Spring has Sprung

It is obvious that Spring has arrived when you see the trees in bloom and the buttercups pushing up through the earth. The slow nature of winter activity at High Falls State Park has picked up considerably during the latter part of March. The campgrounds are filling up on the week-ends and all six Yurts are reserved by families seeking an adventure to celebrate the end of winter.

The fishing is good in the 650 acre lake. The big flat head catfish in the picture was caught by one of the hosts here at the Lakeside campground where we volunteer. I was hailed by Gary, the other host, as I road by on the golf cart. “Do you have a large fish net,” he asked.

“ No, I don’t. Why?”

“Maryann (Gary’s wife) has caught a big catfish and we can’t get him in.”

I thought I might help if I were to get one of the large onion sacks that held the firewood we sell at the campground. I went to the firewood storage shed, emptied a sack of firewood and rushed back to the dock with the sack.

Maryann was holding fast to the fishing line itself. I followed the line down to the water below and saw the big fish. It had a hook in its mouth, a hook in one gill, and the line wrapped several times around its tail. We were unable to get the fish into the onion sack, but Gary wrapped the sack around its tail and hauled it onto the dock. The fish was about 30 inches long and weighted about 20 to 25 pounds. Its head was a good eight inches wide. Catfish is not the only thing being caught-- large mouth bass, brim, and crappy are also on the menu.

Nine miles from High Falls State Park is a sister Park, Indian Springs. Its closeness almost makes it and High Falls one Park. The village of Indian Springs is a small town with a big history. The Park itself is on land acquired by the State of Georgia in 1825 and became an official “State Forest Park” in 1927, making it the oldest State Park in the nation.

The springs were used by the Creek Indians to heal the sick and impart extra vigor. Today, visitors still sample the spring water. On our first visit to the spring we found a family filling jug after jug with the water. Gallon jugs, five gallon jugs, as much as they could carry and their car would hold. The water has a sulfur taste that I don’t like, but I was told by an elderly lady who had come to fill a jug, that if you put it in the refrigerator and get it cold, it tastes just like fresh well water. I haven’t tested that thesis as yet.

A hotel was built at Indian Springs by Chief William McIntosh (1775-1825) who was a half Scot and half Creek Indian Chief of the Lower Creek Indian Nation. He also earned the rank of Brigadier General while fighting with American forces under the command of Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812. An astute businessman, he amassed considerable wealth and owned a ferry and the tavern-inn at Indian Springs.

Chief McIntosh signed the Indian Springs Treaty of 1825 at the Indian Springs Hotel that ceded 4,700,000 acres of land occupied by the Indians to the State of Georgia. The Indians in return, received an equal amount of land west of the Mississippi River and the sum of $400,000. While the Treaty was being signed on the bar, leaders of the Upper Creek villages who opposed the treaty stood outside of the hotel and swore their revenge on McIntosh. Chief McIntosh was killed by the opposition on May 31, 1825 at his plantation at Acorn Bluff on the Chattahoochee River.

The pictures of the trees and buttercups were taken at Dauset Trails, a large expanse of acreage devoted to preserving nature and wildlife, about half way between High Falls and Indian Springs. It contains 17 miles of scenic bike trails, 10 miles of horse trails, picnic areas, a wedding chapel, and a menagerie of animals including black bear, buffalo, bald eagle, and a variety of farm animals, all for the enjoyment of the public free of charge. The name was derived from the first three letters of the names of the men who developed it, Daughtry and Settle.

We had a good time toward the end of March celebrating a long-time friend’s birthday. We rented a cottage at Indian Springs for the occasion. The birthday girl and her husband came down from Stone Mountain, GA and her sister and brother-in-law came up from Gainsville, FL for the festivities. We had a great three days of fun together.

It is time now to move out to other parts. We are heading back to Fort Yargo State Park for the summer. We started early, intending to take the trailer to the shop for a little repair, then spend a few days with our son Don before getting to the Park. We had to detour, however, to South Carolina for the funeral of an aunt. She enjoyed 97 years of life. Although she spent the last seven years in an assisted living institution, and though she had physical disabilities, she had a great attitude. She would insist on being “dressed” every day, with contemporary clothes, makeup, and jewelry. She topped it all off with a great smile and a pleasant word for everyone. When asked how she was feeling, her reply was always the same, “fine.”

I leave you for the month with a little story:

A couple of elderly RVers who'd recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary were sitting on the sofa in their Airstream motorhome, when the wife said, "Dear, do you remember how you used to sit close to me?" He moved over and sat close to her.

"Dear," she continued, "do you remember how you used to hold me tight?" He reached over and held her tight.

"And," she went on, "do you remember how you used to hug me and kiss me and nibble on my ear?" With that, her husband got up and started to walk toward the rear of the motorhome.

"Where are you going?" she asked. "Well," answered the husband, "I have to get my teeth."

Well, the tree is amused!

We’ll talk to you again in April. In the meantime, check out the new entries on our other blog, View From The Road.