Monday, September 10, 2018

Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia

We're in the middle of the Chattahoochee National Forest in northern Georgia, so this may not get posted on the day I'm writing it (9/10/18), but we'll try it anyway and save it for later if necessary.

We left Huntington, West Virginia on Friday morning about 10, heading toward Blountville, TN, just a little south and west of Bristol. Our route took us onto I64, then to I77, and finally to I81.


Two hundred fifty eight miles later, we pulled into Rocky Top Campground in Blountville. This great little park is operated by one of the best, friendliest couples we've ever had the pleasure to meet as owners of an RV park. This park is a 55+ age group park, and so it's very quiet. Oddly enough this park is immediately adjacent to a large KOA, but the owners say they have no competition from the KOA because of the age restrictions. All I know is that the pull-through site was nicely kept and very adequate. I did a bone-head thing, though, and left the electrical cable between the car and the motorhome connected for about six hours, when I finally realized the situation and went out to "pull the plug". Unfortunately, all that time the ignition switch was "on" in the car, so the car battery was completely dead, since the motorhome was not sending 12+ volts back to the car as it does when we're driving down the road! A quick call to the nearest AAA facility got us checked out and started up, and we were on our way.

Check out the wasps nest in the branch directly above the motorhome. We were hoping it wouldn't fall! Local lore has it that the height of the wasps' nests indicates the amount of snow expected in the upcoming winter. This nest is about 18' about the ground. Last year the nests were only about 5' above the ground, and no measurable snow fell in Blountville. The previous year, the nests were high.....and no measurable snow fell in Blountville. So much for that theory.


Our site was well protected from weather, and cozy. Very level and with perfect utilities. Nice park!


After the electrical debacle was addressed, we got back onto I81 until we got to I26 going south. This road took us through some spectacular Appalachian mountains on the way to Asheville, North Carolina.


The weather turned from a nice sunny day to soggy bottom rain. Just west of Asheville, we had turned off of I40 (been on it since Asheville), and took US23 toward Franklin, Tennessee. This road is primarily divided highway, so even in the rain it wasn't too difficult to maneuver. We missed a turn somewhere south of Franklin, and ended up on US64. Well, it wasn't a bad highway, two-lanes, but well maintained. The problem arose when we encountered our first 8% uphill grade. It lasted for 7 miles! With no place to pull over, we soon found the second, third, and fourth steep grades. Then we got into the switchbacks, and I could see dozens of cars behind us, waiting for an opportunity to pass this beast. As we got the Chatuga Lake we turned off on NC175 and crossed into Georgia on GA75. Our goal was River Bend Campground, just south of the town of Hiawassie, Georgia. With some apprehension about the narrow country roads, we finally arrived at our destination, after one hundred ninety two miles and five hours of travel time. Whew!

We are in site B2, which is plenty long enough for the likes of us, and we settled in nicely.


We are so fortunate to be able to spend a few days with our good friends, Debbie and Larry! You many remember that we first met them in Florida three years ago and we immediately bonded over our canine besties! Sasha and Max have been best friends since they first met, and have renewed their friendship every year since! In 2016 we met in Kentucky. In 2017 in Canada, and here we are again! Great friends and great dogs!

On Sunday, the 9th, we drove with Debbie and Larry south about eighteen miles to the little Bavarian town of Helen, Georgia. In 1969, business owners were searching for a way to rejuvenate a failing town, and hit upon the idea of Little Germany. The area has a large German population, so it was a natural. Helen is a quaint little burg that is beginning its annual Oktoberfest.


The Chamber of Commerce sponsors a Festival Hall, where a full schedule of Oktoberfest music is played. We sat and listened to Johnny Koenig and the Goldne Volksmusik Sterne play. Great show!


The stage is large enough for several groups to play at once, and we hear that there is a Battle of the Bands competition most every night.


We enjoyed some German sausages and sauerkraut for as a "light" dinner, and then Debbie and Larry danced a tune or two! Great fun!


We walked around downtown Helen for a bit, purchased a few trinkets, and enjoyed a late summer evening. Back at camp, Pat and Joy, Debbie and Larry's neighbors in Florida joined us for an evening around the campfire. A late hour finally forced us indoors for the evening.

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