Chattahoochie Bend - Recapped

It has been a couple of days since my last posting to this blog – miss me?  The stay here at Hurlbutt Air Force Base has been pretty much a business trip.  I’ve been keeping the list – and since it is the season, checking it twice – of all the places we go so I can write about them, either individually or collectively.  Since we were day-tripping from stop to stop all the way from Maryland to Florida some places got short changed in the write ups sso I’d like to double back to our stay in GA.

We ended up at Chatahoochie Bend because in the GPS listing of campgrounds near us it was one of the top 3.  Once we know the top three it becomes Lori’s job as copilot to research them and pick the one she likes the most.  It was this philosophy and Chattahoochie Bend that made me notice when my GPS lists locations that the distance is straight line (as the crow flies) an the true distance isn’t calculated until you plug it in as a destination.  Then it will calculate actual driving distance.  I didn’t notice this little nuance going to Chattahoochie Bend because I was just happy to be around Atlanta – again, I don’t care how many desperate housewives live there, it is the worst city to drive in or near. 

Chatahhochie Bend ended up being a very remote campground.  While the GPS will tell you dinner is four miles away once you select the location and it plots out the route it is 30 miles – minimum.  The access road to the park is about two miles long and the campground is another two miles past the Ranger (contact) Station.  Don’t let the remoteness dissuade you from this park.  The campground is beautiful and if hiking is your bag this place is the mother lode!  For some reason a beautiful female lab puppy got dumped in the campground.  She had been on her own for at least two months and was very skittish of people. Though, she did come over to our site to investigate the new arrivals.  I thought she actually belonged to the couple across the street from us.  I always have dog treats in the Ram and asked the guy across the street if it was OK to give her a treat.  It was then that we found out that she was dumped at the park. There were a number of campers who were feeding her and she had a little living area that she was very protective of.

Since we were running a little later than usual because of the loop around Atlanta we wanted to eat out – as is the usual plan on travel days.  I asked the guy across the street were the closest place was, he laughed and said there is not a thing within 40 miles of the campground.  I shook it off and searched restaurants in the GPS and found several listed between four and seven miles out.  Lori and I decided on one, set that as our GPS destination and boom, 32 miles and 45 minutes! We tried one a little closer and got 28 miles and 34 minutes – well we’re hungry so off we go.  The area around Chattahoochie Bend has  narrow two-lane roads with no street lights and 55 mph speed limits Not a lot of fun being on unfamiliar roads in the dark with high speed limits.  As the GPS got us close to our intended destination we could not find anything.  The destination seemed to be a small three-store strip mall but we did not see anywhere in it to eat and we were doing our best to not anger any further those behind us.  With the intended destination now in the rear view mirror we began a visual search for anyplace to eat.  There is not much in this part of the state.  Lori eventually spotted a Subway Sandwich Shop and we were soon eating.

Miss This Girl

 

On the way back to the campground we did find a Dollar Store so Lori could grab a few items and I grabbed a little dog food and reloaded the dog treats.

The next morning we decided we would have a quick snack and try to find something on the road a little later out.  I did get some time trying to convince my new dog friend that she should hang out with us.  I really had no idea how we would handle a dog as a full time companion in a 26 foot travel trailer and a crew cab truck already loaded with everything that won’t fit in the Flagstaff.  As we were packing up the trailer for the road, two members of the park’s staff were setting up a trap for the puppy.  I don’t know if she would fall for it because she seems to have a high level of intelligence.  I asked what they intended to do with the dog and the younger of the park staff said he was bringing her home.  He had a little girl and he thought they make good friends.  I agree, whoever wins this dog over will have a loyal friend for many years.

We left Chatahoochie Bend and commenced the long and winding road to the highway.  I was sure that we would pass both a Cracker Barrel and a Waffle House before actually hitting the highway but there was nothing in site. Fortunately the next exit came quickly and there was the Waffle House.