Panola Mountain State Park

A new year is upon us and I had to work the night before in the nameless county with the strange folks.  They were quiet for the most part and I was able to get a few hours sleep.  After clocking out, cleaning up, I was roaring Moreland bound to grab needed paraphernalia, Pork Chop, and head to meet up with the Newnan Hiking Club at Panola Mountain State Park for the New Year’s Day Hike.  I got home in plenty of time and did a little needed maintenance on the bike before heading off.  Then it was gathering up the hiking gear, suiting up, and sally forthing; except for the fact that I couldn’t find my blasted hiking shoes.  After looking around longer for them than I should have, I made the decision to hike in my work boots and grabbed an extra pair of socks.  By my reckoning I should meet up with the group at 11:30 local for a 12:00 hike.  The Hike will be one with a guide into the mountain delicate ecological features, (you got to have gone there to find out what these features are since I have as yet to find a website that will actually list them).

The weather was clear and the air crisp.  I first had to stop and fuel then I headed towards Griffin by way of GA 16.  Minimum traffic and the ride was great.  I met the occasional rider that braved the cold and we would acknowledge each other with the customary low had wave.  I made Griffin at 10:45 and had more than enough time to transverse the highway north.  Once I enter into McDonough I became vigilant because GA 155 will cut off left or right with hardly any notice.  It was in McDonough that I started to come upon the riding clubs that were taking advantage of the gorgeous weather.  The first group I met must had confused the car in front of me into thinking they were a funeral procession.  That car whipped over to the side of the road, post haste, and I had to whip around it.  The first riders of this club saw what had happen and they were all smiles as we passed.  It was shortly after that when I came upon the second group, it was at an intersection.  My timing was just right and I didn’t have to stop for the light but the group was just starting up and their hands were busy with throttles and clutches so I received a bunch of nods in answer to my wave.

From there the road was open and I open Pork Chop up.  For a while the ride was great but I started realizing that I should have come upon the park by now.  Then I notice that I crossed the Butts Co line.  Is Butts Co. on the way?  I don’t think so.  Then I saw the highway marker that told me I was on GA 20.  NOPE!  I ain’t heading right.  I found a spot to turn around and as soon as I started to back track Pork Chop started to lurch.  What now?  This didn’t feel like any of the previous problems but I’ve gained the smerts enough to not think about the fuel filter being clogged.  I swear, I’ll have rebuilt Pork Chop 10 times over, replaced everything, and still have the original fuel filter. 

I found a spot to pull over, got the tools out and started to inspect.  I found nothing.  Actually I did find where one of the rubber covers on the sparkplug boot had rode up, maybe a 1/4 in.  I reseated it and wonder if I should continue on or head home.  Lets see if the problem still persist. 

I remounted and rode with no more problem.  I could have solved the problem but since correlation doesn’t always equaled causation I wasn’t convinced.  But Pork Chop was running right so a mental note was made to have it checked out at a later time.  Soon I was able to make my way over to GA 155 and I was headed northward again.  I believe that where I met the second group is where I made my navigational error but I didn’t backtrack that far to find out.

I made Panola Mountain State Park and 12:30.  The hike had started and I knew that if I was going to have to wait until another group was ready to make the hike with a guide.  Phooey!

This is when I realize how hangry I was and that I had also forgotten my lunch.  Thankfully my head is attached to my shoulders.  I parked Pork Chop near the front gate and then I got off and took some pictures, and a couple with Pork Chop near the gate to show that yes, I made it; although late.  I then headed south to a McDonald’s to partake of their free Wi-Fi and temp fate again with one of their coronary specials.  While looking over a map of the area at the McDonald’s I realize that I was only about 10 miles from the Monastery of the Holy Ghost in Conyers.  I had not been there in a long while; since Teresa’s death to be exact.  Well, to keep this from being a wasted trip I was going to visit the monastery. 

I soon found myself on GA 138 and I found the intersection of GA 212.  There is a Publix’s Shopping Center at that intersection now.  hmmm.

I turned south and I went by a trailhead for the Rockdale River Walk.  It is a Path Foundation trail that is multifunctional.  As long as your mode of transportation on it isn’t motorize then it’s allowed.  I realize that the trail was following the highway south and as I came to the entrance to the monastery the trail actually crossed the old magnolia lane.  The gate was closed, and a sigh pointed south saying, “Monastery”.  It has been a while.

I headed about a 1/4 mile south and there was another trailhead and the entrance to the monastery.  I sat there at the entrance for a moment staring.  The new entrance ran to the area where the old barns were that was where the monks housed themselves in the 1920 while they built the monastery proper.  The old barns have been refurbished.  They were now a Heritage Center for the monastery, along with what looked like a nursery, and a book/gift store with a café.  It would seem that the monks has been prosperous.  I wonder if this prosperity is at the cost of piety.  

Everything was closed.  It is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and therefore these “business” should be closed.  I walked around this area for a moment or two looking in windows.  I notice that there was a walk way that lead back to the monastery proper so, I transverse this.  The walk way led to the entrance to the old gate house, which was closed and the old lane that use to come up to the gatehouse had been torn up, replaced with grass and the walkway.  Progress.

I walked around to the entrance to the nave and the door was open.  I made my way quietly inside but since this nave is made from native marble with excellent acrostics, being silent is relative speaking.  I’m sure I heard a mouse phart or two while I was in there but for the most part it was quiet.  I knelt and visited, something I haven’t done in a long time.  Soon I realize that dusk was going to be fastly approaching and so I left.  I felt a renewal that I haven’t felt in a while and I lingered on the grounds while I enjoyed this new tranquility.  I visited the pond where some of the Canadian Geese decided to be photogenic, until they realize I had no food for them, then they went their way.  One of the feral cats struck a pose for me for a few shots and seem to say that unlike the geese he wouldn’t stoop so low as to suggest payment.

I made my way back from the pond to Pork Chop, suited up, and headed home.  I chose my route to be GA 138 to Riverdale, then GA 54 back to the house.  The only thing notable was where GA 54 turns off of Tara Blvd there was a wreck a short way pass the Fayette Co. line.  Both lanes were blocked and since this was mostly swamp area at one time I decided that trying to make my way around it was not optimal.  So, I cut Pork Chop off and awaited.  About 1/2 hour later they started to let traffic flow.  From there it was an easy ride back to the abode and I arrived just as the sprinkling started.

All-n-all, not a bad day.