2023 July 18-21, Trip to The Alpine Village of Helen, Georgia (4 days)

 Day 1: Tuesday, July 18:

We left home at about 6 A.M., stopping at Jack in Athens for biscuits and gravy. 

We continued through Huntsville, taking Hwy 72 toward Scottsboro through (hwy 35)Mento, crossing the Tennessee River,  to (Hwy 40) Hangar, Valley Head, and Mento, crossing into Georgia.

In Georgia, we traveled through Summerville, Rome, onto the I-75 bypass of Atlanta. We went through Cartersville, Marietta, taking 400 north, bypassing Atlanta to Dahlonega, Cleveland, and 75 to Helen.

We checked into the Castle Inn around 2:25 P.M. and carried all our luggage up two flights of stairs (there was no elevator).

We walked down the front of the hotel to the nearby Troll Tavern. The Tavern was along the Chattahoochee River, and a gate covered in locks weighed it down. A sign said no more locks and that all locks had to be removed, which made the gate unstable and unsafe. 

Troll Tavern with Gates full of locks 

While waiting for a table, we watched hundreds of people tubing down the Chattahoochee River on green, pink, and blue tubes.

We ordered a Reuben on toast with mashed potatoes and Diet Coke. They were short-staffed because there were many empty tables, and people were waiting to be served.

Reuben on toast with mashed potatoes

We walked around the town, and some of the places we saw were The Wooden Toys, Assay Station, Welcome to Wildwood, Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen, Wilkommen, Helen Hat, Grimm's Weg, Sock Store, Christmas & More, Christoff's Seventy-six, Helendof Inn, Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, Pepper Place, Dizzy Bear,  Cowboys and Angels, The Christmas Shop, just to name a few. 

Gone Squatchin in Helen 

It was a beautiful but very hot day, so we returned to the Castle Inn and rested until around 7 P.M. 

We left the Castle Inn and walked across the bridge, stopping for a picture at the Cafe International (head in the hole), the Mural of Helendof Inn. I continued walking past the Alpine Wedding Chapel, Fashall, where they played bingo. I saw the Pirates Cove Miniature Golf and Alpine Village Inn. 

I walked to Wendy's, where I had left Hubby, and he bought us a strawberry frosted drink and Diet Coke. 

We returned to our car and rode to Cleveland, stopping at the White County Courthouse to take pictures. 

Day 2: Wednesday, July 19:

Early in the morning, I took my journal onto the balcony and began writing. I watched as the town slowly came alive. I could hear the birds chirping in the distance and feel the cool breeze, and the sky was full of clouds. The only people I saw were early-morning workers. 

We were at the Waffle House when it opened at 8 A.M. I ordered three pecan pancakes with whipped cream and Diet Pepsi. Hubby ordered two eggs, sausage, three pancakes with gravy, biscuits, and hash browns.

We rode to the visitor's center, where they gave us a map of Helen and suggested places to visit. 

She said Anna Ruby Falls, Sautee General Store, Hardman's Farm & Indian Mound, and the Covered Bridge. 

We walked through Veterans Park, taking pictures of the park behind the Visitors Center. 

We rode to Unite State Park to see Anna Ruby Falls, but before we began climbing uphill to the falls, it began to sprinkle, so Hubby returned to the car for the umbrella. 

During our climb uphill, we had to stop several times to rest. Stone benches were along the path. 

It was getting slippery with all the light rain, but we finally made it. Hubby stopped just short of the falls. Hubby talked to a couple while I walked to the top. 

Anna Ruby Falls 

I ask a red-headed girl to take a picture of me standing before the waterfalls.

We also met a family of teenagers walking up the hill, and they passed us when we came down. Several people were visiting Anna Ruby Falls. 

Our next stop was Baby-land, The Cabbage Patch Doll Hospital. Baby cabbage patches were planted all around the hospital. When you walked inside, there were pictures of famous people on the walls. 

There were several different rooms with dolls and scenery, which was overwhelming.

Cabbage Patch Kids

Choosing which baby to adopt was hard, but I settled on Sandy Sue. 

Everyone crowded around to watch the birth & the storytelling of a baby boy Cabbage Patch Doll. 

Our next stop was the White County Courthouse Museum.

It had already closed the day before, so we rode back today. 

Several ladies were sitting around a table talking about being members of the Historical Society of White County. 

One of them told us the history of the museum. 

We could hear music coming from upstairs. There was a man in the Old Courtroom playing a fiddle.

I saw a replica of the Covered Bridge and asked questions about it and its location.

Our next stop was the Hardman Farm State Park. We had to park on the hill and walk down several flights of stairs to the Visitor Center, so Hubby did not want to walk around the farm. 

Hardman Farm Historic Site Sautee Nacoochee, Ga 

He bought me a ticket, and I took pictures of the building and historic markers.

I also met a couple of women taking pictures of markers to be read later. 

Hubby was in the car waiting for me at the bottom of the hill.

Next, we rode to Stovall Covered Bridge and Old Sautee General Store.

The Stovall Covered Bridge has been washed away three times. 

We stopped at Walgreens in Cleveland for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and health bars. 

We stopped at Nora Granary Mill, where we bought some stone mill cornmeal. 

We ate dinner at Wendy's, then went back to Castle Inn. (Hamburger and fries)

We watched the new Ghost Buster Movie.

I walked outside to talk to my daughter and to write in my journal. 

It had been a full day. 

Day 3: Thursday, July 20:  

We rode to McDonalds in Cleveland, bought a muffin with sausage, and Hubby ordered a big breakfast. 

Today, we rode to North Georgia Wildlife and Safari Park in Cleveland, GA. We walked through the petting zoo and then drove through the Safari, where we saw buffalo, Elk, Deer, Emu, Ostrich, camels, Zebra, and several small animals. 

I was not too impressed.

Next, we rode to Brasstown Bald Hiawassee, GA (the highest point in Georgia) and paid $8 to ride the shuttle van to the overlook and visitor center. 

It was too foggy to see very far, but we did enjoy the Visitor Center museum. 

Brasstown Bald Overlook and Visitor Center

In the museum, we saw several handmade quilts hanging on the walls.

We saw several different forest animals, a log with a saw, a train engine, displays, etc. 

Saw several barn Swallows and Gray Catbirds. 

We rode the shuttle bus back down the mountain. 

We stopped at Chick-fil-A in Cleveland for dinner. I ordered a kid's chicken finger meal with waffle fries and ice cream. 

It was raining when we returned to the Castle Inn. 

I sat outside on the balcony, listening to the band in the restaurant across the street. 

It was a stormy night, and very few people were outside. 

Day 4: Friday, July 21:

Check-out Castle Inn 

🚗2015 ~Tuesday, June 30, Day Trip to Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee

We traveled up 43 Highway to St Joe, Tennessee we turned left onto Iron City Road 227/326 turned right onto Old Railroad Bed Road to Highway 13, we traveled couple miles North on  Natchez Traces. We got off the Trace in Collingwood, taking highway 13 to Waynesboro.
In Waynesboro we stayed on highway 13/Waynesboro Highway, we traveled through Smith Hill, Linen, (Squirrels Hollow Drive), Lobelville, Lobelville Highway, crossing into Perry County Buffalo. We stopped to use the restrooms and fill up with gas at Pilot, the price of gas $2.49 per gallon, we had just crossed I-40 the interstate between Memphis and Nashville Tennessee.

Pilot in Buffalo TN 

Arby's, Cinnabon at Pilot in Buffalo

We saw a sign that said Loretta Lynn's Kitchen and a huge statue of a Buffalo sitting outside of the restaurant, also some old farm equipment, so we stopped to take pictures.

Buffalo at Loretta Lynn's Kitchen in Buffalo 

Antique farm equipment at Loretta Lynn's Kitchen in Buffalo 

Loretta Lynn's Kitchen in Buffalo 

From Buffalo, we were just six miles to Loretta Lynn's Ranch.
We arrived at the ranch, we toured the free doll museum, the Old Grist Mill store, some of the gift shops and we purchased tickets to tour the home, Butcher Holler House, The #5 Coal Mine and Loretta's Museum.

Old farm truck at Loretta Ranch Park 

Bank at Loretta Ranch Park 

Land Office at Loretta Ranch Park 

Wanted Dead or Alive 

The tickets for the full tour was $25.00 each.

Loretta Lynn Park Information 

Tickets and Colton's coaster 

Loretta Lynn Park Information 

Our tour guide Brooke, took the group up the hill, up several stairs to the replica of Butcher Holler Loretta Lynn's childhood home in Van Lear, Ky.
The house had two bedrooms, with two small beds for the eight kids, kitchen with a wooden table with four wooden chairs and a bench, there was a coal stove for cooking, an outhouse, on the back porch was a small washtub where the children took baths.
When Loretta's mother washed cloth she hung them inside to dry to keep them from getting coal dust on them.

Replica Butcher Holler Home

Replica Butcher Holler Home

Walking down long wooden stairs, Indian on the hill

We walked down a long line of wooden steps onto the street, we crossed the street, we walked up to the simulated # 5 Coal Mine where Loretta's father (Ted Webb) worked until his death. As we walked through the simulated coal mine tunnel, we saw the tools used by the coal miners, the coal & the rail carts they filled with tons of coal that had to be pulled to the top by a donkey, he never saw daylight.

Coal Mine # 5

 Coal Car at Coal Mine # 5

Coal at Coal Mine # 5

Coal Mine # 5

We loaded into the tour bus and was taken to the former home of Loretta Lynn(The Anderson Plantation Home).
As we were getting off the bus we saw several carriages, a huge barn with two beautiful horses, in the background we could hear a peacock. We all walked inside to the kitchen which had a large fireplace, chandlers in every room downstairs. We saw the green bathroom, Loretta's collections inside a cabinet built by her husband, her many albums that were hanging in the hallway and all along the stairway.
We saw her bedroom, and the room with her family pictures, we were not taken upstairs.
The house is said to be haunted by the former owners the Anderson Family.
They were plantation owners with slaves, the mother lost a child at birth and she walks the rooms looking for her baby. Many ghosts have been spotted thought out the house.
We exited out the front door, we all walked back to the paved drive.

Standing on Loretta Lynn's Ranch Porch 

Loretta Lynn's Ranch 

I walked over to the horses, I took many pictures of the horses with my cell phone.
I did not bring my big camera because we could not take pictures inside the house or any of the museums.

Loretta Lynn's Ranch Horses

We loaded back onto the bus, we were taken to the Museum where Loretta has all kinds of memorabilia.

Loretta Lynn's Ranch Museum

After touring the museum, we stopped to take pictures of the tour bus outside.
We stopped at the gift shop to purchase a couple of postcards and we left.

Loretta Lynn's Ranch Postcards I purchase

It was very hot and humid so we had enough of walking outside.
We stopped in front of Loretta's Ranch Home to take pictures and pictures of  Hurricane Creek.
We rode behind Loretta's Ranch house where we saw a couple of donkeys, Loretta's present home, and The Anderson Family Cemetery.

Standing on steps of Loretta & Mooney Lynn Hurricane Mills Home 

Hurricane Mill Falls 

Loretta's Home 

Anderson Family Cemetery 

Mules

We left the park, taking I-40 stopping at Colton's Steak House & Grill in Dickson Tennessee where we ordered a full order of Ribs, one baked potato, two Caesar Salads, Tea, Water, Rolls, and butter.

Colton's Steak House & Grill 

Colton's Steak House & Grill 

Colton's Steak House & Grill 

We got off I-40 traveled through Spring Hill, Columbia, we stopped at CVS in Lawrenceburg, then home.

Events with my grandparents2

Sweet Potato Kisses was one of my favorite desserts that my grandmother would prepare for us.

The receipt of her potato kisses:

You boil a small potato with the jacket on and cook until done.

Peel the potato, mash it up, and roll it out. 

Add powdered sugar and peanut butter to the center. 

Roll all ingredients into a ball and slice them into pieces.

During the holidays, my grandmother would spend hours making our Christmas presents.

She was very handy with a needle and thread. She would make sock monkeys, rag dolls, and dresses for us; every stitch was sown in love. 

My grandmother had very little income, and she could stretch that dollar. 

She always had a Christmas tree beautifully decorated that would light up any room.

When she plugged the Christmas lights into the wall sockets, the Christmas lights would start to bubble, and the angel hair and icicles gleamed. 

She would make a pot of popcorn that we would string. She would cut construction paper into strips that we would glue together to create a rope to string on her tree.

My grandfather loved to smoke Prince Albert's tobacco. When he ran out, he would give us grandkids a nickel, and we would walk to the store to buy him some smoking tobacco and white paper.

I loved to watch my grandfather take the white papers and roll his tobacco inside.

While playing outside, I once stepped on a honey bee barefoot. My grandfather pulled the stinger out of my foot and covered the swollen spot with some of his Prince Albert tobacco.

I know my grandfather had a kind heart, or my grandmother would not have married my grandfather. As the years progressed, my grandfather depended on liquor.

When I was young, I remember sitting next to my grandfather on the sofa as he told scary stories. 

The one I remember most was about bloody bones.

The story would end with my grandfather saying,

He would go up one step, go up two steps, and continue counting the steps when suddenly, he would shout, "GOT You." We would jump up with fright.

My grandfather loved the feel of the earth with his hands. For many years, my grandparents raised a vegetable garden that provided food for them, and they sold the produce for income.

My grandparents' backyard was filled with apples, peaches, pears, and plum trees, which my grandmother would take and make jams and jellies. They sold the access for cash, which was their source of income.

My grandfather had one Chinaberry Tree that produced chinaberries, of which I never knew the use, and they stunk to high heaven.

We were forbidden to climb in the fruit trees, but that never stopped us.

My grandfather loved to tease us, he would tell us if we swallow a seed from any plant that they would grow inside of us.

It was my grandmother that introduced me to God and the Church. 

I would ride with my cousin and grand Church to a small Church on the north side of Sheffield. 

Mr. Ulman, a member of the Church, volunteered to take my grandmother and Churchchildren to Church, for he passed by her house on his way to Church. 

I'm unsure if Mr. Ulman was single, but his wife never attended Church. He was an older man, so he could have been a churchgoer.

If not for Mr. Ulman, my grandmother would have had to walk to Church.

In Sunday class, I learned about DanieChurch, the Lion's Den, Adam and Eve, Noah building the Ark, Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego, and how the angel walked inside the blazing furnace with them. 

We were given a pamphlet each week, which included a picture of that week's lesson, that we could take home. I treasured this.

After Sunday school class, we would reassemble in the auditorium for Church.

There would be someone playing the pianChurchsomeone playing a (squeezebox) accordion.

It was amazing, the music that the machine would belt out. A man would stand while compressing and expanding the bellows while pressing buttons on the right side of the accordion.

One of my favorite Christian songs we sang during service was "WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER."

The preacher would give a long sermon and then be dismissed, as would everyone.

I remember one Sunday night after services, Mr. Ullman was driving us home when the right door on the passenger's side of his car flew open. When Mr. Ullman turned left at the red light on North Montgomery Avenue, my cousin flew out right into the street.

Thank goodness we were not going too fast. She only had a few scratches on her elbow and hands.

My mom's parents depended on my dad to take them places, and my grandparents could not afford a car. 

When my grandmother wanted to visit her sister, who lived on Penny Lane in Huntsville, everyone would load into my parents' station wagon, and we would ride to Huntsville. 

It would be a day trip, and my aunt would prepare a nice meal for our visit.

My grandmother's father and stepmother lived in Town Creek.

When my grandmother wanted to visit her father, she and my grandfather would take the train from Sheffield to Town Creek. 

The Sheffield Depot was within walking distance from my grandparent's house.

In fact, the train tracks were so close that when I spent the night at my grandparents' house, I could hear trains blowing their horns to warn people they were coming down the tracks as I lay in bed trying to sleep.

Sometimes, our whole family would pile into our station wagon, along with my grandparents, and we would all ride to Town Creek.

I loved to visit my great-grandfather. He was a kind-hearted soul, a jolly man, and very involved with us kids.

I remember my grandfather showing us how to put a straw stick into a hole, wiggle the straw, and we would pull out a worm he called Chicken Chokers.

Chicken Choppers are larvae of tiger beetles that ambush predators of other insects. They lie in wait in their burrows, their heads flush with the surface of the soil.  

The chickens do more harm to the larvae than the grubs.

My great-grandparents lived in an old discarded military dining trailer they had purchased from the army. 

In the middle of the trailer were three steps leading to the front door.

Once inside, to the right was a large, round, oak dining table with a half-round bench encircling it.

A couple of steps down was the living room, which had a couple of rockers. Next to the rockers was their bed, and standing just out from the wall was a coal heater. 

The kitchen was built to cook for a large crowd of men at the very end of mess time.

My great-grandfather was visiting his son in Lakeland, Florida when he passed away at the age of eighty. His body was returned back to Alabama, where he was buried. 

The first funeral that I ever remember attending was that of my great-grandfather.