Friday, February 9, 2018

Govt. Shutdown, Mardi Gras, Isaac Creek COE, Monroeville, Alabama

It has been an interesting few days.  We traveled from R. Shaefer Heard Campground in Georgia to Isaac Creek Campground in Monroeville, Alabama with the intent of staying at the latter for two days (Monroeville was the home of Harper Lee and the town on which the town of Maycomb in To Kill A Mockingbird was based - we drove through the town which has an interesting town square but didn't take any pictures).  Our next stop was planned to be near Biloxi/Gulf Shores, Mississippi as we had never seen that area.  We couldn't find any vacancies in the Biloxi/Gulfport area and we were told it was because of Mardis Gras.  We were told that most of the coastal towns from Pensacola, FL to Galveston, TX have Mardi Gras celebrations this week and weekend.  Who knew?  I thought it was just New Orleans.  So, we thought we would just extend our stay here a few days until we could get in a campground near Biloxi.  When we went to extend our stay we were told that there was a high probability there would be another Government shutdown and since this was an Army Corps Of Engineers park it would be closing at midnight on the 8th if there was a shutdown.  Everything finally worked out though, we finally were able to make reservations at a state park near Biloxi and the shutdown only lasted from midnight to early morning today so we didn't have to leave.  We will be leaving tomorrow for Mississippi after a total of four days here in Alabama.

Our Route To Isaac Creek

Our Campsite - we are located right on the Alabama River (you can just see the river in the background

The dam and lock system from the campground

View from below the dam and lock

Monday, February 5, 2018

R. Shaefer Heard Recreation Area - Finally Warm Again!

We moved from Twin Lakes Recreation Area in Pendleton, South Carolina to R. Shaefer Heard Recreation Area in West Point, Georgia.  There is hardly anyone here this time of year - have most of the park to ourselves.   We were just here a couple days and will be moving on to Alabama tomorrow.  We are trying to get South and West quickly - once we get to Louisiana we will slow down and get out to see more of the sights.  Finally we are not cold - today was in the low 60's and we were able to go out for a hike around part of the lake.  This is an Army Corps Of Engineers campground on West Point Lake.  West Point Lake is about 35 miles long and has over 500 miles of shoreline.  It was created when the Corps Of Engineers built the West Point Dam on the Chatahoochee River to provide hydroelectric power and flood control. 

Our Route

 Our Site

 View Of The Lake From Our Site

The West Point Dam

 Looking across to the Alabama side of the lake from Georgia