Cabin Fever Part 2

After leaving the Micky D's on the Manchester Expressway, I made my way over to Flat Rock Park.  I believe this was the first time I actually stepped foot in this park in over 40 years.  I stopped at one of the kiosks and saw that the park has nearly 9 miles of trails, but they seem to be of the multi-use type.  I did find one of the small pavilion that was empty and out of the way and laid down for a nap.  That was a good nap.

A little after noon I was on the move again and headed towards the Standing Boy Creek Park off of Old River Road of of Ga 219.  The Web give very little information on it but this is a State Park that is set aside for hunters.  No swimming, it's butts against Lake Harding, nor camping allowed.  I don't believe any marked trails exist.

I retracted to Ga 219 and headed north and then at the turn off for Goat Rock Rd I took Ga 315 north into Cataula.  US 27 north was my highway then until Hamilton, Ga.  Just south of Hamilton where the High School is, I had arrived in time for the Running of the School Busses.  We are not talking one or two busses or even a dozen but several dozen school busses that are let out at the same time.  It was a sight to see, along with those who were being held up gathering together to share stories and substance while this phenomenon was being played out.  It restores ones faith in their fellow man.

So, after that spectacle was finally run out, I continued northward and stopped at the Circle K to fill up.  From there I headed east on Ga 166 and keeping my eyeballs peeled I picked up Ga 354 at Pine Mountain Valley.  (Incase any of my readers are wondering; No!  I didn't have a plan.  Every road was chosen from a whim and a desired to see where it lead.)  Ga354 has a very interesting switchback at King's Gap, something one doesn't expect on a low ridge like Pine Mountain.  I continued into the town of Pine Mountain to the corner of Ga 354 and US 27 to a small town mall, (the type that has a convenance store, couple of restaurants, and a few small shops all in the same building) where I got refreshments.  I set there for quite a while trying to make a decision of going to Dowdell's Knob to camp for the night or head on home.

The I remembered I had lab finals on Thursday.  These finals were basically skills based.  Either I had the skills or not.  But still I needed a good night sleep to tackle it.  A dash from Dowdell's Knob to home and then to Opelika wasn't what I considered optima.  Time to head homeward.

 I headed back on GA 354 back to King's Gap and continued passed the switch-back on King's Gap Rd.  This was a lovely ride to Shiloh, Ga where I picked up Alt 85 North.  On the south side of Warm Springs where the 15% grade is I just took it in third gear into the town and pulled up to the light at the "intersection" with very little applying of the breaks.  An onlooker may think I knew what I was doing.  If they only knew.

From Warm Springs I continued north until the intersection of Ga 109 and Alt Ga  outside of Woodbury, (notice that I am avoiding the revenuers in Greenville like the plague) and stopped at Smithy's Cafe where I got some whole catfish that would make yo' slap yo' mama (for those that are not into Southern dictum; understand I am not advocating violence against your mother,  the catfish is really, very good).  With a full belly I headed northward again.

I caught GA 85 just north of Woodbury and then only a little north of that was a turn off for the Red Oak Covered Bridge in Imlac.  I went the few miles down that road until I came to the bridge.

 Reading the Historical Marker there I learned that the great Horace King was the builder and that this was the last standing bridge structure of his.  Read more about him here:  

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_King_(architect)

Coming back with my camera is in order.

Next it was a breeze through Gay and then catching the Luthersville Rd. I, first through Luthersville, was able to roar into Moreland with a couple of hours of light to spare.  A welcome sight was to see that Lenward had been by and cut the grass.  I slopped Socks, who acted indignant that I wasn't there that morning to slop him, and then fell to sleep.  I was tired.

It was a little after 9 when I awoke and stabled Pork Chop, only to return to bed and rest myself for the impending Lab Test. 

Good Night to all.