Day 45 - Stone Mountain to South Madison, Georgia

Well, after the fairytale day we had yesterday (photo left), today has turned out to be pretty gray and soggy. You may remember that we promised the ticket-taker at the Davis-Dickey plantation at Stone Mountain that we'd be back to pay our entrance fee today since she let us in for an hour yesterday to take photos without insisting that we pay. So, even though it was gray when we woke up this morning, and then proceeded to rain, we naturally intended to honor our promise and make our appearance at the appointed hour to continue our tour, this time as paying guests.

We arrived a little early for the 11:00 a.m. opening, but waited patiently in the RV, listening to our latest murder mystery, until they opened the gates. Soon after, umbrella in hand, we could be found sloshing around the grounds, going from building to building, to finish our tour. For the most part we were alone. We hadn't even seen any employees except a young ticket person.

In fact, we were hoping to see our benefactor from yesterday so that she could see first hand that we had honored our pledge to return. But she didn't seem to be around.

Undaunted, we started with the plantation house and worked our way from there to the separate outdoor kitchen building, the slave quarters, the barn, the doctor's log cabin, and several other structures, taking our photos, and reading all the historical sketches for the buildings, as well as for each and every room.

We were very lucky that we had been allowed to do our photography yesterday, because if we had waited to do the outdoor shots today we would have been very disappointed. As it was, the weather proved perfect for doing inside shots as the light through the various windows was very diffused.

Just before noon we arrived at our last building on the plantation grounds. As we were making ready to leave, we finally spotted our ticket-taker lady from yesterday who had so kindly let us explore for an hour without paying. We waved at her from across the grounds. She waved back, then realizing who we were, started moving briskly toward us. We altered course and met her halfway near the separate kitchen building. The clerk - her name was Barbara - was so happy to see us that we each got a hug and a hearty invitation to step into the kitchen and she would give us a rundown on all the various gadgets on display there.

What followed was very spirited discussion of vintage kitchen utensils and farm life in general that left all three of us smiling and laughing and having a grand time. Outside the rain bounced briskly off the pavement and dripped heavily from the trees, but inside we were toasty and light-hearted and on our way to making a new friend. In the meantime I took several photos of Barbara and her kitchen equipment.

Before we left to make our way to the entrance shack where we intended to buy more of the Georgia-made jam, we gave Barbara one of our "traveling" cards and told her to email us if she wanted a couple of photos of herself and the kitchen gear. I hope we hear from her as both Concetta and I like her a lot.

Around 12:45 we rolled out of Stone Mountain and headed for points east. Our destination, at least at the outset, was going to be Augusta, Georgia, but as I type this we're sitting in a rustic RV park in a little berg known as South Madison. We're not sure just how far we came this afternoon, but it wasn't very far. By the time we had stopped for groceries and navigated mostly city streets before we got to Interstate 20, it was getting late, the rain had not abated, and I had not seen any promising RV resorts in the guidebooks. So when we saw references to "Country Boy's RV Park" on the side of the highway, we decided to do the smart thing and pack it in for the day. One of my least favorite things to do is set up an RV in the dark AND the rain. And by the look of the sky, I seemed destined to do both.

So here we sit, playing on the computers, listening to the patter of rain on the RV roof, and hoping that come tomorrow it will be nicer. But the one thing you quickly come to realize in this gypsy lifestyle we've embraced is that nature doesn't give a darn about your comfort. You just have to take the weather as it comes.

Our overall destination for the next couple of days is Charleston, South Carolina. According to folks we've met along there road, Charleston is one of America's most beautiful cities. Neither of us have been in either of the Carolinas, so this part of the adventure is bound to be new and different. I'd also like to see Fort Sumpter if that can be arranged and a place to park the RV is provided.

For now we're just going to listen to the rain, study our maps and guidebooks, and have a nice cup of tea. Cheers!