25.12B - Georgia, Alabama, and Florida | from rscottjones
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25.12B - Georgia, Alabama, and Florida

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    Did some solid work on my US Counties quest, marking off 51 total counties (dark green) and revisiting a bunch of others (lighter green).

    I finished off Florida, got Georgia up above 50%, and completed a good chunk of Alabama, too. Not bad for six days and 1515 miles, even in constant rain.

    A map highlights certain counties in Alabama marked in dark green and light green, against a backdrop of blue, with white outlining remaining areas.
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    Our final stop before the ATL airport was Arches Brewing, part of the Atlanta Utility Works family.

    That’s a wrap on the road trip fun, folks! Back to the salt mines.

    Edit: kinda fun restroom walls, which feature old invoices, schematics, and other docs from the old Atlanta Utility Works company.

    A glass of light-colored beer sits on a napkin on a wooden bar with taps and decorations in the background.Wooden beer taps labeled Arches Brewing are displayed in front of a window.A collage of old, weathered utility and engineering documents is displayed, featuring faded text and sketches.

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    We also made it to Rock Eagle Effigy Mound, Hawk Rock’s more notable sister site. Its design was a bit more pronounced, and I was surprised at the substantial height of the rock mound. We call these rock-based designs “intaglios” in the Southwest. The site also featured a cool stone viewing tower.

    A historical information sign details the Rock Eagle Effigy, including images, maps, and text about its construction, history, and excavation.A stone tower stands amidst a clearing surrounded by trees, with a rocky, uneven foreground.A historical plaque stands in front of a large grassy mound with a stone observation tower in the background, surrounded by trees.A historical information sign details the Rock Eagle Effigy, including images, maps, and text about its construction, history, and excavation.

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    Today was primarily about driving back to Atlanta to fly home, but we did make a few stops along the way.

    One of those was Rock Hawk Effigy Mound site. Yes, it does require a bit of imagination, as it’s degraded quite a bit over time. But still fun to see, especially from the viewing platform.

    An informational sign details the changes over time to the Rock Hawk Effigy with diagrams and text.A yellow information board provides details about the history of the Rock Hawk Effigy, featuring images and a description.An informational sign details the changes over time to the Rock Hawk Effigy with diagrams and text.A yellow information board provides details about the history of the Rock Hawk Effigy, featuring images and a description.A tall metal observation tower stands surrounded by trees and a cloudy sky.

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    We enjoyed our stop at Crooked Finger Brewing. Beer was okay, but the brisket nachos were quite tasty and the conversation with locals was good.

    A pint of beer is placed on a wooden bar counter in a busy pub with patrons and televisions in the background.
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    Not sure why, but this is the third brewery we’ve been to on this short trip that featured a payphone. 🤔

    A vintage phone booth stands inside a room with wooden flooring and a glass door displaying a logo.
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    Floating trees

    A tranquil lake scene features partially submerged trees and cloudy skies.
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    We stopped by the site of Charles Lindbergh’s first solo flight, as it was just down the road. Not exactly a fan, but a historic site nonetheless.

    A historical marker commemorates Charles Lindbergh's solo flight in May 1923, featuring text detailing the event, with a grassy field and cloudy sky in the background.A statue of a man with a fishing rod is mounted on a tall pedestal surrounded by landscaped grass and trees.

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    Finally made it to Providence Canyon, after missing it on a few prior trips. Quite the vista! Probably the most scenic thing we’ve visited on the trip. Interestingly, it played a role in the 1930s push for soil conservation.

    A scenic view showcases colorful, layered canyon cliffs surrounded by trees under a cloudy sky.A scenic view of a canyon with rugged cliffs, trees, and dramatic skies.Colorful, layered cliffs surrounded by trees create a striking natural landscape.A scenic landscape features towering red and white rock formations amidst dense greenery under a cloudy sky.Two people are smiling and taking a selfie in front of a colorful canyon landscape.A scenic view of a forested area with autumn leaves covering the ground and exposed reddish cliffs in the background.A scenic view of a canyon with distinct layers of red and white rock formations surrounded by trees under a cloudy sky.Colorful canyon walls and lush greenery create a striking contrast under a cloudy sky.An informative sign discusses the history and geology of Providence Canyon State Park, featuring a map, photos, and text about soil conservation efforts.

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    Our first stop today was the Kolomoki Mounds archaeological site, home to one of the largest ceremonial mounds in the US, and perhaps the most important in the Southeast.

    Unfortunately, the park museum—often pretty important for understanding mound-builder cultural sites—was closed for renovation.

    A historical marker provides information about the Kolomoki Mounds Archaeological Area in Georgia.A long staircase leads down to a vast, open grassy field with trees in the distance.An informational display at the Kolomoki Regional Center details the history, village settlement phases, mound building, and traditions of one of the largest settlements of its time.A historical marker provides information about the Kolomoki Mounds Archaeological Area in Georgia.A close-up view of a tree branch shows leaves transitioning from green to red amidst a forest background.

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    We had a blast catching up with Grant and Bonnie of Wander-Filled Life at DEEP Brewing in Tallahassee on Sat (always fun to catch travel friends away from home). Bummed we somehow forgot to get a photo.

    They’re currently working on a new edition of their Moon Guide on US RV Adventures.

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    I finished up my remaining unvisited counties in Florida today—my 12th fully completed state.

    I have another 10 states with less than 6 counties remaining. I also only have three states left that are under 50% done—my interim goal—and I’ll erase two from that list in July. Making progress!

    A color-coded map of Florida highlights certain counties in green and others in blue.
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    Saved this for the end of the night. Kinda expected more though, tbh…

    A brick sign with flowers and a red fire hydrant nearby welcomes visitors to Climax with a date marked 1905 below.A brick sign with flowers and a red fire hydrant nearby welcomes visitors to Climax with a date marked 1905 below.

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    Back road night views

    A large mural depicting a farmer in a straw hat working in a field is painted on a tall structure against a nighttime backdrop.A nighttime scene features large silos painted with a mural of a rural landscape, including trees and a field of cotton.

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    Stopped by T-Vélo Brewing in Thomasville, GA today. Nice little place with a great patio that would have been fun in better weather.

    A brewery's entrance showcases Tap Room and Brewery signage, with decorative plants and festive lights.A glass of beer sits on a bar counter, with a background of colorful chalkboard menus.

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    I need to write a longer post about our visit to El Weirdo Brewing yesterday. But I’m going to offer this up right now.

    This old payphone behind the bar not just works, but it’s the actual landline for the brewery. How cool is that?! And customers can use this other payphone, which also works!

    A vibrant indoor scene features a vintage blue payphone with a colorful rooster perched on top, surrounded by menu boards, various decorative items, and a Danger Velociraptor Containment sign.A colorful display features a sign labeled FOOD WEAPONS with an arrow pointing down, a vintage BellSouth phone booth, and a counter decorated with a melting pink and black cartoon face.

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    I marked off Florida on my State Capitol Buildings quest. I have just 3 left, 2 of which I’ll likely visit later this month.

    This one is about as boring as Alaska’s. The interesting building here is the historic Capitol, with the (intentionally nondescript?) office building the “official” one. Gah.

    A historic white government building with red and white striped awnings stands in front of a tall, fog-covered skyscraper.A historic white building with pink window awnings and columns stands behind a grassy area with trees and informational signs.The Florida Capitol building is partially obscured by fog with festive holiday greenery and a red bow decorating the sign in the foreground.A grand building with a dome features red and white-striped window awnings, symmetrical columns, and an American flag on top, surrounded by neatly manicured greenery.

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    Yesterday, we visited the John Gorrie State Museum to pay homage to the inventor of the ice machine, later recognized as an early step towards air conditioning. Thank you Dr Gorrie, every Phoenician salutes you!

    A brick building labeled Gorrie Museum is surrounded by trees and signs indicating it is part of both the John Gorrie State Museum and the Ice Machine Museum.A large mechanical apparatus with wooden framing, a cylindrical black component, and brick-like base is displayed in a room with gray walls and a plaque mounted nearby.A sign in front of a building reads Greetings from Apalachicola, Birthplace of Air Conditioning.A grave marker on a brick path honors Reverend James McBride with Masonic symbols and inscriptions.A historical marker commemorates Dr. John Gorrie, a pioneer in air conditioning and refrigeration innovation.A gray stone monument engraved with the name CORRIE stands on a white stepped base, surrounded by trees and buildings.

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    This part of Florida sure loves ‘em some possum…

    Big red letters spelling JOY stand in front of a sign welcoming visitors to the Wausau Possum Festival in Washington County.A stone monument with a carved scene and engraved text is surrounded by a fence and benches.A granite monument is engraved with text honoring the role of the North American possum and the Vasanta Community Development Club in Florida.A sign describes the America250FL Road Trip and highlights Washington County's history and the Wausau Possum Festival in Florida.

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    We visited Florida’s highest waterfall today. Definitely an unusual one—worth a quick stop!

    Some additional photos

    A brown informational sign describes the Falling Waters Sinkholes, a natural feature formed by limestone solution, with details about the notable Falling Waters Sink. Auto-generated description: A small waterfall cascades through a lush, autumnal forest with vibrant red and orange foliage. Auto-generated description: A waterfall cascades over a rocky cliff surrounded by lush greenery.

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