Day 10 - Savannah and beyond - A Two Lane Adventure

Tuesday 19 March 2019

Today was our day to explore Macon. We drove toward downtown Macon and passed a few brightly colored bear statues. I learned that these bears have decorated Macon parks for the past seven years. It was a public art project, called “Bear Trail.” “Ocmulgee Bear” across from Washington Memorial Library, near the sidewalk atop Washington Park and “Stamp Bear” is in Washington Park across from the Post Office.

Speaking of Washington Park, Mayor JHR Washington’s home sat on the current site of Washington Memorial Library. He always envisioned a park across the street that was in 1851. Four decades later, the property was officially named Washington Park. Before, it was informally known as the “Wesleyan Slide.” They dug out dirt for building and construction projects and so forth. I guess just because it was available and it was vacant. This created the park’s bowl shape. By 1915, they had put up a side railing but there were still no trees or plants. In the 1930s, the Works Project Administration took over and created most of what Washington Park is now.

We toured the Cannonball House with a bus tour from Tennessee. The Cannonball House? Yes, that is what it is known for. The house was struck by a cannonball during a Union Army attack by General George Stoneman’s Raid on July 30, 1864. It is an authentic Greek revival architecture built in 1853. It was the town home of Judge Asa Holt and his wife.

One hundred years later, the United Daughters of the Confederacy purchased the home, along with its original two-story brick kitchen and servants quarters. This purchase saved the historic home from destruction. The two-story kitchen was actually the original dining room too.

The house is also the repository for the Founders’ parlors of the Adelphean and Philomathean societies, recreated from Wesleyan College, where they began in 1851 and 1852.

The second story of the home featured two bedrooms and a sitting area at the top of the stairs with a fainting sofa.

 

The back yard features charming English gardens featuring seasonal blooms, a sundial, wrought iron gates and fences.

There is a courtyard in the backyard. It used to be part of the balcony of the old union depot. It is where Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, stood on his visit to Macon in 1887.

We tried to tour the Hay House, but it was locked. Maybe the only person on duty, was taking visitors on a tour? The home itself was huge! We were told that the interior is spectacular.

We drove around looking at the old homes, before we headed to lunch.

The Rookery was recommended by a Macon local for a meal, while we were in town. We decide on lunch. During an era that saw Jimmy Carter ascend to the White House and Macon’s own Capricorn Records release hit after hit making music history, the Rookery was just being born. Today the Rookery bustles on, serving Allman Burgers and Jimmy Carter shakes to Maconites and travelers from far and wide.

The Rookery was voted Best Burger in town and featured in Garden and Gun’s “Guide to the South’s best Burgers 2014.” It was only 11:30 and the Rookery’s dining area and the bar are already bustling with patrons. Other noteworthy food features are the onion rings, hand-cut fries, milkshakes, and extensive craft beer list.

Most of us had the infamous burgers. The Rookery Burger, a double stack burger of your choice, American cheese, sautéed onion, dill pickles, mustard, and Coca-Cola ketchup. Walter had the Jimmy Carter burger, a burger of your choice with peanut butter and applewood smoked bacon. It came with a side of jelly that Walter added to his burger.

Charlie ordered the Pot Roast. He said it was delicious. The restaurant is in an old building downtown and it was just like an old house … the table we sat at was freezing and the table Walter, Betty, Bill and Debbie were at was very warm! There was a large table outside the front door, which would have been awesome to sit at, if it was a little bit warmer outside!

Sandy and I took a walk around the park. We found the Butterfly Garden, it is a bit early for the flowers, thus no butterflies.

We did find the purple bloomed vine, we have seen all over Georgia! I am thinking it is purple wisteria. But that is my best guess!

We have been camped by the lake, but we finally found the road sign leading us to the lake, by the road anyway!

I am sure this is some kind of root, but Sandy and I debated that it might be alive … LOL …. Your imagination is a very powerful thing!

We saw two of these little guys run across the road in front of us. Then they scampered into the tall hedge row. I am not sure if he is one of the birds we saw, but he is the same size and color. I had to google him. He is a brown thrasher, the state bird of Georgia.

The brown thrasher is a bird in the family Mimidae, which also includes mockingbirds. The bird is a large-sized thrasher. The brown thrasher is noted for having over 1000 song types, and the largest song repertoire of birds. However, each note is usually repeated in two or three phrases.

Naturally, we had to have a campfire … but since they sky is clear … it was going to get cold tonight, so we had it in the early evening, before the sun went down! Nothing beats a campfire with friends!

Sunset on this lake is pretty, but does not beat the sunsets we have at home!

On Wednesday, we meet up with 7 other rigs from our Carefree Sams camping chapter!