Mistletoe (GA SP) 4/19/21 - 4/23/21 (#4)

We had to cancel the last camping trip (March) due to the unexpected death of my Dad. I know he would want us to continue on since he loved camping so much. So, last week we went to Mistletoe SP in Appling, GA.

The drive from the farm wasn't the easiest. We don't like driving the interstate unless we absolutely have to but we may want to put a few more miles on it in the future since there were so many switch backs & turns to get us there. What they say about a GA road map is very true. It probably only added 40 min. to the trip but the roads were definitely in the backwoods.

The park is beautiful, clean & very relaxing. We were on site 50 this time, again right on the lake (Clark's Hill Lake) & fairly level. The picnic table was by the camper but there was a step down to a separate level where the fire ring was. We moved the ring up closer to our sitting area & it was fine.

We walked the campground & Greg fished a bit the 1st day. We took a long hike one day (office/campground/beach trail (approx 5 miles)). Then Nelly & I did the campground loop trail (2 miles) the next day. The wind was exceptionally strong on Wed. during the day (30+ mph) & we opted to ride around & look at a few other campsites in the area.

Mostly, we just relaxed & enjoyed our surroundings.

Met a very nice couple from the Chattanooga area (Ed & Kathy). They kayaked most evenings as did lots of other people. There were also several people who had their boats tied up by their campsites & usually went for early morning & late day rides & I'm sure some fishing.

Had a goose couple visit several times the first couple of days.

Then on Thursday, we woke up to this ....

They were originally on land by the campsite but Nelly got a whiff of them & scared them into the water. We didn't see much of them after that. Otherwise Nelly relaxed most of the time too.

We brought some art along this time ... lol. We've had this thing for over 20 years. Recently found it & Greg decided to hang it from the outside kitchen.

Our TN neighbors left on Thur. & this young man moved into their spot. We didn't get a chance to talk with him but he was hammock camping & cooked his food over an open fire & made his coffee on a small propane stove. More power to him.

Overall it was a great trip & we found another campground that we will try the next time we are in the area (Winfield - COE).

Here are few shots from the trees & such.

Extra Notes: Always take at least a pack of crackers when out exploring other areas. No restaurants close to anything we visited. Googled restaurants & the closest (open) one was about 20 miles away. Publix was in the same area. Lots of trails we didn't get to try. Winfield close enough to visit Mistletoe just to hike. 30 mph winds in 60 degrees is cold! Breakfast / Mr McBeevee, egg cups, yogurt w/ granola & blueberries. Lunch / Sandwiches. Dinner / BBQ sandwiches, tots, Hot Dogs, Spaghetti casserole, pizza. Love the air fryer!

Eastbank (COE) 2/22/21 - 2/25/21 (#3)

First camping trip of 2021 & 3rd overall. Eastbank CG, another COE. The address is Bainbridge, GA but was actually closer to Chattahoochee, FL. About 2 hours from the farm. Signage to get there was close to non-existent but we got there, only wasted about 24 miles.

On the way, we drove through a little community called Faceville. It used to be a large farming area but much of the land is now used as a solar farm. Thousands of acres of solar panels in many fields. Can't find out much about it but believe Georgia Power is behind it all.

CG is on Lake Seminole right at the FL/GA line. The lake itself is over 37,000 acres. I forget how many miles of shoreline, but we were on the East side which made for many beautiful sunsets.

As usual, we walked the campground which is divided into 3 areas (A,B,C) about 2 miles total walking distance. A & C are lakefront & we were in spot 34. Another huge side 'yard' & no neighbors.

Weather was perfect, almost too warm, but cool enough at night to need a campfire & light jacket or sweatshirt.

Campground was very clean, quiet & in the middle of nowhere which is fine by us since we had everything we needed. The gates lock at 10:00p & open back up at 7:00a. Argentine ants are supposedly a big problem in the summer. We sprayed around the camper, just to be on the safe side.

Picking up fallen limbs for firewood was encouraged & each day people were out scouring the area. 

Greg shared one of our fire starters & some fat lighter with this nice couple from Rainbow Springs.

In late 2018, Hurricane Michael came through the area as a category 5 & did quite a bit of damage. Eastbank CG itself is fine but others in the area weren't so fortunate. We visited Three Rivers SP just across the dam, on the FL side & it was sad to see how many trees were stripped away. The recovery effort is ongoing, 2.5 years later.

Only downside to Eastbank was that there are only a couple of hiking trails & neither has been cleared enough to traverse since the hurricane. Still, it was nice to get away & do nothing. I actually took a nap one day!

Couple more misc. pics.

Hard to tell, but on a hill & struggling.

Nelly still likes camping

Overall, very nice CG but doubt we will be back since there are so many more COEs & SPs in GA & surrounding states to explore. It would be an excellent one to stay as a stopover heading east or west, as it's only a few miles from I10. 

Additional notes: Air fryer grill, clean showers, best site = 24. Woodruff Dam (Chattahoochee, Flint & Apalachicola Rivers), rolling hills, Site 34 very long & level, not FHU. Note to self, don't attach Christmas lights to awning. Chattahoochee RV Resort, Park & River Junction Landing.

Cotton Hill (COE) - 12/28/20 - 12/31/20 (#2)

2nd trip under our belt(s). This time it was to Cotton Hill CG in Fort Gaines, GA (on AL/GA border) - about 2 hours from the farm. Our first time at a COE (Corp of Engineer) park. Almost all are on some type of water (river, lake, etc) & very affordable.

We spent Christmas Eve w/the In-Laws (including our BIL from ATL). Then had Christmas w/my family at my niece's house. Drove to the farm on Christmas night (freezing cold for the next 2 days). We prepared the camper the next couple of days & headed to camp on Monday the 28th. Weather improved to very tolerable, warm temps. 

Campsite #15 (FHU) which was listed as an extreme angle on the driveway, down to flat level pad. They weren't kidding when they listed as extreme. Got in w/just a little scrape on the back passenger side stabilizer bar. Other campers came in the next day & couldn't maneuver their rigs to get in the 2 vacant spots next to ours & had to move to alternate sites.

Took our time setting up w/o any issues. The site was on the water (Walter F. George Lake) huge & very private. 

Driveway was much steeper than it looks here.

A friend that I 'met' on a FB RV Campsite review page was also there a few sites away. After we got set up we went over to say hello & actually 'meet' before they left the next day.

We brought firewood as well as fat lighter & fire starters this time. Absolutely no issue with starting our fire each evening around 4:00p.

Just one angle of our 'back yard'

The next day we took a walk around whole CG. I think there are 90+ sites. Fished a little & basically just relaxed. Which btw, Greg is having a hard time doing. He's so used to going full speed ahead that it will take some time for him to get in camping speed, but he'll get there.

We walked the nature trail (about 1.5 miles) the next morning. 

Just hanging out in the woods.

Then went for a drive around Fort Gaines. Drove through George T. Bagby SP where we saw a family of deer. 

Turned down one road to see the Dam & found ourselves in AL. Dam was closed so we decided to drive over to  Kolomoki Mounds State Park (will stay there in the future). Then headed over to Bluffton, GA. Interesting history of the town. Went to White Oak Pastures General Store to get lunch (grassfed burger).

On the way home we saw a sign for a Pioneer Village. Never found the village but saw this barn quilt on the end of a house. I hope to paint a few of these for our farm buildings.

Got back to camp just in time to start the last fire of the trip & got this pic of Nelly contemplating whether or not she likes camping.

Met a few of the other campers when Greg saw they were having trouble starting their fires. He gave them each some fat lighter & a couple of my homemade fire starters.

Overall, we loved this CG! So much quieter than Ocmulgee. Will definitely be back. Here are a few additional random pics (Note: all taken directly from our campsite):

Just a lady taking her cat for a stroll.

Close up of new header pic

Additional Notes: Three nights - good.Very quiet, beautiful sunsets, warm (always keep a pair of shorts & flip flops on hand), Janine (Rick) / FB; NY Couple (FT for 4 years) & Vicki & Kathryn (alternative lifestyle couple). Campers love dogs!