I arrived at the Holiday COE campground on West Point Lake yesterday with the help of ‘Jack-in-the-Box’ (my GPS) and the directions from the lady at the Georgia Welcome Center. So today I decided to visit one of the other COE campgrounds on the lake and the Visitor’s Center. I decided I didn’t need Jack since I’d already driven these roads…big mistake!
I eventually found the campground I was looking for. Fellow bloggers will be staying there a night or two, so I wanted to see how their accommodations compared to mine. The R. Shaefer Heard campground is closer to things I want to visit in the area by about 20 miles. Despite the extra mileage, I’m happy with where I am at. Many of the sites there were closer together and the back in to the sites had very steep downward grades.
After taking a drive around, I headed for the visitor’s center where I enjoyed all of the displays and watched a five minute movie. Then I had to take the obligatory drive across the dam built by the Army Corps of Engineers in the early sixties. There are an unbelievable number of parks and recreation areas along the lake that the COE manages.
They have also brought back breeding ospreys to the area by providing hacking stations and nest platforms. I believe there was a young chic in front of and under this adult osprey.
It was at this point that I decided to head back to the rig. As often happens, I turned the wrong way and eventually ended up back in Alabama! Yikes! I found I-65 and headed to exit 2 which after about 30 miles took me back to the rig, I thought. Well, I missed the turn for the campground and ended up in Alabama for a second time today! Egad, I guess I’d better never leave home without Jack around here.
I spent the rest of the afternoon perusing all of the pamphlets I got at the Georgia Welcome Center yesterday to see what I might want to visit tomorrow. I think I’ve whittled it down to either the Calloway Gardens or Warm Springs where FDR had his hide away White House.
After setting up my gas grill and cooking supper, I brought out my computer to the picnic table and began to assemble this post. That’s the first time I’ve ever done that outside; probably due to the fact that I have great internet reception for my air card without needing the Wilson antenna and amplifier. 
It also allowed me to grab the camera and hop down behind my site to try to get a nice sunset picture. While I was waiting for the sun to make its exit, a river otter swam right past where I was standing near the water’s edge. Cool Beans!
What better way to end an interesting day in Georgia (and Alabama 
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
Glad you found your way back home! we were driving around our own city today using the Android Navigator to get used to it. We had to buy a small Droid speaker because it is hard to hear the phone speaker inside the Alfa. we have a lot of air noise!
ReplyDeleteThe Navigator took us around several blocks that were not necessary! I still will look at paper maps for a long time befor I trust these devices!
That was hysterical. And I've done the same thing. So sure I knew where I was going and hours later still not be there. In DC I wanted to go to the mall out in Maryland. Ended up down on Pennsylvania Avenue in DC and no idea how to get back to Maryland. Loved the picture of the otter and osprey. The sunset looks pretty good too.
ReplyDeleteWe have grown to rely on our GPS so much. We used to watch where we were driving, remember landmarks as went along. Now we just listen and do what the voice tells us. Not good!
ReplyDeleteThere goes the fuel budget for the month;) i am addicted to the Gps and never leave without it.
ReplyDeleteOr as we like to say when we realize our mistake and have to turn around: You can't get there from here.
ReplyDeleteToday I "accidentally" made a U-turn at a busy urban No-U-turn intersection, and as I zipped away, I said out loud to nobody in particular, "Sorry, I ain't from around here!" That's when Jimmy plugged in our Nuvi! You could use that excuse, too....
Beautiful sunset pics...... Love it when you can sit out in the beauty and play!!
ReplyDeleteDid you say to yourself "Recalculating?"
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunset pictures. I don't trust myself driving around without the GPS and/or written directions.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous sunset. That is a beautiful site you have.
ReplyDeleteOMG, Judy. What glorious sunset pictures! You always amaze us by outdoing yourself. Ann
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunset picture!!!
ReplyDeleteReally outstanding photos tonight. Loved the bird in the nest and the scenic pictures as well. Hey, you made it home; that's all that counts.
ReplyDeletehttp://travelinglongdogs.blogspot.com/
Spectacular photos! I didn't realize you were so close to Callaway Gardens. My mom raved about it and told me I had to go whenever I get down that way again. But FDR's home sounds really interesting too....Good think you'll be there a while and can do both!
ReplyDeleteWell welcome back to Alabama if only for a few minutes. lol I did something like that several years ago when I was working and had to attend a seminar in Georgia. That was before gps...I kept missing the turns, rode around way too long and was still lost after stopping twice to ask for directions. I do LOVE my gps, told my husband it made me feel empowered. lol Ur pics are gorgeous as usual. Hope u enjoy the gardens, they are wonderful this time of year...nice anytime but not so hot right now. Hope u get to do both trips.
ReplyDeleteBoth Callaway Gardens and FDR's place are worthy of a visit. The flowers at Callaway can be awesome (depends, of course, on what's blooming), but being sort of a history nut, I'd go to FDR.
ReplyDeleteLove the sunset pics.
Well, you can be lost even with the GPS ... I remember one time when it just couldn't get me where I needed to go. Mui thought I was nuts until he drove my car to the place and got all the weird instructions for non-exiting roads and turns :-) Beautiful sunset.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunsets! I love working on the computer outside (or doing just about anything outside) especially with such lovely views. So glad you found your way 'home'!
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is "geographically challanged", I NEVER go anywhere without TWO Gps systems. I always have my Droid as well as the regular gps. A girl just can't be too careful. :)
ReplyDeleteLoved the sunset pictures and that you got to sit outside with that beautiful view and post your blog.
Before the GPS, (I call mine Moses, always wandering around) we got lost lots, I always loved being lost, especially when we didn't have to be some where at a certain time. We have found the neatest things on those unknown roads. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteBeen there...done that. It is so easy to get turned around. My Droid phone is such a life saver. It may be a phone but it rarely gets used for that purpose.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunset photos. Enjoy your stay.
Beautiful Sunset. We use our Garmin but also keep an old fashion map with us when we are traveling.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see I'm not the only one who gets lost on occasion. But, by a whole State...???
ReplyDeleteOh heavens, I can get turned around in my own campground. I am what they call directionally challenged and Garmina is pretty much no help. I swear that GPS takes me miles out of the way to get me to where I want to go and that's when she can get me there. I've asked her to take me to a place one block away and her directions take me 6 blocks out of the way. I don't trust em.
ReplyDeleteBut your pictures are always beautiful. That I trust!!
Wow, beautiful sunset photo!
ReplyDeleteI NEVER leave anywhere without my GPS. When I was at Santee Lakes for the 30 days at the beginning of the year, my son let me use the car I sold him when I left. I immediately put my GPS in it. I have NO sense of direction and couldn't be doing this full-time thing very well without one. Other than my computer, it's my most necessary gadget. :)
We have TWO GPS! Just in case! Oh, and we also carry several maps. With all that we still get lost sometimes! lol I am finding it much easier to keep my directions straight up here in ND. I got very turned around in southern Missouri which isn't at all the norm for me.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a little slice of heaven in this campground you've found. And got internet access, too! That really is cool beans. :c)
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should wear that GPS for a necklace...Love, love, LOVE those photos tonight...especially the one with the river otter...
ReplyDeleteLove the sunset photos!!
ReplyDeleteI used to be able to find anything on a sunny day, by using the sun's position in the sky. I have not done that since we bought Garmie....not a good thing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and yes you can get lost with a GPS
ReplyDelete