Chattahoochee Bend State Park and hanging out with Gayle and Danny - 2024/11/15

Continuing our visit to Atlanta, after our morning lunch at Truett's Luau, we hopped in the car and headed South West to Chattahoochee Bend State Park! There, we get to meet up with our friends Danny and Gayle! We first met them in Minnesota a couple summers back when we were both RV road tripping and happened to be staying at the same Boondockers Welcome. 

We've since stayed with them at their place called Sunset Holler in Alabama, but they're making an hour drive to come meet us at the State Park!  

Chattahoochee? Aren't there some songs about that? Specifically one by Alan Jackson? "Way down yonder on the Chattahoochee..." 

Before we start some hiking around the area, Danny brought out his "snacklebox" with lots of treat options. 

This fuzzy bumblebee seemed interested in what we were doing too. 

Now to the hike! 

On Flat Rock Trail. Why is it called Flat Rock trail? I could be that this giant section is all one single rock surface. Thankfully there were markers painted on the rock that kept us on the trail path. Otherwise there's no other worn marking showing which way we should go. 

While we were hiking, Danny pulled out his phone to do some Geocaching. The kids remembered doing that years ago when we were still in California. It's a little different doing it out here in the woods, compared to doing in the middle of a city. 

The GPS coordinates seem to be leading us to this tree. 

Between "A Rock and a Hard Place" the clue said, and sure enough, under a rock we found this ammo container. 

Write your name in the log book! 

That was a successful hike so far!

Our next stop is the Visitor's Center. 

I like the map with all the different State Parks listed. 

Oh boy, looks like we've found some stuffies. 

Right behind the visitor's center is another Geocache. Does anything look out of place here? A white pipe was protruding from the ground that looked like it could have been a drainage cleanout pipe, but giving it a little kick it seems it's not attached to anything! Another geocache! 

Ranger Tony wanted to know if we'd like to meet the Attack Turtle that protected this area. 

Stumpy had a bad run-in with a car and lost his front feet. Not great for an Eastern Box Turtle who relies on digging burrows for shelter and protection. So, 8 years ago, Stumpy came here. When it's warm outside, he gets to play outside, and the rest of the time he's warm and cozy inside. 

With birthday money, Ian and Alli wanted to buy a fuzzy bumblebee, perhaps influenced by the one this morning. They have named him Bum the Bee and love how fuzzy and soft he is. 

Our next hike, after leaving the visitor's center, will take us along the Chattahoochee River to a watch tower. I like the swing they've installed overlooking the river. 

Another one of the lyrics to that Alan Jackson song is "Never knew how much that muddy water meant to me." It's certainly muddy water flowing. 

Fall has certainly come here. The trail is obscured by all the fallen leaves! 

A small bridge

Someone got cute with a fallen log. 

Here's that watch tower. 

And another look at that muddy water. We ran into a fisherman who said he just pulled a 4 pound catfish out of the water. 

Danny will be back later this week for deer hunting season, so he's been on the lookout for signs of where they might be. We've found some tracks here by the river, but they're not from deer. It's a paw with claws. Could be a coyote? 

Time to head back. 

Before we go though, there's a fun little park at the trailhead that the kids were hoping to burn some more energy at. 

Dinnertime! We all drove to the nearby town of Newnan Georgia, where Gayle and Danny used to have a house before they started their RV travels. 

Alan Jackson is from Newnan too, so he's earned himself a big mural on the side of a building along Main Street. 

Who likes BBQ? 

Everyone enjoyed hanging out at the Oink Joint, eating brisket, pulled chicken, and pork. 

And for dessert, Whit's, the favorite custard shop of Danny and Gayle that makes it way too easy to get custard with their drive-thru. 

A little something sweet for everyone. 
Alli's vanilla with hot fudge and caramel. 

A Hawaiian for me (maybe it's the theme today after Truett's Luau this morning). 

And Ian asked for vanilla with a ton of sprinkles and was happy when he receive his. 

It was great getting to hang out again Danny and Gayle! Thanks for taking the time to drive over to see us and taking us to some of your favorite spots!