL7AIFeb3clx-hJlyNKzj4B0Ll3hOXqbazZQ9FjTvp20PA2MZyz9okLK_GsHt-CxhyphenhyphensIh96fcAg1-mDLzGfcPLgkO9QRbr1HSY3GzIRp8Y/s1600/IMG_6778.JPG" height="306" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>(Blood Mountain, Blairsville GA)</b></i></div>
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<i>This is the second story of a series that I'll be posting entitled <b>Tales From the Trail</b>. The stories themselves will be based on encounters that we had with people during our most recent vacation in the North Georgia Mountains.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDxwSTgy1pdGLG5WqRAIbQNrXEV9TTB8vquiRiSCMcmY2wSHw40P0bTPrrsJuo1w_suQtLPTtLRpqldlnbWsJ5yr2H-LAakspWa5Vbmfo2q6C-rE6G_02u0NvEKvCd5pT0EXEQhg-N0E/s1600/IMG_6820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDxwSTgy1pdGLG5WqRAIbQNrXEV9TTB8vquiRiSCMcmY2wSHw40P0bTPrrsJuo1w_suQtLPTtLRpqldlnbWsJ5yr2H-LAakspWa5Vbmfo2q6C-rE6G_02u0NvEKvCd5pT0EXEQhg-N0E/s1600/IMG_6820.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>(Some of the rock outcroppings on Blood Mountain)</i></b></div>
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<i>(<b>Here's Karen signing the log book at the shelter. Just around the large rock to her left is where we had our picnic.)</b></i></div>
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<b><i>(More rock)</i></b></div>
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Upon reaching the summit of Blood Mountain, my wife and I settled in for what has become a sort of extreme pursuit of ours, if you can really call anything we do extreme. It's probably better worded as a picnic spot bucket list. However I choose to articulate it, what I mean is that we looked for a prime picnic spot to replenish ourselves. We needed a break. Next to the stone shelter, we found a few rock outcroppings that served as the perfect spot. Though our first choice was occupied by someone else, we were able to find a nice location a bit below them. It was a bit close, but not too close. The time had now come for our traditional selfie and our PBJ rewards!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZzwUKYa-542mu70ezNylCH9EV8UF96CkPxTt3kVyO6nadgzdO3W_FmikkTQsPZbYXbCgzaC9p1Vp_YE-JZDLNPVAJQlK5CuXvL6QNRaYVsvuLbjKbl5-lPv9lAMD1zDJSyfJnk_rvGM/s1600/Blood+Mountian+picnic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZzwUKYa-542mu70ezNylCH9EV8UF96CkPxTt3kVyO6nadgzdO3W_FmikkTQsPZbYXbCgzaC9p1Vp_YE-JZDLNPVAJQlK5CuXvL6QNRaYVsvuLbjKbl5-lPv9lAMD1zDJSyfJnk_rvGM/s1600/Blood+Mountian+picnic.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><i>(Our selfie)</i></b></div>
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<b><i>(Our view)</i></b></div>
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While reveling in both the vista and our sandwiches, we noticed two other hikers settle on a spot to our left, and guess what...they had PBJs too! Not long after their arrival, we began to make trail talk. It didn't take long for us to realize that they had done many hikes before this one - I was sure that they were veterans of the trail. It's encounters such as these where we find valuable tips and suggestions, friends are made, and stories are tucked away for a later day. This time was no different. As our conversation continued, one of the men recommended that we plan to hike to the summit of <b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabun_Bald" target="_blank">Rabun Bald</a></b>, Georgia's second highest peak (<b><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brasstown_Bald" target="_blank">Brasstown Bald</a></i></b> is the highest peak in Georgia). Having previously marked that hike off of our currently unwritten bucket list of hikes, Karen and I both swelled a bit with confidence as we found that we too were able to relate our experiences at Rabun Bald. The excitement in this man's voice was contagious as he bantered on. But then, in a matter of fact way, while Karen and I both had a mouthful of wonderful PBJ goodness, he enthusiastically quipped <i>"Yeah, that descent was so brutal that one of my toenails popped off!"</i> And without hesitation he added, <i>"Rabun Bald is a great hike! I highly recommend it to anyone!"</i> </div>
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Karen and I found those last few bites a bit more difficult to swallow, but we were able to choke them down and prepare for our own descent. I will have to admit, however, I thought about my own toe nails way too much after that!</div>
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<b><i>If you enjoy this story, please take time to comment. We'd appreciate it if you'd tell others about our site too, and if you have time, like us on Facebook!</i></b></div>
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Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-51750023816022069042014-11-08T09:47:00.000-05:002014-11-29T06:06:32.052-05:00Tales From the Trail - "No Limitations"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMst4tBpsSG7unT8k_z5egcyMb0-suaAZiX7ECrJSUt1Xdgpnl_pmRDSoiSp_yHD47a2BJ6VMm9Ti3ifJXSgOb2-K2awLMXZpOf2DfJcGEEEQtgOeRtaXBdiQINjHSHL2nZSXJzCDQRs/s1600/IMG_6827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMst4tBpsSG7unT8k_z5egcyMb0-suaAZiX7ECrJSUt1Xdgpnl_pmRDSoiSp_yHD47a2BJ6VMm9Ti3ifJXSgOb2-K2awLMXZpOf2DfJcGEEEQtgOeRtaXBdiQINjHSHL2nZSXJzCDQRs/s1600/IMG_6827.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
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My wife and I at the summit of Blood Mountain - Blairsville GA</div>
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<i>This is the first story of a series that I'll be posting entitled <b>Tales From the Trail</b>. The stories themselves will be based on encounters that we had with people during our most recent vacation in the North Georgia mountains. </i></div>
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We were making our way down from the summit of Blood Mountain when we caught our first glimpse of the two of them. At first glance, they appeared as two normal day-hikers making their way down too; however, as we closed the distance, it was obvious that the lady was having a problem walking. Nearing even more, their age became apparent to us and they definitely weren't spring chickens! In fact, both of them appeared to be well into their 60's or 70's. I found that to be inspiring in and of itself, but what really inspired me was the brief few moments we spent talking to them. Within those few moments we learned that the two of them were regular campers at Vogel State Park and they had be making their way up from Lakeland FL for 22 years! With a smile from ear to ear, in spite of her obvious difficulty walking, she added that they had even been hiking up Blood Mountain for all of those years! Then, for a brief moment, her smile diminished as she exclaimed that she "just wasn't able to do it this time." She was obviously saddened by this and it was a bit difficult for her to hide her disappointment. But then, as quickly as it faded, that glowing smile reappeared as she spoke of the joys that she and her husband have had on that mountain. Her husband, by the way, was there holding her as she made every step. He was very astute to where she placed her foot...very cautious...very caring! We spoke about trail things, about bears, cold weather, and the views. Heck, we even talked about baseball, about the Braves, the Detroit Tigers, and Al Kaline. And somewhere mixed in all of our conversation, as if it were a mere technicality, she mentioned ever so briefly that she had <b><i>scoliosis</i></b> and then she never mentioned it again. We made a bit more small talk in our passing and gave way to other hikers passing through with a couple of dogs that caught her attention. Her face beamed with another beautiful smile..."Can I pet them?" was the last thing I heard her say as we continued down the mountain.<br />
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I find that the mountains affect me in a special way too. I feel so different, so alive, so complete when I am there. This story will be one in which I hope to recall whenever I feel as though I can't go on. Though she didn't say it, this lady's motto could certainly be summed up in the following statement: <i>"The only limitations that face us are those that we place on ourselves."</i> How true...how true.Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-71103045420128224032014-10-05T14:04:00.000-04:002014-10-05T14:04:05.534-04:00Enjoy Georgia More With These Resources<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Trivia: Did you know that Georgia is the largest state East of the Mississippi River in total land area? It is fourth largest behind Florida, Michigan, and Wisconsin if the expanses of water territory is included.</b></i></div>
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A few years ago, my wife and I decided to venture out of our South Georgia home and travel North for some much needed vacation time. Not that it was our first vacation, however, it was the area that we chose to visit that was unfamiliar to us. With that being the case, we really wanted to optimize our time so that we could make the best use of it. The "North" that I'm speaking of in this case refers to North Georgia, particularly the Blairsville area (about 5+ hours driving distance from us). And though much of this post deals with resources relating to North Georgia, some are also beneficial for other areas of our great state too. To make things simple, I have placed these resources into the following categories: <b>Books</b> (includes anything written, usually purchased and carried) and <b>Links</b> (to include websites and computer apps).<br />
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<b><u>BOOKS</u>:</b><br />
Perhaps the book that we've found to be most beneficial is Brian A. Boyd's <i><b>North Georgia Mountains Pocket Companion: 99 great things to see and do</b></i>. Within the pages of this book the author goes to great lengths to provide directions and a brief summary to scenic waterfalls, favorite trails, historic sites, U.S Forest Service campgrounds, recreation areas, maps and directions, GPS coordinates, and other fun things to do. Quite frankly, it is our number one "go to" guide and we don't leave home without it! As a helpful tip, my wife and I usually grade the things that we accomplish in this book by writing a brief summary on the pages. We also make notes that our friends may find useful should they ever want to borrow this handy guide. We purchased our copy at the General Store in Dahlonega, GA. for $10.99. If you only purchase one book/guide, we'd suggest this one, though it primarily deals with North Georgia.<br />
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A new book for us is one that we saw in a cabin in which we were guests recently. <i><b>The Georgia Conservancy's Guide to the North Georgia Mountains - Revised & Updated</b></i> (Edited by Fred Brown and Nell Jones: Preface by Jimmy Carter) is chocked full of great information and includes sites, history, directions, and maps. It really covers everything! We purchased our used copy on Amazon.com for around $7.00 including shipping, and after thumbing through it, we have compared the information of many of the things that we've done and found its information to be accurate. The first edition of the guide was published in 1991. Our copy is the third edition and was published in 1996.<br />
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<b><i>The Wayward Traveler's Guide to Waterfalls and Back Roads (Franklin & Highlands NC; Clayton GA 2014/15 Edition)</i></b> is another guide that we find to be an excellent resource. We picked up this magazine during our most recent trip to Clayton, GA, though we have followed <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NorthCarolinawaterfalls" target="_blank">the Wayward Traveler's Facebook</a> page for quite some time. The sites recommended in this magazine, as well as on their Facebook page, are outstanding. The directions and related information are presented very well and we found many of their assessments of the attractions to be very accurate too! The authors, Dave and Tammy Wolfe, are local to the area around Franklin NC and Clayton GA and have obviously taken the time for "extensive exploration" as their guide states. They have definitely hit a homerun with this guide. And though I feel that this guide/magazine is worth far more, the cost is a very affordable $4.95. Money well spent!! Be sure to check out the Wayward Traveler's Facebook page too!<br />
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Our most recently acquired resource is a map with many of our state's waterfalls listed on it. <b><i>The Backroads Less Traveled</i> With Waterfalls of North East Georgia & Part of North Carolina</b> is more than just waterfalls, however, it is also an excellent guide that lists mountain elevations, hiking trails, lakes, highways/backroads, wineries, and much more. On the right side of the map, brief directions are given for 22 waterfalls in Georgia, six in North Carolina, and six in South Carolina. The map also lists area campgrounds, parks, WMAs, though no description is provided. This map is viewed pretty much like a regular state map, but with much less clutter, as it designed primarily with an adventure seeker in mind. For a price point of around $15, it is a resource that we recommend and it can be picked up at many of the area State Parks or local general stores.<br />
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<b><u>LINKS</u></b><br />
As far as resources go, we have found that the internet is far and away our most reliable resource for planning our vacations and trips throughout the state. Most of the sites that we frequent are updated regularly and most have updated pictures to view. <a href="http://youtube.com/" target="_blank">YouTube</a> is an excellent source that we've utilized on many occasions to see actual user reviews of the places we want to visit. Though YouTube is not necessarily specific to Georgia, it is a tool that we use that many may overlook. Simply put, we type in the name of the place that we intend to visit. In most cases, there will be a wide variety amateur video clips uploaded, and most contain commentary. This is a great way to preview an area to decide whether or not it is worth the effort. Be sure to remember YouTube!<br />
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<a href="http://exporegeorgia.org/">ExporeGeorgia.org</a> website and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ExploreGeorgia" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page. Wow! If you are looking for a great way to plan and organize your trip to Georgia...start here! Touted as Georgia's Official Tourism and Travel Site, it is loaded with helpful information including regions and cities, things to do, places to stay, dining, events, and trip ideas. There is a newsletter that you can sign up for, and there is an online itinerary tool that you can utilize to help you organize your trip. This site has it all...ALL of GEORGIA! You can't miss this one!<br />
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When planning a hike, I have found the <a href="http://atlantatrails.com/">AtlantaTrails.com</a> website and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/atlantatrails" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page to be one of the best resources on the web. A description from the website states its purpose this way:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #84878e; font-family: 'Open Sans', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Atlanta Trails reviews the best Georgia hiking trails, backpacking trails and running trails throughout the state and in the Atlanta area. Our Georgia hiking trail reviews and Atlanta hiking and running trail reviews include trail info, trail maps, elevation profiles, inspiring photography and driving directions. Our goal? To inspire Atlanta residents and visitors to get active outside and to find a great Georgia hiking, backpacking or running adventure.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #84878e; font-family: 'Open Sans', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">"</span></div>
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Be sure to check out the Atlanta Trails website to help you plan your trip!<br />
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Have you heard of PB&J Adventures? If not, I'd like to recommend that you visit their website at <a href="http://pbandjadventures.com/" target="_blank">PB&Jadventures.com</a> or their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/PBJ-Adventures-Fun-Family-Excursions/148570335161276" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>. This is a family run site that posts many informative articles, pictures, and reviews about their travels throughout America, though they have much content about Georgia...the whole state! It's a great site and one that I gladly recommend for anyone wanting much more out of their time in Georgia!<br />
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Finally, I'd like to suggest two other links that we find very helpful. First, our Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites website is locate at <a href="http://gastateparks.org/">gastateparks.org</a> and it is rich in content about all of our state parks and historic sites (as you might have guessed). Additionally, you'll find directions to the parks and sites, as well as other surrounding places of interest. You'll also find event dates and pictures of the various sites here too. In addition to the website and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/georgiastateparks" target="_blank">Facebook page,</a> there is also a <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/georgia-state-parks-historic/id491540107?mt=8" target="_blank">smartphone app</a> available...we've got that too! Be sure to check them out!<br />
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The last site that I'd recommend is <a href="http://aboutnorthgeorgia.com/">AboutNorthGeorgia.com</a>. Though it is not a site that we utilize very often, it does have quite a bit of information available. Of particular note is its historical information content. I am not aware of a Facebook page for this site.<br />
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So there's our list. These are our trusted "go to" resources to help us plan our visits throughout our great state. Though not an exhaustive list, we hope that you'll find it useful and take the time to share it with your neighbors, friends, and relatives. Be sure to add other sites or links to this list in the comments section below too. We look forward to hearing from you!<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-72484215193643104602014-09-21T06:14:00.000-04:002014-09-21T06:49:24.308-04:00Geocaching on Vacation Time (Four Factors to Consider for a Great Geocache Adventure)Geocaching, at times, seems to be a luxury that we just don't seem to find time for anymore. And though I can't really put my finger on why, it doesn't take away from the fact that we enjoy it immensely when we do find the time. Perhaps it's because we've found many of the caches in our area. Maybe its because we're a bit hesitant to pursue caches that are in high "muggle" areas...I don't really know. What I do know, however, is that I consider about four factors necessary for a great geocaching experience: time, location, availability, and someone to share the experience with. <br />
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<b>Time.</b> This should be an obvious factor, though there have been times when I really didn't have time that I made time. I recall spending my lunch hours searching for geocaches near my office...ever done that? How about on the way to a special event? Ever stopped to search for a cache that wasn't pre-planned? I have. (This is a great opportunity to plug the Geocaching App for smart phones. The "find nearby geocaches" tool is very valuable!) Vacation time, as in the case of this post, is another opportunity to find time for a cache or two. That's just what we did on our recent trip to the North Georgia mountains...keep reading for more about that.<br />
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<i> <b>From the Blue Valley Overlook-Highlands, NC</b></i></div>
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<i><b>(The "Old Iron Bridge" on the Chattooga River - Highlands, NC) ** Deliverance (the movie) was filmed on this river near this location.</b></i></div>
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<b><i>A geocache find in Cornelia, GA</i></b></div>
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<b><i>A geocache find in Sky Valley, GA</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Mud Creek Falls (Sky Valley, GA)</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Toccoa Falls, Toccoa, GA</i></b></div>
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<b><i> The Suspension Bridge at Tallulah Gorge State Park, GA</i></b></div>
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<b><i>The old fire tower on top of Rabun Bald. (Georgia's second highest peak)</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Dry Falls in Highland, NC</i></b></div>
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<b><i>A footbridge on the way to Holcomb Creek Falls (Clayton, GA)</i></b></div>
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<b>Location.</b> Are you a beach person or a mountain person? For those that know me, there is no doubting that I'm a mountain kind of guy. I'd much prefer being on a trail somewhere hiking through the wilderness, observing spectacular vistas, plant life, and the many various types of wildlife. Rugged, fearless, inquisitive....that's me! (Well, almost, at least that's who I think I am). I am particularly fond of hiking, and camping too! The mountains, for me, present a kind of spiritual experience. It is there that I am able to find my way back to zero and focus on the things of life that really matter. In the mountains, I reflect on the glory of our Creator, for it is on full display. I revel in His majesty! (<a href="http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm+104/" target="_blank">See Psalm 104</a>) Furthermore, I am challenged to be a better steward of these great places, as well as my time, my resources, and my family. Again I say, it is usually in the mountains that I find my way back to zero; my priorities are re-balanced.<br />
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<b>Availability.</b> The initial thought is that availability and time are one and the same. In this case, however, I'm suggesting that there needs to be available caches in the area in which you intend to visit. Seems elementary, huh? You'd be surprised how many times that we've went somewhere only to find that the "find nearby caches" didn't turn up any results nearby. This is important, especially when time is involved. Another factor that could be included with availability is tower reception if you're using a smart phone. This was definitely an issue for us during our most recent time in the North Georgia mountains.<br />
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<b><i>Geocaching with family members is always nice.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>My Mother-in-law finding her first geocache. (My wife is also pictured)</i></b></div>
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<b><i>My lovely wife on the trail to the summit of Rabun Bald. (We were taking a breather). She is the one that I most enjoy geocaching with.</i></b></div>
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<b><i> Here we are at Dry Falls in Highlands, NC. We do 'selfies'!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>My favorite pic of our most recent vacation! Here my wife is sitting on a large boulder on the Chattooga River under the "Old Iron Bridge". We enjoyed a picnic on this very spot!</i></b></div>
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<b>Someone to Share the Experience With</b>. Lastly, I'd argue that sharing the experience with a loved one is time well spent! In my case, my wife is with me nearly 100% of the time when I geocache. We should consider the fact that geocaching with a spouse (or loved one) allows us to work together, communicate, laugh together, and at times compromise. All of these lead for an excellent time of "togetherness" and can be appropriately applied to friendships as well. Additionally, who doesn't love to share the joy of someone finding their first cache? It is a joyous occasion!<br />
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In closing, while I'm sure there are many other factors to consider for a great geocaching adventure, these are what I've come up with. Take time to contemplate them and let me know what you think. Draw on your past experiences and ask yourself if you may have subconsciously considered these factors. I look forward to hearing from you.<br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
SonnySonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-46204229409465827182014-07-27T09:14:00.001-04:002014-07-27T09:14:54.585-04:00High Shoals Falls Trail - Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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While enjoying a tremendous breakfast at the Hole in the Wall in Blairsville, Ga., my wife and I were finalizing trip details for a waterfalls hike over near Blue Ridge when I asked our server if she had ever been there and if she'd recommend the falls that we had picked out. She quickly nodded with approval but then suggested that if we wanted a better option that we should try the High Shoals Falls trail over near Helen. "Just take 180 over until it dead ends into Ga 75 then take a right. The trail will be down a couple of miles on the left...you can't miss it." Her enthusiasm and her eloquent description painted for us a picture that we had to see in person. It was a great suggestion!<br />
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As her directions suggested, we took Ga 180 from Blairsville over until it dead ended into Ga 75 (south of Hiawassee and north of Helen). We then turned right and traveled until mile marker 2 and veered off to the left onto Ga FR 283 (see the signs above). Once on 283, after a short distance, you will encounter a washout/shoals type of crossing on the road. This may present difficulty for lower profile cars, but we were able to pass through with no problems in our 2003 Toyota Camry.<br />
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Once on FR 283, you will travel a little over a mile (1.2) until you see a parking area for the trail on the left. The trail is also well-marked with a sign letting you know that you are at the right place.<br />
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So now that we've illustrated what it looks like to get you where you need to be to start your hike, let's get to the good stuff! As the above pic shows, your hike will be a descending 1.2 mile hike down to the High Shoals Falls. We found the hike in to be moderately easy due to the slight decline in elevation. You can expect to find certain instances where the trail narrows to about 18-24 inches, but for the most part, there is plenty of room. There are a few switchbacks that you'll have to contend with, as well as rutty/rocky terrain from time to time. Footbridges are also common along the trail and provide excellent photo opportunities. The creek will also become visible at about the half way point.<br />
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Once you have made your way down the trail to the falls, you will start to hear the unmistakable sound of rushing water. If you're like us, your excitement level will rise and you will soon find an extra amount of energy that you may not have thought you had. That excitement and anticipation will soon be rewarded with a spectacular series of cascading water tumbling violently downward creating what we now know to be called the High Shoals Falls. At the base of the falls, you can expect to find an observation deck and ample opportunities for photos.<br />
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As an added bonus to the hike, there is another set of falls which you'll actually come to first (if you are paying attention) on your journey down to the High Shoals Falls. The Blue Hole Falls can be accessed at approximately the one mile mark from the trail head. There is also a viewing platform and a large pool of water that I've been told is open for swimming, but I did not confirm that.<br />
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Once you've had your fill of waterfall eye-candy, it will be time to make the hike back out. Obviously, since the hike in was a descent, you'll find the hike out to be quite a bit more strenuous since you'll be dealing with a moderate ascent. Fear not; however, there are quite a few places in which the trail levels out, thus affording one ample rest if it is needed. <br />
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In summary, my wife and I would not hesitate in rating this a 5-Star hike on a scale of 1-5. The trail itself was full of natural forest beauty, and the spectacular falls were a reward worth pursuing. We gladly recommend this trail to anyone heading to the Blairsville-Hiawassee-Helen area!<br />
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If you'd like more information on this trail, please check out Eric Champlin's excellent review (Atlanta Trails). Click here: <a href="http://www.atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails/hiking-to-high-shoals-waterfall/#.U9T6ZfldV7s" target="_blank">Atlanta Trails</a><br />
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<br />Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-18313925278957021662014-07-19T09:16:00.001-04:002014-07-19T09:16:43.024-04:00Wenzel Blue Ridge Tent - Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, what do you look for in a tent? Price? Size? Ease of setup? Durability? Style? While I'm sure that there are a variety of preferences, these few would probably sum up most everyone's checklist, or at least be near the top. All are at the top of ours, and we found that our new Wenzel Blue Ridge satisfied us in each of those preferences. In fact, it exceeded our expectations and that's always a good thing.<br />
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For starters, let's talk about the price and size. My wife and I have long camped with a Coleman dome style tent measuring 9x7, and while it was adequate for our needs, we found that it lacked a bit in ventilation and overall roominess. Actually, due to our desire to add a new Coleman double stack queen-sized bed, we just felt that we needed a bit more room. We also wanted the added comfort of allowing others, particularly our grown sons, to camp with us too without the need for them to bring another tent. Upon initial review of the Blue Ridge's specifications, we felt that it would be well suited to meet our desires. We were right. In fact, what we discovered is that our tent will easily fit two Coleman double stack queen-sized beds, and with a bit of compromise on additional leg/storage room, would probably fit a twin air mattress too. Simply put, it is cavernous. It also comes with a divider in case you want to create two separate rooms. We chose not to use it. The total price that we paid for this tent, including free shipping on Amazon Prime was $134.21. After one four day camping trip, we feel that it was money well spent. I'll give it a 5 out of 5 stars for value and size.<br />
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Now let's talk a bit about ease of setup. I'm gonna talk here about our experience setting this tent up, but it must be understood that we have set up tents before. Assuming one's ability to comprehend instructions which may be a bit foreign at times to a newbie, setup times could take quite a bit longer (allowing for a bit of trial by error). We've yet to find tent setup instructions to be perfect, or would we classify any of them as very easy to understand, but we found the Wenzel Blue Ridge's instructions to be fairly simple to understand. I really can't think of any stumbling blocks that we discovered comprehending the instructions. In any case, after an initial setup at our home for practice purposes, we were able to put our tent up in less than 30 minutes. This included putting tarps down underneath the tent (we had to use two of them due to the footprint of our Wenzel). It may be possible for one person to set this tent up, but I would highly doubt it. Be sure to have at least two people. A third person would be perfect for reading the instructions during the initial few setups. The only hint of difficulty that I found that may be encountered is bending the poles enough to fit them into the feet of the tent. Quite a bit of force is necessary, but it is pretty common with other tents too. Due to the fact that the instructions aren't perfectly clear, and it takes two people to set the tent up, I'd give it 3.5 stars out of 5 for initial setup, but then a solid 4 out of 5 after that.<br />
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Lastly, I'd like to talk about durability and style. I'll also include some of the features that we particularly liked, and I'll also address the issues that we had that were less than desirable. To start with, I'd like to tell you that I pre-treated our tent seams with Kiwi Camp Dry. It is a tip that I've learned about camping, and if you're not doing it, you should. You'll find that it will aid in repelling water in case it rains. And speaking of rain, we had quite a bit. In fact, we had a very significant down pour one afternoon that lasted for about 20 minutes. Beyond that, we had sporadic sprinkles here and there. Throughout it all, we only noted about two-three leakage areas in our tent, and all of them were around the foot peg areas of the tent (the part that is stretched out and staked into the ground). I'm not even sure that I treated those areas with the Kiwi, but in any case, the leakage was really insignificant and amounted to about three to four inches in area size. It was easily wiped up and contained. We did not notice any leaks around our window or door seams, nor did our rain fly leak. With the amount of rain that we had, we were very impressed with how our tent held up! In addition to holding up well to the rain, the floor and the walls of the tent held up well to traffic and stress. We found no tears or rips anywhere on the tent. I was particularly concerned with the flooring due to it's thinness, and the outer walls due the stress put on them by the frame poles. Thankfully, everything held up well. Items of particular note that we found extremely useful is the rain-fly and the ample amount of storage pockets throughout the tent. In the case of the rain-fly, I really liked that fact that you can peel back part of it on either side (or both sides) of the tent to expose the nylon mesh panels that make up the roof of the tent. This greatly aids in ventilation and is an added bonus if you want to look up at the nighttime sky while laying in your tent. In our case, we enjoyed watching the fireflies flutter throughout the trees. For the most part, we kept our rain-fly folded back, but there were times during the cool night that we had to close it up. There are also two large windows on either end of the tent, and there is also one on the door. Each can be unzipped, but they all contain nylon mesh so that you don't have to worry about the bugs getting in. There is no window on the back side of the tent. With all of the windows and the different configurations of the roof panels, we found the tent to be extremely well ventilated, but due to its size and thin material, it may present certain challenges in very cold temperatures...especially temps at or below freezing. On a different note, there was one issue that we found to be a bit annoying. On the door of the tent, there is a flap in the fabric that covers the zipper that tends to get caught in the zipper when opening and closing the door. Be watchful and very careful of this. My wife found that when you utilize both the inside and outside zipper at the same time when zipping and unzipping, this can be avoided for the most part. While it certainly isn't a knock against the overall design of the tent, I do share it with you as a mere caution. For overall durability and style, I would have to give our tent a 4.5 out 5.<br />
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(Notice the roof panel configuration)</div>
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(Notice the large side window)</div>
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In closing, I'd like to say that we are very pleased with our purchase. And while this was our maiden camping trip with the Blue Ridge, I feel very confident that we will continue to be satisfied with it each subsequent trip. Also, one tidbit that I failed to mention is that we had our tent configured with a queen double stack air mattress, as well as a twin sized air mattress. Even with that, there was ample storage within the tent for suitcases and overnight bags. We gladly recommend the Wenzel Blue Ridge to anyone looking for a nice, spacious, family-sized tent...beginners, experts, or those that are between.</div>
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**The following descriptions are taken from Amazon.com:</div>
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Product Description</h2>
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The Wenzel Blue Ridge 2 Room Family dome tent will sleep up to 7 happy campers. It has a zippered removable Room Divider that allows you to have 1 or 2 rooms depending on your needs. The sturdy shockcorded multi-diameter fiberglass poles are easy to set up and create more interior space in the tent than do conventional pole sets. 1 large side entry door makes getting in and out simple. The Fly Rod creates a protective awning over the front door/window allowing you to keep it open even in rain for great ventilation and reduced condensation. The welded polyethylene floor is super tough and will last for years. Set up is simple and fast with a combination of sleeves and clips.3 windows allow for great ventilation - all with storm flaps.Mesh roof aids in ventilation and reduces condensation - stargazing??- you can if you want to.Shockcorded fiberglass frame for easy set up.E-Port for electrical appliances.Interior storage pockets for extra stuff - helps keep the tent neat and organized.Easy convenient sleeve and clip construction.Simple pole to body connection is fast and simple.External guy points to keep the tent stable in storms and high winds.All carry sacks and stakes included.Multi-diameter pole set creates more interior space.Fly Rod creates a protective awning over the front door/window so you can leave it open in rain.Fire retardant.Import.</div>
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<label style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #888888; display: inline; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px;">Color: </label><span class="selection" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Red</span></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: disc; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="a-list-item" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">Floor Area: 117 square feet</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: disc; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="a-list-item" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">Peak Height: 72 inches</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: disc; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="a-list-item" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">Weight: 18 pounds, 2 ounces</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: disc; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="a-list-item" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">Number of Doors: 1</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: disc; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="a-list-item" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">Number of Windows: 3</span></li>
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Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-86227099171803295312014-06-15T04:03:00.000-04:002014-06-15T04:20:56.360-04:00On the Water at Reed Bingham State Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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While the Summer temperatures may be too extreme for many here in South Georgia, as a life-long resident, I've learned to live and cope with them. Notice that the emphasis here is on "live". Life doesn't stop just because it is hot. Though I prefer the cooler temperatures of the Fall, there's plenty to do during those long, dog days of Summer. This post deals with one such thing that I did on Saturday prior to Father's Day 2014: Canoeing at Reed Bingham State Park.<br />
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The park itself is no stranger to us. In fact, we've spent countless hours there camping and hiking. We've also fished and picnicked. What we'd never done, prior to yesterday, was take a canoe trip out on the lake. Even in the midst of 90 degree heat, there was something magical about being out on the water. Perhaps it was the fact that my eldest son had come home from Athens to spend Father's Day weekend with us. Being together with family always makes my adventures better! Or perhaps it was the fact that my wife had recently recovered from an illness and was finally able to get out and enjoy time in the outdoors for a change, instead of being couped up in the house taking meds. Maybe it was the fact that we took our adventure seeking canines, Walker and Spencer, with us...that's always an adventure! Most likely; however, it was a combination of all of these things. As I said previously, being together with family always makes things better for me!<br />
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We don't have our own canoe or kayak, but the Georgia State Parks make them accessible for a small fee. And though our original intent was for all three of us, plus the dogs, to be in one canoe, we found that it would have been a bit cramped, so we opted to rent a kayak also. My son used it, while my wife and the dogs and I used the canoe. Those arrangements made us much more comfortable and were more conducive to picture taking (mostly by my son). There were a few hairy moments; however, when one of my dogs barked excessively at an alligator that passed nearby. Thankfully, the gator must not have been hungry, otherwise, he may have decided to come have a snack.<br />
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The beauty of being outdoors is about sharing the experience. Whether it is with loved ones, the camera, or on the pages of a blog, there is something about the outdoors that makes everything okay. Long work weeks seem to fade into the past with a trip such as this. Healing often replaces sickness. Financial burdens lessen. Worries simply disappear. Again I say to you, there is just something magical about being in the outdoors!<br />
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So what are you waiting for? Get outside and enjoy Life Outside YOUR Door!<br />
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For more pics from this adventure in the outdoors, please head over to my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LifeOutsideMyDoor?ref=hl" target="_blank">Life Outside My Door Facebook</a> page to check them out. </div>
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Do you share my feelings about the outdoors? I'd love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a comment.</div>
<br />Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-52496145241762499412014-05-03T15:41:00.001-04:002014-05-03T15:43:47.300-04:00Grandma Goes Geocaching!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was a pleasure for my wife and I to introduce her mother to a day of geocaching. Here she is with her very first find! The cache was found while hiking the Mud Springs Trail in the Welaka State Forest in Welaka, Florida. You may remember that in a previous post titled "Grandpa Goes Geocaching" that my son and I were able to introduce my dad to a day of geocaching at High Falls State Park and Indian Springs State Park (GA).<br />
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Have you introduced the wonderful world of geocaching to your family?Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-83134605846686859192013-12-01T07:28:00.003-05:002013-12-01T07:28:56.167-05:00GEO-HIK-OGRAPHY (aka-FUN)<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>5 out of 6 ain't bad! </i></b></div>
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There's no secret as to what I consider the most important key to my introduction to a love for the outdoors. If you've read any of the posts on my site, you'll quickly realize that geocaching is that key component. And while our time spent geocaching has waned over the past few months, our love for hiking, camping, and photography has flourished. Even so, I can honestly say that geocaching is on our mind each time we step foot into another outdoor adventure, whether it be hiking or camping. We have even been instrumental in introducing a few of our acquaintances to our favorite outdoor hobby, though we ourselves have not taken in the pleasure as of late. With a trip to one of Florida's beautiful state parks on Saturday, it was time for my wife and I to get our geocache on (forgive my feeble attempt at sounding hip).<br />
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Located about 80 miles to our Southwest is Tallahasse, Florida and the <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/maclaygardens/default.cfm" target="_blank">Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park</a>. I've spent many hours in Tallahassee, but it was only recently that a co-worker of mine mentioned to me that if I like to hike, this park had over five miles of trails and it was definitely worth the time. Having spent countless hours in our Georgia State Parks, we have been known to visit the occasional Florida State Park, most notably, <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/littletalbotisland/default.cfm" target="_blank">Little Talbot Island State Park</a> (Jacksonville). We've also visited <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/ravinegardens/default.cfm" target="_blank">Ravine Gardens</a> (Palatka), <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/mikeroess/default.cfm" target="_blank">Gold Head Branch</a> (Keystone Heights), and our other co-favorite to Little Talbot, <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/default.cfm" target="_blank">Blue Spring State Park </a>(Orange City). Blue Spring is a manatee refuge and to see these gentle giants come up into the springs is time well spent! For more about manatees, check out this cool site: <a href="http://www.savethemanatee.org/savethemanateecam.html" target="_blank">Manatee</a>. As previously stated, today's adventure, however, would be spent at Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park.<br />
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<b><i>Our trusty trail dogs, Walker (left) and Spencer (right), accompanied us to Maclay Gardens</i>.</b></div>
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Upon arriving, we noticed that the entrance was beautifully landscaped and attractive. Once we paid the $6.00 admission and received a park map, we made our way down to our first trail, the Big Pine Trail. The narrative for this particular trail is that it is a 20 minute stroll around Lake Hall. Additionally, we knew that there was a geocache also located on it, so we set out to find and conquer! While making our way to the cache, we took time to observe the beauty of our surroundings. Around us was the typical habitat of the deep south, moss, saw palmetto, and an ample amount of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_palustris" target="_blank">longleaf pines</a>. Also in the mix could be found a few grand <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_oak" target="_blank">Live Oak trees</a>...very majestic. Many of these trees provided a canopy to the trail, and with temperatures in the high 50's, it remained quite brisk for the better part of the morning hours. We were happy to see that there were others, both young and old, enjoying themselves on the trail with us. All had smiles on their faces as we offered pleasantries upon passing. Most, if not all, were completely oblivious to our ulterior motive for being there...I was sure. We had secretly transformed into Team DAWGTRAX and we were gonna find that cache!<br />
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If you've spent any time geocaching, then you know that saying that you're gonna find a cache and actually doing it are two different things. No one likes to log a DNF ("did not find"- in case any newbies are reading) as much as me, however, blame it on rust, or blame it on the fact that we couldn't get a consistent reading on our GPS (it was all over the place), or just say that the cache was probably missing (my preferred option), but after searching near and far and high and low for about 20 minutes, we ultimately gave up the DNF! Oh no! What a poor way to start!! Hopefully things would get better.<br />
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<i>In case you're wondering what type of GPS we use, it is a Magellan eXplorist GC. It must be pre-loaded prior to going out, and then plugged in to log the finds to the geocaching.com website. In addition to the GPS, my most preferred choice, however, is the geocaching app for my iPhone. I find that it is just as accurate as my GPS, and I especially like the fact that I can search, log, and send finds from any spot where I have a tower signal. The "find nearby geocaches" is a great help too!</i><br />
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After failing to capture the prize on the Big Pine Trail, we made our way over to the short Nature Trail for attempt number two. It was here that we started our string of five successful finds in a row, but like most of our finds for the day, it wasn't as easy as the description stated. Again, perhaps it was the fact that we were a bit rusty. Nevertheless, after spending quite an extended amount of time searching, we located the cache and gladly logged our first find in quite some time. We were happy, happy, happy! In fact, we were so happy that we decided to stop for a while and enjoy our picnic lunch. So we did.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomk0LyzVFEqnwqpHla8VmKgq-WCCKh12G3nUo59fZ8SerDlnM9R4i6tgu3sJNwyymQfFn3tL-563GsysQNjqDdOznAbApiK-tZYbXaxh-avWXxWNNDBf0iozJ57YxZPhwIlhR_u6KutY/s1600/IMG_4871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomk0LyzVFEqnwqpHla8VmKgq-WCCKh12G3nUo59fZ8SerDlnM9R4i6tgu3sJNwyymQfFn3tL-563GsysQNjqDdOznAbApiK-tZYbXaxh-avWXxWNNDBf0iozJ57YxZPhwIlhR_u6KutY/s400/IMG_4871.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The view from our picnic table.</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AfbMVmSqqsiUlfyJLYLWriUVFH_SFO9MQwMXQWXNMDNzCxrw36tpQVqAH3TPwNfCAA0rfggD9Hj44v13wRhwphqRkyA_C33E0ErpX0RFd22Od_R_csS2ci9FhK1lI4Sqf4xT3GuFY7w/s1600/IMG_4855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AfbMVmSqqsiUlfyJLYLWriUVFH_SFO9MQwMXQWXNMDNzCxrw36tpQVqAH3TPwNfCAA0rfggD9Hj44v13wRhwphqRkyA_C33E0ErpX0RFd22Od_R_csS2ci9FhK1lI4Sqf4xT3GuFY7w/s400/IMG_4855.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b> <i>We found a variety of available locations for our picnic.</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnXE69ZVyGJQWmULBJr2Ro1lhI0OZeHih84fSO0ljIVr1osdR-8zWBAImB_NBTQ9xNCPlQ8BSejX62l0Qhlmx4IlFt99SwjIdxYZf9Xv9n7KIaQ2a-WckE1Qe0gYWrOwYqAi-m_BexnQ/s1600/IMG_4866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnXE69ZVyGJQWmULBJr2Ro1lhI0OZeHih84fSO0ljIVr1osdR-8zWBAImB_NBTQ9xNCPlQ8BSejX62l0Qhlmx4IlFt99SwjIdxYZf9Xv9n7KIaQ2a-WckE1Qe0gYWrOwYqAi-m_BexnQ/s400/IMG_4866.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>There is a playground area.</i></b></div>
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<b> <i>A covered patio area for large groups.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>In Georgia State Parks, we call them "comfort stations".</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Picnic tables down by the beach area.</i></b></div>
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After eating our lunch, we ventured out to the Lake Overstreet trails area for more geocaches and hiking. The trail that we chose to finish our day on was the 1.75 mile Ravine Trail (loop trail, though it does have a connector that is about .5 miles in length). It was here that we found our next four caches to round our day by finding five of the six caches we searched for. The Ravine Trail itself is a multi-use trail in which we encountered bicyclists, runners, walkers, and even a couple on horseback. You should have seen the look on Spencer's face when he saw a horse for the first time. I'm sure I heard him tell me that was the biggest dog he'd ever seen! It was a great trail and we look forward to hiking it again in the future. We also plan to return to do the adjoining Lake Overstreet Trail which is nearly three miles in length, but for today's purposes, we were short on time due to the hour of day. It was also on this trail that we found what we would call the "most creative" cache of the day. Without spoiling it for some others that my read this post and visit Maclay, I'll only include a picture, though I'm sure if someone were diligent, they could find the name of the cache by performing a simple browse of the park via the geocaching.com website.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTe8vEJrvDI-fcHSsUDSQFuda5XOjNuCunaCqTQAQXW8J1i4WQUf1JNcCZwGNxv-nZEsRmnsbk4zOWxZMu9V9FV12MZMczG7hK6ehgz6-pepEumtPqCMrcClpAuvmh_iiVv1Ei3Qc-FY/s1600/IMG_4896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTe8vEJrvDI-fcHSsUDSQFuda5XOjNuCunaCqTQAQXW8J1i4WQUf1JNcCZwGNxv-nZEsRmnsbk4zOWxZMu9V9FV12MZMczG7hK6ehgz6-pepEumtPqCMrcClpAuvmh_iiVv1Ei3Qc-FY/s400/IMG_4896.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<b><i>The most creative cache of the day! </i></b></div>
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Lastly, I'd like to tell you about another cache that I was ready to log as a DNF (missing) until my wife's tenacity won out and we were able to log the find. Upon arriving at the coordinates listed, the first thing I noted on the ground was an empty cap that looked like part of a nano container. And after searching for a few minutes, I was becoming more and more convinced. Only after my wife excitedly exclaimed "I found it", was I convinced otherwise. Take a look at the picture and tell me what you'd think.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yttnc1NlFg-zynue08nV4KFUZRVRC9FIJdWYHtuePwR1MuAq4QaDdcJP0f5MJ8laRzjfnrVCJdpgYzItXNzZwwYBnFOjcd3ebIetzigGGmdqpwi0RYzJ7d3iY64ZMnpLnjYpjHpfsIQ/s1600/IMG_4883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yttnc1NlFg-zynue08nV4KFUZRVRC9FIJdWYHtuePwR1MuAq4QaDdcJP0f5MJ8laRzjfnrVCJdpgYzItXNzZwwYBnFOjcd3ebIetzigGGmdqpwi0RYzJ7d3iY64ZMnpLnjYpjHpfsIQ/s400/IMG_4883.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i> I was convinced that this was the remnants of a missing cache!</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAFkjeQoYCndVJIclWpQJrJeAyA6REeZ1aw99OxjZdEu5vAXMr2rLOttWzMDjWI6wJ47AsN1Yky4Om6SmwNi-FS97lyODTlBXICYTdMJuUyHo5nJ2FOi1VSOJ6_OBX50TkZom7mnTOCk/s1600/IMG_4885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAFkjeQoYCndVJIclWpQJrJeAyA6REeZ1aw99OxjZdEu5vAXMr2rLOttWzMDjWI6wJ47AsN1Yky4Om6SmwNi-FS97lyODTlBXICYTdMJuUyHo5nJ2FOi1VSOJ6_OBX50TkZom7mnTOCk/s400/IMG_4885.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Notice the broken fence. Someone had logged that they nearly fell through the fence into the water during the search for this cache...LOL!</b></i></div>
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If you ever find yourself in the Tallahasse area, do yourself a favor and visit Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park. You'll be glad you did!</div>
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<i><b>Walker got a bit tired, so he hitched a ride in his mother's loving arms</b>.</i></div>
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<i><b>Mrs. DAWGTRAX logging a successful find!</b></i></div>
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<b><i>Walker and Spencer on point!</i></b></div>
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For more information of Florida State Parks, click here: <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/default.cfm" target="_blank"> Florida State Parks</a></div>
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For more information on geocaching, click here: <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/" target="_blank">geocaching</a></div>
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I'd love to hear your comments. Let me know that you stopped by.</div>
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Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-84012151505014307132013-11-17T05:46:00.000-05:002013-11-17T05:46:23.456-05:00My Top Ten Thoughts While Spending Time OutdoorsDuring my recent vacation to the North Georgia mountains, my wife and I spent three days camping at the beautiful Vogel State Park located in Blairsville, Georgia. This trip, like the many before, allowed me some necessary time to balance my life of work and rest. I found that it also allowed me plenty of time to reflect on the priorities of life and how my time in nature affected those priorities. More than a week has passed since we returned back to the rigors of balancing our lives with our jobs, but I still hold a few thoughts close to my heart from our most recent vacation. And while I don't consider myself to be a great philosopher, and I know that these 10 statements fall far short of fully capturing all of the thoughts that filled my mind during our one week retreat, I'd like to share these with you. Please feel free to comment. <br />
<ol>
<li>You can spend all of your time complaining about the things in life that you don't like such as work, politics, or your social status; or you can spend more time enjoying the things in life that you do like such as family, friends, travel, or the outdoors. </li>
<li>The only requirement to enjoying yourself is time.</li>
<li>One's memory is like a photograph. It fades over time.</li>
<li>The outdoors is like a well-planned meal to me. It provides my soul with energy and nourishment.</li>
<li>Paradise is a state of mind. It can be wherever you are.<u><br /></u></li>
<li>I find great reward in being able to improvise while out in nature, especially while camping.</li>
<li>Nature is not partial to one's social standing. There's no prejudice or racism here.</li>
<li>We should always respect the home of the wildlife that reside in the nature/outdoors that we visit, hike, camp, or spend time in. It is their domain and we are the visitors.</li>
<li>A short time spent in the outdoors can help you get the priorities of life correct.</li>
<li>I'd rather be awaken by the hooting of an owl than an alarm clock any day!</li>
</ol>
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Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-76467563024148118802013-09-01T06:48:00.000-04:002013-09-01T07:02:15.335-04:00My New Blog...<a href="http://straightnarrowandsometimescrooked.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Straight, Narrow, and Sometimes Crooked </b></a><br />
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For those of you that may be interested, I wanted to let you know that I've created a new blog site. Just as I relegate most of my posts on the Life Outside My Door site to the outdoors, my new site will be dedicated to those matters that involve my faith in God. Hopefully, for those of you that might choose to follow, you will find an assortment of posts that will encourage you, challenge you own faith, make you laugh, and might even make you say, "I know what you mean". <br />
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I will continue to post here at Life Outside My Door too, but the new site will give me more of an opportunity to post about life issues that I deal with both inside and outside...you know, those "everyday kind of trials and tribulations of sorts". Hopefully, you will take the time to check out the new site and share it with others. I look forward to seeing you and interacting with you there, too!<br />
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Thanks,<br />
Sonny<br />
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Click here: <a href="http://straightnarrowandsometimescrooked.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Straight, Narrow, and Sometimes Crooked</a>Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-22042369731824223222013-08-10T11:47:00.001-04:002013-08-10T11:47:19.845-04:00Banjos Remind Me of the Mountains!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-11510083496661252212013-05-04T03:19:00.001-04:002013-05-04T03:19:53.710-04:00WARNING: Geocaching May Cause...WARNING: Geocaching may cause...<br />
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<ul>
<li>extreme amounts of fun and excitement.</li>
<li>you to think there's a cache behind/in every bush.</li>
<li>dreams about potential hiding places.</li>
<li>a desire to get out more and become much more active.</li>
<li>an unquenchable desire for hiking.</li>
<li>you to spend an unprecedented amount of time doing something that the whole family enjoys.</li>
<li>you to start camping.</li>
<li>a desire to become "technically savvy", especially when it concerns coordinates and a GPS.</li>
<li>you to become addicted to photography.</li>
<li>lots of daydreaming about geocaching while at work.</li>
<li>you to plan vacations around geocaching.</li>
</ul>
**And finally, geocaching may cause you to have so much fun that you are willing to post articles like this.<br />
<br />
I'm interested to know what you'd add to the list. Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-34652877481639812752013-04-23T05:30:00.001-04:002013-04-23T05:35:16.850-04:00What Not to Do While Camping.Camping is an opportunity to escape the cares of life and commune with nature. Finding a release from the burdens of a career and the general demands of day to day city life is refreshing and necessary. Wouldn't you agree? With that being said, there are still things that we do while camping that suggest we still worry about the life that we are trying to leave behind, even if for only a few days. Things like taking a computer and checking email, checking your phone frequently for missed calls, taking a television set to the campsite, etc....<br />
<br />
I'm curious as to what you think. Does this sound like you? Where do you draw the line? What are some things that you just refuse to do while camping? Do you know of any other habits that people just can't seem to leave behind for a few days of camping?Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-33871710111979221592013-04-22T04:33:00.000-04:002013-04-22T06:57:55.778-04:00Dreaming About a Place North of Here <br />
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I suppose it has been quite a while since my last post, but the reality is that I've simply lacked the inspiration to take the time and sit down to write. Many things are to blame for this, most notably a difficult work schedule. The way I wish I could live my life seems to have taken a back seat to the necessary way of life which involves a career and finances. Hmmm...if only things were different! <br />
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In spite of the inconveniences that besiege me, I can still dream. Yes, I can still dream about those fast approaching days in which we will make a return trip to the North Georgia mountains. The days that are coming very soon...those days in which we will breathe a different kind of air, far removed from that which we breath here in the city! I can dream of a different pace of life which is a bit more carefree to the concerns of the world, and much more focused on living life to the fullest. There are happy places in these dreams of mine too...beautiful places! Places such as Georgia State Parks, waterfalls, trains, horses, old courthouses, and great places to eat. Great scenery! We've made great friends there too...friends that we look forward to seeing again and again.<br />
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While I don't have much more to say except that I long for the days that will be here soon, an old Stephen Foster song about the Suwanee River recently reminded me that my mind often drifts off to a place <i>way up yonder in the Georgia mountains</i>! <br />
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Such days as these, please come quickly. Come quickly.Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-20076069839662915462013-02-24T07:45:00.001-05:002013-02-24T07:49:14.392-05:00What's There To Do in a Georgia State Park? Lots!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMH_eh6heGkRPUy1Vj062w_GXpSs2hLUUT98G60AihQiFGL_jAMOtl6jjX8gn52tCC22vevHne2OBZ57jM0q5chKvQwJAD0cPgC5d2llr-5Ml5Zvq1J0bdtEIT-gxoSG9k7_dHCCKchg/s1600/Georgia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMH_eh6heGkRPUy1Vj062w_GXpSs2hLUUT98G60AihQiFGL_jAMOtl6jjX8gn52tCC22vevHne2OBZ57jM0q5chKvQwJAD0cPgC5d2llr-5Ml5Zvq1J0bdtEIT-gxoSG9k7_dHCCKchg/s320/Georgia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Having been born and raised in Georgia, it took me quite a few years to learn that as a child, I was deprived of a few things. Now before you think this post will be one in which I go for an all out assault on the failings of my parents...think again. In fact, I'm extremely grateful for their guidance and support. Without them and their examples, I wouldn't be half the man, or father, that I am today! No, as a father, I understand that there are many things that we shield, or deprive (depending on your perspective), our children from. Most of these things are for their own good...their protection. The gist of my post today is, and I say this with a bit of a chuckle, is that my parents deprived me of our wonderful Georgia State Parks! Shame on them..LOL! How dare they?! Instead of chasing me around the Little League parks and the Midget Football fields, they could have taken me hiking, camping, or fishing! In spite of working 60 hour weeks and raising two boys, couldn't they have found time for that? Oh well, I'll just have to find it in my heart to forgive them for that slight oversight...I guess.<br />
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Okay, on a more serious note now....I have to admit that I'm amazed at how many times I've mentioned the fun that we have in our Georgia State Parks to friends and family only to get a somewhat puzzled look as a response. It's as if they are wondering, "What's there to do in a Georgia State Park?" Well...there are lots of things to do in our state parks! Let's examine a few. Shall we?<br />
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One of the first things, and perhaps the most simple thing to do in a Georgia State Park is to have a <b>picnic</b>. Yes! A picnic! Have you had one lately? Why not take your family out to a nearby state park and have a picnic. While you are there, check out the lake, the campsites, and the trails....make a day of it. How hard is it to pack a picnic anyway? You'll find that all of our Georgia State Parks are very accommodating for picnics. And talk about the atmosphere??? No stuffiness here, just the beauty of nature!<br />
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Another wonderful thing to do in a Georgia State Park is <b>fishing</b>! Oh yes! Catch a big one in one of Georgia's beautifully maintained lakes. And if you're not sure where the hot spots are, be sure to talk to one of the friendly Rangers. They will be more than happy to help you catch as many fish as you want. Fishing from the bank or a boat is always a great thing to do in a Georgia State Park!<br />
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Have you ever been <b>geocaching</b>? Well, it is a relatively new hobby that I've posted about often and you can do that in a our state parks too. Built in to the fun of geocaching is the fact that you have to get out on the trails and into the woods to find the prize. All the while that you are challenging your sleuthing skills, your getting great exercise! How convenient?! Yes, our Georgia State Parks are great friends with the Geocaching community. Currently, over 42 of our parks have state sponsored caches in them. So if you've never tried geocaching, why not make your first geocaching experience in a Georgia State Park? For more information about geocaching, read some of my previous posts, or check out the website <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/">www.geocaching.com</a><br />
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<b>Hiking</b> is a great activity offered in Georgia's State Parks. Many parks offer multiple trails with varying degrees of difficulties. Whether you're out for a leisurely "nature trail" type of hike, or a more challenging "Bear Hair Gap Trail", you'll find your pleasure in our Georgia State Parks.<br />
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<b>Take picture</b>s...lots of pictures! While our Georgia State Parks present some outstanding sightseeing opportunities from waterfalls to Indian Mounds to mountain tops, you should be prepared to capture some of those moments so that you can share them with others. Much of what you'll see in our state parks are historical in context, so in addition to taking some spectacular photos, the sights themselves may even lead you to enjoy doing a bit of research to further enhance your trip. Who knew you could learn so much in a Georgia State Park?!<br />
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Finally, I saved my most favorite thing to do in a Georgia State Park for last! My most favorite, best, coolest (insert any other adjective that means "lots of enjoyment or fun" here) thing to do in a Georgia State Park is <b>CAMPING</b>!!! I love to camp in our state parks! And why not? Have you seen some of our fantastic campgrounds? The amenities are second to none and we have the best hosts in the world! Everyone from the campground hosts to the volunteers that keep the parks clean...they are the best! You're sure to have a pleasurable experience in one of our Georgia State Park campgrounds. Personally, we prefer tent camping, but if you're into RV camping, you'll find ample hookups in our parks. If you've never camped in one of our Georgia State Parks, you're missing out...just do it!<br />
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While there are many other things to do in our parks, this is my list, my unashamed solicitation to you for our Georgia State Parks and all that they have to offer. The Life Outside My Door family loves our Georgia State Parks and we're sure that you will too. Find one today!<br />
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For more information on Georgia State Parks, please visit their website by clicking here: <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/" target="_blank"> Georgia State Parks</a><br />
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<br />Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-54357272428079790792013-01-06T06:19:00.001-05:002013-01-06T06:19:31.084-05:00Red Top Mountain State Park - Toughest Geocache of the Year for Life Outside My Door<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b>Aggravated, irritated, and tired, I uttered to my son in the midst of a downpour "We're not leaving until we find it!"... And so begins the story of what I deem to be my most difficult geocache find of the year. </b></i><br />
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In recent posts throughout the year, I've written about many of our Georgia State Parks geocaching adventures. (For those of you that are new to the blog, feel free to go back and read about some of our experiences, and if you'd like to learn more about the Georgia State Parks sponsored geocaches, click here: <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/Parks-GeoTour" target="_blank">Georgia State Parks GeoTour</a>. What I don't think I've shared with you, however, is which park we found to be most challenging. Yet, even though Red Top Mountain State Park easily rates as our most difficult of the year (we've found 30 of 43), the challenge was mostly self-induced. Nevertheless, after suffering through a bit of aggravation, irritation, ignorance, and an afternoon downpour, our fate was changed by a bit of technology from a smart phone and a lot of persistence. In the end, we were awarded with that beautiful, oh so beautiful stamp!<br />
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The story goes like this...<br />
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We were on the second of a five day trip through 11 of our state parks. This would be the third park of our second day (we actually completed four on this day, before spending the night in Chattanooga, Tn.). We had found the caches at Panola Mountain State Park and Sweetwater Creek State Park earlier in the day. Our plan was to just keep pressing on and hit as many parks as we could each day, so we had hoped that we wouldn't get too bogged down at one place. Red Top Mountain was not impressed!<br />
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For the sake of this post, here is the description of the cache:<br />
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<i><b>Cache Description:</b>
You are looking for an ammo can located inside Red Top Mountain State
Park. The hike to the cache is just under a mile one way. You can
discover more than 15 miles of hiking trails in the park.</i></div>
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<i>The coordinates listed above are for the
parking lot of the Visitor Center at Red Top Mountain State Park. At
this location you will have the option to either purchase an annual
parking pass or pay the daily parking fee, unless of course you already
have a valid annual parking pass. You may elect to pick up a map of the
trails too.</i>
<i><br />
After you have taken care of those tasks and you're ready to find the
cache hike the Sweet Gum Trail. A short ways down the Sweet Gum Trail
you will come to a fork. You will see two colored trail markings on the
trees. Continue on following the green markings.</i></div>
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<i>Follow this trail until you reach a paved
path, now look to the left and you will spot the next part of the trail.
After you cross the paved path, continue a short distance until you
reach an old feeding area/small meadow or cleared area. Now start to
look for the Campground direction signs.</i></div>
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<u><i>When you've reached the second campground
sign after the meadow, walk 173 feet at a heading of 245° and look for a
small residential structure.</i></u></div>
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<i>Count the number of vertical walls and add 1, call that Y. Now go on a heading of 2Y4° for 169 feet.</i></div>
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<i>Here you will see a few 'rocks'. Look to a
heading of 317° and walk 40 feet and you will see a boulder that is
approximately 4 feet in diameter resting against a tree.</i></div>
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<i>The cache will be 20 feet away on a heading of 270° from the boulder.</i></div>
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<i>If you're not familiar with the compass feature on your GPS, you might want to bring a magnetic compass.</i></div>
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<i>This cache is a "traditional" letterbox
cache. You will find a ink pad and a unique stamp for this park that is
used for stamping your passport. Please do not remove these items from
the ammo can.</i></div>
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<i>Enjoy your visit at the park and remember
to re-hide the cache like or better than you found it and practice,
"Leave No Trace." While visiting any Georgia State Park please remain on
the marked trails as you make your way to find the ammo cans.</i></div>
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In order to try and shorten this rather lengthy post, I'll let you know that we reached the <i> "small residential structure"</i> fairly easy (see underlined above), but that is where the difficulty arose. I found that my first issue was that we/I was unfamiliar with the compass feature on my GPS. Additionally, I had questions as to whether or not I was supposed to be turned and facing the "small residential structure", or was I supposed to be standing in front of it with it to my left...just as I had walked upon it. </div>
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At this point, my son and I decided to use a bit of our "redneck orientation skills" and try and estimate the degrees that we were supposed to turn. Both of us knew that there were 360 degrees on a compass, and we were fairly sure we were facing in the correct direction...fairly sure. <b><i>Besides, how hard could it be to find a 4 foot boulder resting against a tree? </i></b>The answer? Very hard! It was very hard due to the fact that there were hundreds of boulders/outcroppings to contend with!</div>
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The more we searched, the more frustrated I got! It became clear to me that we were now searching for a needle in a haystack! Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, a downpour ensued! Not just any kind of downpour, but it was complete with plenty of thunder and lightening and we were far too deep to make our way out. Thankfully, I had packed our ponchos in my backpack. We simply pulled them out and waited out the short lived storm. </div>
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<i>Notice the look of joy on Jacob's face as we wait out the storm!</i></div>
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The brief respite actually did me good. It was during this time that I was able to get my emotions under control and calculate a new plan. One part of that new plan consisted of me using my iPhone to download a digital compass app. Once I did that, Jacob and I went back to the residential structure and started over. Guess what? For starters, we learned that we were originally off by a couple of hundred feet. Secondly, once we got to the correct area, it was relatively easy to spot the 4 foot stone up against the tree. This was definitely a "high-five" moment for us! We located the ammo can, retrieved the stamp, and then proceeded to make our way back to the parking lot...mission accomplished!!</div>
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Click here to read more about the description of the geocache: <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=1243de00-3455-49a7-8e20-b467dd36db70" target="_blank">Red Top Mountain State Park.</a> Be sure to take time to read through some of the log entries too. You'll get the idea that we weren't the only ones that thought this to be a tough, but rewarding cache find. </div>
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Additional information: During this trip, Jacob and I completed the Geochallenge at the following Georgia State Parks: High Falls, Indian Springs, Panola Mountain, Sweetwater Creek, Red Top Mountain, James H. (Sloppy) Floyd, Cloudland Canyon, Fort Mountain, Amicalola Falls, Fort Yargo, and Hard Labor Creek. We also enjoyed a bit of fishing at the beautiful Vogel State Park!</div>
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Please take the time to get out and enjoy our beautiful Georgia State Parks. You'll be glad you did!</div>
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Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-35085317268718273682013-01-01T08:01:00.001-05:002013-01-01T08:05:27.845-05:00New Hobbies Add to the Excitement of a New Year!As we close the book on 2012 and look to start fresh in 2013, I'd like to take time to reflect on a few "new" hobbies that garnered much of our attention in 2012. In doing so, it is also with hope that these new hobbies will continue to play an integral part in our lives during 2013 and well beyond.<br />
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<i><b>Geocaching</b></i>. While geocaching was not new to us in 2012, we were able to spend a lot of time honing our skills and enjoying this great hobby. In particular, our geocaching exploits took us to some of Georgia's most beautiful state parks and we were rewarded with some special memories and family time that I consider priceless! Geocaching is a great hobby, and it is one that we know we will want to continue enjoying for years to come.<br />
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<i><b>Camping/Hiking.</b></i> Geocaching in our Georgia State Parks and other outdoor locations is the primary reason that our love for the outdoors blossomed. Since many of our searches included hiking trails, we couldn't help but become enamored with such natural beauty. The more we participated; the more we desired to be outside. Additionally, those desires eventually led us into a great love of camping. What better way to experience the great outdoors than by camping?! We found our camping trip to Vogel State Park to be our most memorable.<br />
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<b><i>"The Mountain Shack" is the favorite photo that I took in 2012.</i></b></div>
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<i><b>Photography.</b></i> As our time together in the outdoors increased, I did my best to capture those moments on my simple "point and shoot" camera. With so many photographic opportunities, my passion soon grew. I began to not only photograph my family, but I started to become more and more aware of the many other opportunities that our travels afforded us. Mountains, wildlife, boats, bridges, and many other subjects found their way to my lens. I have learned not to be hesitant with the amount of pictures I take, especially since I have a digital camera. I simply take as many as I can, and then I download them to my laptop and delete the ones I do not wish to keep. I share many of those photos on our Facebook site.<br />
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So here's to looking forward to a great 2013! I hope that you will find as much joy in searching as you do in the discovery!Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916574709752191441.post-88161339225929750672012-12-09T07:58:00.002-05:002012-12-09T08:01:28.244-05:00Home Defense: Are You Prepared? (Part 1)Over the past couple of years, I have made a plan to make sure that my family is prepared for various situations. Not only situations of the disastrous kind, but any other situation that one might routinely find themselves in. With that in mind, I've started to look more and more closely at what could possibly occur, and if so, are we prepared to handle it. Perhaps you've done the same. If not, you should take the time to do.<br />
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In this post, I'll try and present some scenarios to get you thinking. I'll also post, where applicable, what we've done to try and prepare ourselves for the scenarios listed. Feel free to make additional comments and suggestions. Remember, this post is not designed to be all comprehensive, rather, it is designed to get you thinking about being more prepared for what may come.<br />
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<u><b>Home Security.</b></u> Last Christmas Eve, my family and I were spending time away from home when we received an unexpected call. The call came from someone that we had entrusted to watch over our house while we were away. Sadly, we were informed that a break-in had occurred at our residence, and some of our possessions had been stolen. Thankfully, our home wasn't ransacked, and only a few items were taken. Afterwards, I did a thorough review of my home and made some necessary changes to make a repeat quite a bit more difficult, if not impossible. Listed below are a few of the steps that we took.<br />
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<li>Changed all deadbolts. Each of our doors have deadbolt locks on them. We purchased and installed deadbolts that require a key from both sides. Since two of our doors have glass in them, we didn't want someone being able to smash the glass and reach in and turn the deadbolt. Additionally, if someone breaks in now, they will most likely have to exit from the window in which they entered. We do not leave keys laying around.</li>
<li>Cut shrubs that hid outside windows from view. I'll admit that as I surveyed the front of my house, I was surprised by the brazenness that someone displayed while entering through a front window. Certainly, a passerby could have spotted the criminal entering my home. I noted that a large Azalea bush in the middle of my yard, coupled with another overgrown Azalea near the window, provided ample stealth for the would be robber. I commenced to cutting the bushes back considerably, and I installed an inexpensive, battery operated motion light on the corner of my house where the break in occurred. </li>
<li>After speaking to the detective that was assigned to our case, he informed me that our type of windows were susceptible to easy break-ins. With a simple credit card, or thin sheet metal, the latch on the bottom of the window could be jarred, thus allowing easy entry. Our solution to this problem was window braces. In fact, I have now installed window braces on all of our windows, and they are secured in the tracks. Additionally, I added some low cost window locks that fit in the tracks, and we've installed some inexpensive window alarms.</li>
<li>We don't alert anyone of our leaving anymore. Forget telling everyone of Facebook or Twitter! </li>
<li>Lastly, we have decided to protect ourselves from future break-ins, if they should occur while we are home, by purchasing firearms. Though we have made this decision, we are also trained in how to use them and consider ourselves to be very safe. Each of our weapons are readily accessible while we are home, and locked while we are away. Also, there are no small children in my home, so that is not a worry of ours.</li>
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So there you have part one of this multi-post series. Obviously, this is a basic list of steps that we've taken for home security purposes. Perhaps you've considered all of them; maybe not. Again, please feel free to make any other suggestions or comments. Sonny Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318371099692289074noreply@blogger.com0