MACON, GA May 22-24, 2015

Memorial Day weekend, never an easy time to find availability for camping but after a few calls we decided on driving east towards Macon, GA and a stay at L&D RV Park in the tiny town of Forsyth. All winding backroads added time to our drive but so pretty.  I'm amazed at how well Paul can drive our big house down backroads and over jumbly RR tracks and never complain or get out of sorts about the route I've gotten us on.  Driving into the town of Forsyth shows the wonderful design of small towns in Georgia.  The County Courthouse is the center of town with shops and restaurants on all four side of the town square. Just a few miles out of town we arrived at our campground for the next two nights.  A small private little park with about 25 sites, it was clean with a nice laundry area but sites were pretty close together, one of the reasons we most often rather stay at state parks. We went into town for dinner at this cute little cafe and were so blown away by the interior and the fabulous food, what a meal!!!! The very modern interior was a result of remodeling from a fire about a year or so before. Thank goodness they rebuilt and opened again, it's a "must" if ever in this area again. Next door was the Community Theater with a performance that evening but by the time we finished our dinner we ended up just walking around town and going home early. Grits Cafe, one of new favorite restaurants! 

Saturday morning was so beautiful, mild warm temps and lots to see in Macon.  Our first stop was at the Jarrell Plantation Historic Site only 20 minuets east of us, a complete southern Georgia cotton plantation owned by a singe family for over 140 years before being donated to the state. Though it had changed from from farming to forestry it had all the original buildings in tack.

Built in 1847 by John Jarrell the pine cabin and all the out buildings are open to visit with original furniture, tools and operating machines. In the 1860s the 600 acre plantation was farmed by 39 slaves, but eventually all that changed, and the buildings deteriorated until his son, John left teaching to return to the property in 1895 with his family.  The cotton plantation became a farm with a sawmill, grist mill, cotton gin sugar cane press and other enterprises.  It was children's day at the plantation when we were there, so by the time we finished the parking lot was over-flowing and kids everywhere.

From this pine home to the one below...The family does still own the land right next door and continues to live in this beautiful home and now a B&B.

After our lunch there we drove south on backroads, of course, to Macon and the Ocmulgee National Monument. The Mississippian culture of Native Americans built these large mounds for their elite about 900 and thrived until the 1600s when European diseases ended their culture. This is the entrance to the excavated mound.

and the interior of the lodge.

This is the view from the visitor center.

We climbed to the top of another mound using the stairs on the right, but it was getting soooooooo hot by that time we'd had enough outside exploring.

Leaving the park we had a beautiful under crossing, just right for the car!

From the early inhabitants of area we drove into Macon to visit  to the newly opened Tubman Museum of African American art.

Later time for afternoon coffee and a beer at Market City Cafe with a last stop at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church, built in the 1890s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Back to our campsite to do a little laundry and just enjoy the evening, Sunday would be another moving day.