Day 2 - Carefree Sams Invade the 2017 Spring Alabama Good Sam Rally

Our better halves were all ready to go … well in advance of our 9 am planned departure! We are some very lucky ladies to have these guys with us!

We left A Stone’s Throw RV Park, in Lamont Florida and continued to head north on Route 19. Route 19 is also called the Florida – Georgia Parkway. Monticello is just 7 miles up the road from where we spent the night. 

Monticello Vineyards & Winery is a small Florida farm winery located on the 50-acre farm of Ladybird Organics. Situated in the Red Hills of Jefferson County, Florida, the winery features wines made from organic Muscadine grapes. The farm and all vineyards are USDA certified organic. There are over 18 different varieties of Muscadine grapes grown here. Small batches of hand-crafted wines are manufactured, reflecting the unique soils and sunshine of each vintage year and the holistic organic farming system used on the farm. We need to try this, we had some delicious Muscadine wine that was made in Dillard Georgia, last year.

Monticello is "A Main Street Community" and proud of it. At the very center of the city, in the center of a traffic circle, is the beautiful and historic Jefferson County Courthouse, which is depicted on the welcome sign. Nestled among the tree lined streets of Monticello are many antebellum homes which provide a unique look and feel to the city. During the depression of the 1930s, many of the residents of Monticello could not afford to build new homes and the houses were renovated or restored. Today, these homes offer tourists a rare glimpse of the original architectural styles which prevailed in the south prior to the civil war.

The Jefferson County Confederate Memorial is located in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse in historic downtown Monticello. This Confederate Civil War memorial was erected in 1899. It consists of an obelisk with a draped flag, a common type of Civil War memorial motif in the South. The inscription set into stone is an eloquent statement of the need to evoke the justness of the lost cause to guarantee that southern deaths were not in vain. It reads “Let this testimonial of woman's deathless fidelity to man's imperishable valor speak to the sons and daughters of this southland for all time to come. Let this mute but eloquent marble, testify to the enduring hardness of that living human wall of Florida soldiery that stood during four long years of pitiless war – a barrier between our homes and an invading foe. Let the young southern, as he gazes upon this shaft, remember how gloriously Florida's sons illustrated their sunny land on the red fields of carnage, and how woman -- fair and faithful -- freshens the glory of their fame."

Crossing from Florida into Georgia on Route 19, is nothing special. There is a small sign welcoming you to Georgia. Nothing like the grandiose welcome signs you find on the interstates.

In Thomasville, the Chinquapin Plantation can be found. It was originally established by philanthropist John F. Archbold, heir to the Standard Oil fortune, this estate was built as a testament to the wealth created during the industrial era. Chinquapin’s name is derived from the American chinkapin, a species of chestnut native to the United States, and more specifically Georgia. Chinquapin is located in the world famous Red Hills Plantation Belt in the most prestigious of neighborhoods. It is located on a bluff overlooking the Ochlocknee River, the main house alone is nearly 18,000 square feet. In 1910, Mr. Archbold built the house as a winter retreat where he could focus on writing and painting. Just as importantly, this plantation has some of the last remaining examples of pre-Columbian untouched hardwood and pine bottoms as any property still in private hands today. For the last thirty years, Alexandra Kauka and the late Rolf Kauka improved and restored this well-adorned estate and were stewards of the vast untouched timber stands. Today, their wildlife program has received accolades and they have received numerous awards. Chinquapin was purchased by Rolf and Alexandra Kauka in 1982. Described as the "Walt Disney of Europe," Mr. Kauka was a German artist, writer, publisher and most famously known for his characters, Fix & Foxi.  They came to Thomasville for the warmer climate and a retreat. They fell in love with Chinquapin Plantation because it reminded them of their country estate in Germany. 

Outside of Thomasville, we turned west onto US 84, it is also known as Wiregrass Georgia Parkway. Along US 84, we passed Pecan Orchards, where the leaves were budding. I love the sight of pecan orchards in any state.

Whigham Georgia is home to the Trout Lily, it is even depicted on thier banners in downtown. You can see them at the Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve. It is a 140 acre conservation area owned by Grady County. The previous owners were the Flint River Timber Company.  Established in 2009 through the efforts of volunteers from the Magnolia Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, it is destined to remain forever undisturbed from human development, protecting the many acres and literally tens of millions of beautiful yellow and maroon dimpled trout lilies and thousands of maroon spotted trillium. This is the largest extent of these trout lilies known anywhere in the world, and certainly a jewel of Grady County! What are trout lilies? How did these plants come to be there?  They are usually found in the Appalachian Mountains.  The theory is that they migrated from the mountains probably tens of thousands of years ago.  When the last ice age receded they were left in some spots in southwest Georgia and north Florida, east of the Chattahoochee, Flint, and Apalachicola Rivers.  Apparently the Wolf Creek spot is just right for them - a north facing slope of just the right angle, a hardwood forest with dappled sunlight in the winter, soils of just the right type and depth before underlying clay.  Whatever the reasons, they prospered at the site. It is definitely a photographer's paradise!

Climax Georgia is home of the Swine Time Festival. It is held on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. There are thousands who attend this event, annually. All activities are geared to family entertainment. Three stage locations with entertainment throughout the day. The contests and events include best dressed pig, corn shucking, hog calling, eating chitterlings (a prepared food made from the small intestines of a pig), pig racing, syrup making, baby crawling and the greased pig chase. You can walk through the historic Log Cabin, depot, old courthouse, school and original voting precincts. There are hundreds of booths featuring arts, exhibits, crafts and food.

Photo Credit: Alan Cressler

Crossed the Flint River in Bainbridge Georgia. Crossing the river gave us a glimpse of beautiful water lilies.

Yesterday, we came upon an accident along Route 19 and today, we came upon an overturned tractor trailer. It just shows that we all need to be alert and cautious drivers.

The Georgia Alabama state line is created by the Chattahoochee River. The railroad ran parallel to US 84, for much of this portion of our trip. Crossing this bridge gave us an awesome view of the railroad tressle.

US 84 is part of the El Camino East / West Corridor. What is now known as the El Camino East/West Corridor Commission was created in 1989 and is composed of interested parties from TX, LA, MS, AL and GA who are dedicated to the four-laning of U. S. Highway 84 from Brunswick, GA, to El Paso, TX. The El Camino East/West Corridor is a 1,729-mile roadway named for El Camino Real, or “The King’s Highway” in Spanish, and was named for the historic trail it duplicates. El Camino started as an Indian trail, this is the route that our forefathers traveled to settle this country. This roadway extends through the heartland of the Old South, crossing forty-eight counties and six parishes.

When we arrived in Dothan, AL, we stopped at the Flying J to gas up, before heading to the Peanut Festival Grounds. We all safely arrived at the Rally site and got set up on our sites. Now, let the Rally fun begin!