Apologies for the absence

Hi Everyone,

There were some drastic changes in my life this year. My favorite tubby cat passed away after a brief, tragic illness earlier this year. She died a year and two months after he sister died, probably from the same illness. Depression set in immediately and, out of concern for my well being, I decided to move in with my father and step mother impulsively.

Unfortunately, this move took me far from any state parks.

In addition, the phone I'd been using for photographs and recordings decided to stop working.

I have managed to go to a few more parks since the move such as F. D. Roosevelt, Georgia Veterans, George Bagby, and Kolomoki Mounds. With luck, I will be able to retrieve a few photos from each of these to post.

I won't be able to complete my personal challenge of visiting every state park this year, but I hope to visit the ones I have yet to go to in 2020.

As usual, I will go hiking on Christmas Day for my birthday.

I also plan to do another First Day hike next year. Perhaps Smithgall Woods again. That was a really nice place.

I also hope to get some bug screens for the 4Runner soon so I can camp in my car.

June 1 - Arabia Mountain vs the Nikon 3200

I lucked into being able to borrow a DSLR camera from my father for the trip to Arabia Mountain. While we were at the top and taking a moment to look around, I decided to take a few photos with it. For some reason, even though I had it set to Auto, all of the photos look blasted with too much light! I have no idea what happened or how to fix it.

Compare this to the photo I took with my phone below. It was bright out... but not THIS bright.

June 1 - A Threefer! Arabia Mountain, Panola Mountain 12/47, and a Monastery

I wanted to get to a park for National Trails Day and my daughter suggested we check out Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area since it wasn't terribly far from her house. We also stuck our heads in Panola Mountain State Park, since it was just up the road, as well as the Monastery of the Holy Spirit cause why not?

Arabia Mountain was frankly strange, a lower version of Stone Mountain with nary a vistor's center or gift shop within view. It was tough to tell even where to park! We found our way to the Nature Center and walked to the 'start' of the 'trail' up the mountain. The 'trail' is kind of a "Choose Your Own Adventure" where the permanent cairns that mark where to go are "more like guidelines". We pretty much had the place to ourselves Saturday, which was nice. Weather wasn't too bad, sunny and hot with a nice breeze.

The mountain itself was a moon scape of weathered granite with occasional 'shallows' that had scrub plants growing in them.

Panola, it turns out, is the location of the Parks and Historic Sites headquarters. I thought that was neat. The only way up the mountain itself is with a guided hike, which was a bit disappointing, but the surrounding area was very nice and wooded and apparently quite popular.

The Monastery is impressive. We poked around a bit and visited the shops, museum, and small bonsai garden they have. We looooved the bonsai and felt very inspired! Our favorites were the boxwood bonsai.

May 5 - Woofstock!

My daughter and I love going to local festivals and our favorite one is the great doggie festival held in Gwinett County, Woofstock! It's loads of fun with a lure course set up, dock diving dog competitions, and agility exhibitions, not to mention contests! Another great thing is that the vast majority of the merchant booths there are for local animal charities and I love to support as many as I can. I basically go to give a bit of money away for good causes! Good times, great fun, tons of happy doggos, and good causes! What could be better?

We all grinned like fools the entire time we were there and left feeling even happier. Some day I hope to have a rescue doggo of my own. Until then, there's Woofstock!

April 28 - Moccasin Creek 11/47

I decided to go up to Moccasin Creek State Park having forgotten everything about it from last time. Got there and went, "Oh right, this place." It's the oddest park, being little more than an RV campground and fish hatchery on Lake Burton. Here's the thing, if you wanna go hiking at Moccasin Creek, you actually have to leave the park.

But Hemlock Falls is worth it.

The trail is across the highway on USFS land. The first 1/4 to 1/3 of the trail is... unfortunate. Garbage is everywhere. People camp where they like. And flies, at least when I went, were in abundance. Once you get past the yuck part, the trail becomes a real gem.

 This snake was so still, I feared he was dead! But he was more afraid of me than I was of him.

 Not sure on the type of snake here. I didn't hang around to find out and neither did he.

 The CCC ruins are barely there. I can only guess where the buildings were placed in the clearings.