SW: 7 Parks, 7 Days

​In order to complete my obsession (aka "goal") of visiting every Georgia State Park from April 2019 to April 2020, I needed to be smart.  I work fulltime, have 2 teenagers, and a limited budget.  There is only so much time in the year.  Traveling back and forth to south Georgia was not in the budget of finances or time.  So I started dreaming of a longer trip in which I combined parks.  It seemed that the southwest and southeast parks split nicely, so that was the plan.  My work is slow in January so the first of the two southern roadtrips would be then.  And the West won.  I was going to visit the 7 parks in the lower south west corner: Reed Bingham, Seminole, Kolomoki Mounds, George T. Bagby, Florence Marina, Providence Canyon, and Georgia Veterans.  (Each park will have it's own Blog entry, this entry is to capture the roadtrip adventure and the meaningful moments and people that flavored the entirety.)

Initially, I had planned to start at Georgia Veteran (spend about 4 hours there) then travel to Providence & Florence Marina before continuing south.  The Universe helped me out here though - Florence Marina was fully booked for the nights I wanted to be there.  Plan B ... Turned out, that if I flipped the order and started with Reed Bingham instead of ending there I would be able to get the reservations I wanted.  AND even though both Providence Canyon and Seminole had events for Saturday the 18th, Seminole had 3 events right up my alley - Birding Kayaking, History Kayaking, and Nature Night Hike.  I booked site #14 at Seminole for Friday & Saturday night - seemed to be the last site when I booked and it was the site I would have chosen (I enjoy seeking & noting "the best" campsite in a campground lol).  Getting the last site and it being the best site is part of what I like to think of as 'RoadTrip Magic' or 'Travel Magic'.
The magic continued with 73 degree weather for my kayaking trips on day 2.  (After this day, the weather got cold yet clear for the majority of the trip with morning temps near freezing).  Seminole Park Naturalist Jason was my guide for the kayaks and hike, and I ended up being the only person for these outings (others signed up canceled).  Having your own personal naturalist at a state park should be a standard offering - I learned so much about the history and nature of this park/area through Jason's passion and knowledge.  It really flavored the start of my roadtrip with a depth I wasn't expecting.  Part of our discussions included information about the Indigenous People of the area, and how they were viewed and treated as Settlers came.  I think Jason's insight and connection could be meaningful here.  I hope there are avenues/people within the state park system that will encourage him.  And thank you, Jason!!! Your knowledge and capability and focus on protecting/observing/acknowledging the meaningful in the natural world around are an inspiration for me. 
I left Seminole early Sunday morning, headed to Kolomoki Mounds, where my knowledge, understanding, and thoughts about Indigenous Peoples expanded (especially after the link/priming of the talks with Jason the day before).  
At Kolomoki, I was sinking into solo travel as only an introvert can - with quiet exploring, talking to plants along the trails (what?? you don't?? lol), and of course a good book.  The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a simple read, but so profound.  I had been reading on it slowly for a couple of weeks at home, yet it seemed that I was set to read one particular part where the shepard boy is talking with the wind, sun, and hand (for those of you who know the book) while here.  It led me to feel a thought pattern change in that precise moment while sitting quietly at my campsite as the sun slowly set.  Immediately after, Stacy enters my life.  Stacy is a camping, outdoor loving, mother of 2 teen boys who frequents Georgia State Parks with her husband Trevor, family, and friends.  Stacy is an extrovert.  Straight-up bubbly, come for a chat, invited me over to their campfire extrovert - like not just friendly & polite but "bubbly" in an authentic way.  I accepted and was delighted by the insight into this nature loving person and those around her.  As I talked about my state park travels and goal, she shared some of hers and also recommended I not miss the margarita at Georgia Veterans.  I returned to my adjacent campsite #3 (Stacy & friends were in #1/2 - we both agreed that campsite #11 was the best at Kolomoki Mounds).  As I sit by my campfire, I hear Stacy inform her family that tonight was a good night for a dance party after dinner.  Later, I hear the dance party start inside their RV with surprisingly Truth Hurts by Lizzo - one of my favorite jams (yo).  I totally jump up and dance along at my fire.  Thank you, Stacy!!!   Your passion for life and the outdoors, doing it on your own terms (with a joyful Trevor equally into it), AND being to inclusive to your introverted campsite neighbor are an inspiration to me.
It was cold the following morning. After watching the sunrise atop Temple Mound, I left for a warm room at George T. Bagby, on Lake Eufaula.  That shower was maybe the best, most warm & relaxing shower I've ever experienced.  As I leave here the following morning, I happen to capture sunrise.  I thought I was headed for Florence Marina for the night at the opposite end of Lake Eufaula.  Little did I know, I'd visit 4 Georgia State Parks in this one day.
I stop in at Providence Canyon and gather information quickly before heading to Florence Marina.  I determine that if I stay at Florence Marina and hike Providence the next day that I would have A LOT of down time.  Quick plan modification has me canceling the Florence Marina reservations (thank you to the park staff for their assistance with my back and forth!), hiking Providence that day, and traveling to Georgia Veterans that night.  
Travel Magic at play as I stop for dinner in Americus at a gas station Subway.  I eat my salad there, and am warmly welcomed by 3 workers (all in their early/mid 20s I am guessing).  I laughed and learned about the community and told them about my park goal.  Continuing on my way, I arrive at Georgia Veterans right at sunset.  This day feels magical - sunrise at one park, a couple parks in between, and sunset at another just through natural and unplanned flow.  
I throw my belongings into my lovely room and dash out across the grass to the end of the dock to watch the last light fade.  There is something special about going as far as you are able, to stand witness in however you are able, to something/someone.  I felt this in my core.  Finally, I turn and consider doing something I haven't done before - going alone into a bar for a drink.  The only reason I am brave enough is due to my extroverted friend Stacy from Kolomoki Mounds.  :)  So I do. And the margarita is great. And I grow.  
The next day, I go to explore the museum and park.  I met a couple of Georgia State Park Volunteers.  One is Kim.  Kim invites me along for a golf cart tour.  Volunteer Kim is a Goat-Lady.  What is a Goat-Lady? Well, if you've seen the movie Cold Mountain and recall the wise woman who lives in the woods with her herbs and goats, you get the beginning idea of what a Goat-Lady is.  I've been thinking on this Goat-Lady character for literally years and how I hope to be like that when I get older (and more importantly, pondering how  she became the woman she was - thoughts of writing a book on this live within me).  Kim doesn't have goats or herbs or live in the woods.  But she is the strong, capable woman I recognize I want to be.  She moves in authenticity and fullness.  Georgia Veterans is where she has decided to volunteer as Camp Host and with the Maintenance Department.  As we toured the park in the golf cart, she is stopping at every piece of litter for her trash bucket, she is dodging fallen trees off trail to my delight, she is climbing down in the dirt to show me a plant at the water's edge, she is praising her volunteer managers and team, she is telling me stories of the people/plants/animals/activities of this place.  I have no doubt that where ever Kim turns her attention, she will proceed with earnestness and with joy for the natural world around her and a job well done.  Thank you, Kim!!!  You can have no idea how much you inspire me.  The strong, thoughtful, capable, knowledgeable, honest, caring woman you are is all that I hope and strive to be.

A park naturalist, a park patron, a park volunteer.  I know these aren't the only caring, involved, inspirational people associated with Georgia State Parks.  Yet, I know that for me, these 3 individuals have such a lasting impact on how I view and experience and feel about the parks - and myself.  The people without the parks AND the parks without the people only tell half the story.  Meaning for and investment in our communities, our land, and our future seem to me to need good balance and exposure and involvement of both.  
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