Land Travel Ending
After 46 days our land travel will come to an end. The RV will be delivered to its winter home on October 23rd. Without thinking, we have referred to it as the “boat” multiple times. It does feel like home, but now it is time to get back to the real “boat.”
The RV has given us many opportunities to enjoy different places and events. One Sunday morning, we visited the Martin Luther King Jr., National Historic Site and toured his boyhood home. Amidst the informative and historic legacy of Dr. King, we learned that Coretta Scott King was a trained and accomplished musician. It was very nice to learn more about her.
The RV has given us many opportunities to enjoy different places and events. One Sunday morning, we visited the Martin Luther King Jr., National Historic Site and toured his boyhood home. Amidst the informative and historic legacy of Dr. King, we learned that Coretta Scott King was a trained and accomplished musician. It was very nice to learn more about her.
In the afternoon, we went to the Carter Library and Center and came away with a renewed respect for the man and his many missions.
The following Sunday, we attended Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia to attend Jimmy Carter’s Sunday school class. Even though we arrived 2 hours early for church, there was a long line waiting in the rain. Despite our early attempt to get into the church, we were delegated to the overflow room where we would watch the lesson and service on TV. Time passed quickly as we chatted with the people sitting around us. The conversation abruptly ended when a voice greeted us with, “Good morning everyone.” Jimmy Carter causally entered the room unaccompanied. He spent about 10 minutes visiting with us. It all seemed so perfectly normal, but it wasn’t. The person chatting with us was the 39th President of our county. Yes, it was a pinch me moment. He taught a lesson that lasted for about 45 minutes, the topic was sexual behavior, cultural norms and religious beliefs. Very interesting to listen as President Carter reflected on the issue with references to his interview with Playboy magazine during his campaign for the Presidency! There was a short break and then the church service. We were amazed that after the service President and Rosalynn Carter stayed, while anyone who wanted could have their picture taken with them.
While in Georgia, at Andersonville, near the site of the Civil War prisoner of war camp we happened upon a Historic Fair and Civil War battle demonstration. In the afternoon the battle began. The Confederate troops marched up a hill and into a wooded area. After a bit, a Confederate flag could be seen peeking out of the trees and then came the soldiers. Their cannons fired several barrages at the Union troops. Gun smoke filled the air as the Union cannons returned fire. The gun smoke became thicker as everyone kept “firing” at each other. After almost an hour and several troop movements from both sides the Confederates were surrounded. We wondered how choreographed the battle was and how they decided who would die and who would surrender for that particular battle, since this was not a reenactment of an actual battle.
Later we went to the Andersonville National Historic Site and the National POW Museum. Leave it to the Park Service; the exhibit and movies educate and resonate in a humane and personal level. The following morning found us back at this Andersonville Historic Site. This time we took a half hour guided car tour of the Andersonville Prison site with narration from a CD. The narration helped us to visualize the camps structure as well as daily life for those imprisoned. The second half hour was a tour through the National Cemetery. 13,000 Union prisoners were buried in narrow graves marked with only a number. After the war Clara Barton assisted in putting names with the numbers. Andersonville National Cemetery is a moving tribute the thousands of young men from all of our country’s wars whose lives were cut short.
Another surprise was Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs, FL. Stephen Foster brought us Oh, Susanna, Camptown Races, and My Old Kentucky Home. This beautiful state park is a memorial to Stephen Foster. There is a museum that is dedicated to his life. As part of the exhibit, there are a number of dioramas each illustrating one of his songs. They were created in the 50’s and have many mechanical parts. Also the park has a 200 foot memorial carillon that chimes on the quarter hour and plays a repertory of songs by Foster 4 times a day. The park is appropriately located on the Suwannee River (Old Folks at Home, or better known by the lyric, “Way down upon the Suwannee River”.)
Suwanee River and Florida State Parks
The idea of the Suwannee River intrigued us so much that we took a 5 mile hike along its banks. Thank goodness the trail was marked with orange paint on trees because several times we lost the trail and had to back track. At one point while standing on a river embankment, we discovered an 8 or 9 foot alligator sunning itself. We paused long enough to get a couple of picture and hurried on down the trail. Two days later we rented a canoe and paddled for 8 miles down the Suwannee River admiring its beauty and keeping an eye peeled for our multi-toothed friend.
The RV was delivered to its winter home in Venice, Florida. We learned a great deal about the RV lifestyle and the answer to the question, “Will you sell the boat and get an RV?” is yet undecided!