Winter Has Arrived - Or So It Looks Like It

Nine days away and the place looks very different. The red and white oaks that did not change in color before November 1 made a run for it. Quick change and most of the leaves have fallen. With most of the leaf cover almost gone a few pictures are added to show the southern ridge (hill) that provides quite a bit of protection from winds. I've been meaning to climb this thing to see the view on the other side. It looks steeper in person.

Looking south...

Looking southwest...
Looking north. Hill probably towers thirty feet from the porch level and extends over the roof line in the next two pictures.

Looking northeast...

Back to the leaf raking exercise...

Peanut Country - Plains Ga

Trying to imagine what this little cracker town was like back in the 70's when Jimmy Carter's name became known worldwide must have been a sight to see. Upon driving west on Ga state road 280 into town, a half minute later the town is gone. Small indeed. About 630 residents.

I'm sure all the photos have been seen before, but I was kind of surprised to see Billy Carters service station has become a museum! Not many photos to share as I had camera problems and made the mistake of showing up on the wrong day as even the local restaurant was closed! So much for breakfast.

Peanuts. How do they grow and how are they harvested? Much like a tomatoe plant in so far as height and harvested like wheat with large combines. A few pictures shot outside of town. A peanut field adjacent to a previously picked cotton field is worked on.

A few more peanut farming pics...

And some town pics on an early Monday morning. I will revisit another day.

Train station with trains still running.

Cordele Ga Hotel Hunt - Ashburn Inn

Headed back home and a stopover before my trip to Plains Monday.

I often wondered what the cut rate motels look like these days and been meaning to check a few out while going through the southern and central part of Georgia. After all, what's the difference between a $100 room and twenty nine these days? Sure enough you'll get a nice comfy king sized bed at LaQuinta or that other place I can never remember. Same sized bed at the Ashburn Inn in Cordele(south of Macon on I-75 at mile marker 101) .

Not as soft but why pay an extra $70.00 for that? A few less pillows and not as fluffy, but hey, if others aren't spending in these uncertain times I may as well do some budgeting too. The room has a coffee maker. That in itself is probably the most important aspect I was looking for. Yea, I could drag around a coffee maker, but eventually I'd forget it and buy another one here and there. Before you know it I'd have five instead of two at home.

At one time high speed internet was a priority before I signed up with Verizon this past summer. There seemed to be one problem after another connecting wherever I went. With any hotel one should always be aware of what kind of high speed you get if an internet connection is important while travelling. Hard wire is about the only service I could rely on, and many hotels have wifi that always gave me fits.

Hey look at gas prices here! Apparently Cordele has the lowest hotel taxes on I-75 or so a billboard tells me so. Looks like the lowest gas prices too. A mere five weeks ago I was paying $4.00 in this same state! Think it will go lower? I expect a bump up soon...they can't go straight down.

The rest of the room? Shower squirts out some pretty stiff water. Watch those private parts. Couldn't adjust the shower head. Microwave, fridge and a very good cable selection. Better than other semi pricy road hotels. Minor paint peeling here and there. Towels aren't scratchy(Verizon dead zone advertisement). Off to dinner at the Golden Corral, another excellent budget type choice for about $ 11.00. The Corral is a buffet style restaurant.

EDIT- $ 13.00. Prices must have increased.

Conclusion. I don't need to spend an extra 70 bucks for a USA Today. Nor do I need a continental breakfast which I never eat anyway except for a banana and a small OJ. I've always been fond of that other place I cannot name. Maybe I'll bring my own pillows and comforter next time to make up for the minor shortcomings.

Hampton Inn. Now I remember. And yes this small hotel has a continental breakfast too!

Florida Visit - Edison Ford Winter Homes

I do not miss this place whatsoever after moving permanently in August. Back in the early 80's it was the place to be when I moved here. Traffic light count is a good indication of the congestion. In early 1980 there was only one traffic light in Bonita Springs; last count was something like 25.

The Edison complex along the Caloosahatchee River covering 14 acres is a site I've always enjoyed touring, marking my third visit in 28 years. For botanical fans the Banyon tree next to the Edison Lab is well known in many parts. The tree was a gift from Edison friend Harvey Firestone in 1925. Original height was four feet. The picture tells all. Quite an impressive tree.

Aside from many of Edisons inventions the gardens are an impressive sight. Plants and trees from all over exist including another Indian specimen or the Mysore fig tree with a pretty wild root system.

A few more unusual plants...

Lipstick Plant.

Chenille, also from India.

The homes in the complex from foreground. Henry Ford winter home(under renovation), guest quarters, and the Edison home. Other small caretaker homes also exist on the property.

View along the river with the original seawall...

A view from one of the cottage porches...

Headed home Sunday while planning a possible stopover in Plains Ga, home of former president Jimmy Carter.

Planning West Coast Trip

Out of curiosity I checked to see how expensive it would be to have my Ford crew cab shipped from the west coast to Atlanta in February. I have no intention of driving back to the east coast whatsoever. 3,000 miles is enough and I've never been on a coast to coast train before either.

Suprisingly quotes to ship the truck are around $ 1,000. I thought it would be more than double that. Transit time is 7-10 days, but I'm not sure where the start place would be yet. Phoenix, LA, San Diego, or San Jose.

The Train Trip!

I'm tempted to go off the wagon...hehe. Sounds like a blast but leave the smokes behind:( Actually there are many stops where I can smoke as many as needed. Two options.

1- TO Chicago, Washington DC, then Atlanta
2- TO New Orleans then to Atlanta

Let's say the departure date is February 23. Going out of Tucson the start would be 2:20 AM (Yuk)I guess pasenger trains don't run into Phoenix.

1- I've been along this route before. Quite a bit of it follows Interstate 10. Timewise it's shorter along with cost. Arrive New Orleans the following day at 4PM(36 hours) Transfer to another train that leaves out of ...Forget that, see pic.

2- New country to see! Well almost. I would rather go through the Rockies. Never been to Chicago either. Probably colder than ...that time of the year.

Another option. Leave from Northern Cal after the Pebble Beach ProAm and really go through the Rockies! Not sure how much I would enjoy being on a train for five days though. Actually five transfers. Hmmn, Looks like the snow prohibits that particular route during the winter. I'll have to keep digging, otherwise it wants to take me up to Washington state and across the northern US border that includes a long bus ride as well.

View the lodging arrangements....tiny, tiny cabins.

http://www.amtrak.com/trainTour/superlinerSLEEPER_CONTROLLER.html