I, like half of the county, followed the Casey Anthony trial. I believe, again along with at
least half of the county, a psychopathic murderer walked out of that Orange County  jail a free woman. It saddens me to see her behavior rewarded financially with such goodies as a $500,000 deal to pose in Hustler Magazine, possible books deals that seem to be being kept under wraps and maybe a movie deal.

This seems to be par for the course. If a famous or infamous name can make money for a company, that is the only  factor being considered. Take Michael Vick.  (In fact please take him far away because I sure don’t want him.) He was convicted of killing and maiming multiple dogs for fun and profit. He pitted the animals in a dogfight ring in fights to the death. Then if any of his dogs lost the fight and survived, he tortured then to death. One was thrown into a pool with electric wires connected to  his
ears. Another was used as a jump rope by Vick and a friend until the animal ‘s bloody body was lifeless and finally unable to feel the pain deliberately inflicted on it just for fun.

At least he served a little time in prison, less than two years. Upon his release, he was rewarded with a megabucks football contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. On July 1, 2011, Nike re-signed Vick as an endorser. Makes you wonder why they would sign such an endorsement deal over a busy fourth of
July weekend when it would slip by most people’s attention as the news focused on local celebrations.

Not to be out-moneyed, Subway awarded Vick their “Sportsman of the Year” award. Sportsman
of the year?  This sociopath who considered forcing dogs to fight and kill one another for some sickos’
enjoyment a “sport” and then beat or electrocuted helpless dogs for his own amusement is a sportsman? Not in my book!

Later in July, another company jumped on the bandwagon to laud the merits of  Michael Vick. Double Eagle Holdings, Ltd, the parent company of Fuse Science, Inc. made him an equity partner. Vick also will endorse Fuse Science as the company’s primary NFL spokesperson. This company make energy drinks and various vitamin and supplement products for athletes. The slogan is Vick, will be “Powered by Fuse.”

There are those who say “Vick served his time. We should forgive and forget. Let him earn his living.” Well I have no problem with an ex-con earning a living. I do have a problem with holding such a person up for admiration and as a role model for America’s youth. He could earn his living at Subway serving sandwiches while he trotted around the counter in his Nikes. On his break, he could enjoy a nice cold bottle of EnerJel.

Meantime, I will quietly go on rescuing feral cats and earning my living as a writer and publisher. Some things I WILL NOT do are wear Nike products, eat Subway sandwiches or drink any energy drinks made by Fuse Science. Of course, he probabaly would not do as good a job as the fine young men and woman who already work there.

And next year, if any of these companies name Casey Anthony “Mother of the Year,” I will not be surprised. Come to think of it, if Vick and Anthony married, they could get all kinds of endorsements as “Couple of the Year.”

Crawdaddys

The Mardi Gras Media Tour began after disembarking in Shreveport. Pat Gill and Chris Jay representing Shreveport/Bossier met us and promptly took us to a late lunch at Crawdaddy’s Kitchen. Boy, what a blast of old Louisiana. The place was reminiscent of the most local-style Louisiana bayou eatery you have ever seen in those old movies. It was so real, I would not have been at all surprised if someone brought a alligator in to join us. The food was real and most of it was crawfish. You can’t get “real” crawfish very often in Florida. (or I suspect anywhere else except Louisiana) So I was in Hog Heaven. I tried several different items from the menu and all registered high on my Tasty Meter. In case any of you don’t know it I am originally from Louisiana and the food is still one thing I miss. Florida has a lot of good things but Louisiana wins on the food side.

Our wine tasting at On Cloud Wine

After good eats comes good drinks. That’s a Shreveport/Bossier rule I came to find out. Our next stop was a wine tasting at a neat little winery called On Cloud Wine.  This “cute as a button”  new winery is using grapes from elsewhere while waiting their first  Muscatine harvest. Owner/winemaker Debbie Keckler prepares all the vintages onsite in small batches. Currently there are 14 vintages and we got to sample most of them.  Penelope Peach and Bourbon St. Jazz competed for number one spot on my personal favorites list.

The shop has hundreds of adorable wine accessories for sale. For instance did you know a coozie for your wine is a woozie.  I learn something new every time I travel.

Then we checked in at our home away from home for three whole nights, The Courtyard by Marriott. Ah, the bliss of not packing up each night for a new nest! To add to the pleasure the rooms were super modern, bright and airy with all you could ask from a hotel. The staff was super friendly as well.

Artist, Scott Hove poses with one of his sculptures

Before dinner we had time to check out a new art venue just opening, The Cakeland Exhibits. Food that looked like art and art that looked like food. We got to meet the talented Scott Hove who created the exciting “look but don’t taste” art. There was a “Let Them Eat Cake” sculpture designed and decorated by Shreveport’s own Tanya Clark that tasted as good as it looked. Lots of other appetizers there so we would not get hungry on the way to dinner.

One of the floats being loaded

One more fantastic stop before we dined. We visited the Krewe of Centaur’s float loading party. This is a free family-fun event open to everyone that is held the night before the parade. It’s literally  “Hail hail, the gang’s all here.” The krewe are all busy hanging tons of beads and mountains of other throws, eating and drinking and getting ready for the parade. The townspeople are all wandering around among the floats taking pictures, begging beads–which are readily tossed–and eating and drinking and gearing up to see the parade tomorrow.

That's a really talented kid!

Dinner was at Bistro Byronz. The food was so varied that was sure to be something to please any palate. I was in the mood for down-home-soul food so I ordered the Pot Roast Creole. It was hot spicy and delicious. Music was in the air at Bistro Byrone too. The band consisted of a back-up guitar player and a soon to be singer/guitar player. This pint-sized wonder had just turned thirteen but had a really big voice. He is sure to go somewhere in the music field.

We also met someone who had already gone many places in the music world, Maggie Warwick. There will be more about Maggie a little later in this blog.

Making a king cake at Julie Anne's

Saturday morning we headed for Julia Anne’s Bakery and Café for a lesson in the art of making King Cakes. We all got to crowd into the kitchen in the small bakery that makes and ships king cakes anywhere in the world. It was so much fun to watch as the colorful cakes were created, each with a tiny plastic baby inside. The only part that was more fun than watching was eating the tasty concoctions. (There is going to be a lot more about the king cake tradition and the entire Shreveport/Bossier Mardi Gras celebration in the Spring 2011 issue of americanroads.net which should be online about the first week in April)

One of the many costumes on display

Next we got more into the Mardi Gras spirit at the Krewe of Gemini’s Mardi Gras Museum. Director Mary Louise Stansell proudly told us the stories behind the displays of elaborate costumes worn by the Gemini royalty for over a decade. Each costume is individually crafted of the finest materials in the most elaborate designs, worked on by craftspeople for months at great expense, and then worn only for that year’s parade and activities. The only comparison I can think of for these one of a kind treasures would be the coronation costumes of European royalty.

We learned the history of Gemini and other krewes. One interesting  fact for visitors is that you can be a member and take part in a parade for a very reasonable fee. We even got to try on one of the collars on display. 

Making our masks

Next stop took us to Barnwell Gardens and Art Center located on the banks of the Red River. From its plaza you can see the skylines of Shreveport and Bossier City and the famous neon-lighted Texas Street Bridge. We viewed their Mardi Gras display where we saw memorabilia and costumes from other krewes. Then we got to create our very own Mardi Gras masks.

The “Garden” part of the center is a domed tropical conservatory with a special fragrance garden for the visually impaired.

The Muffie

Lunch was a special treat. We visited Fertitta’s Delicatessen, home of  the “Muffie.” In case you have never heard of a Muffie, it is a close cousin to the famous New Orleans Muffelletta a huge structure composed of a loaf of round bread, countless meats and topped with a Greek salad. Fertitta’s differs in that the Greek salad in is Papa Fertitta’s special  Olive Mix, the recipe to which is a closely guarded family secret.

Papa , the inventor of the Muffie, was Sam R. Fertitta.  the current owner, Agatha Ferititta McCall, his daughter, carries on the family traditions: like continuing to make the world famous Muffie and continuing to live above the deli as her parents did. The building itself deserves respect as it was built in 1927 and has never been out of the hands of the original family. It is one of only a few restaurants in the state of Louisiana on the National Register of Historic Places.

Besides, it tastes darn good. As is the pizza. And the other sandwiches and I suspect everything that comes out of Agatha Fertitta’s kitchen. The decor is authentic as well filled with family mementoes, early signs and photographs of Papa.

Everything is bowling related here

Well fed and filled with Agatha’s family stories, we headed towards the Red River with a quick  stop at Holiday Lanes. It’s a bowling alley with a twist. The bar and almost everything in it is made from things in a bowling alley. The bar itself is made from the wood from an actual bowling lane.  And to make it family friendly, the bowling alley is smoke free.

As we were driving around, we did get chance to spot some of Bossier Citty’s murals. These are really huge works of art that depict events in the city’s history and culture.

Interesting old wreck on the bank

The parade was scheduled to proceed along Clyde Fant Parkway along the riverfront . We had time for a informative cruise down the river aboard Captain Sandy Jackson’s river cruiser. We journeyed into Cross Bayou and got a  crash course in river lore from our friendly captain.

Back on land again we were ushered into the celebrity tent for a pre-parade party. Out ticket gave us two passes for the overflowing buffet.  In case you haven’t figured it out our hosts, Chris and Pat, wanted to make sure none of us got hungry. (As if we hadn’t had enough Muffles to feed an army and knew there was a feast awaiting at supper) But who can pass good Louisiana food, Not any of us that’s for sure. We all bellied up to that buffet line like a thirsty man in a bar.

My brush with royalty

The music was hot zydeco numbers like “Don’t Mess With My Toot Toot” and “Jolie Blon” It got your toes tapping and your mouth humming along. Then we were honored by a visit from royalty. the King and Queen of Centaur stopped by for a few photo opps.

Then it was what we were all waiting for, the Centaur Parade. I found a wonderful spot on a crawfish wagon pulled by a pickup. The owners were kind enough to let me hang out with them and watch the parade. I sampled a few of the crawfish naturally. They were perfect, just the fight seasoning. I told one of the owners of an experience I had at a restaurant in Florida where the “chef” mingled a few real Louisiana Crawfish with some Chinese crawfish and passed the dish off as “Louisiana Crawfish.”

Steaming crawfish are hard to beat

The wagon owner stated that was something that was being done a lot and made him very mad. “They pay for some real crawfish and then buy a bunch of the other stuff at about half the price and pass them off as Louisiana Crawfish.”

My opinion is that restaurants that stoop to this should at least be honest and call their dish “Half Louisianan Crawfish Mixed With Cheap Stuff.” I doubt it would get much call for the dish if they were that honest sooo….

One of the colorful floats

We enjoyed about 40 or so floats and marching bands before we left just before the end to beat the crowd. I left with more than my share of beads even though I had spent more time taking pictures than yelling “Throw me something, Mister.”

After a short stop back at the hotel to change we went to dinner at Wine Country Bistro and Bottle Shop. The menu had many exotic elements and is a good choice for the adventurous diner. They offer a quaint dimly lit rear dining room where we dined, spacious patio for al fresco dining or an upbeat bistro/ wine bar.

Back at our hotel, I managed to stay on my feet long enough to go take a few pictures of the carrousel just outside the hotel, the Texas Street Bridge and the night skyline across the river. The hotel is strategically located in a wonderful outlet mall but I lacked the energy at this point to explore. That wonderfully comfortable bed was calling my name.

We got to sleep late. Yah! Brunch was at the Colombia Café located in the Highland section of the city. Owner Mathew Linn entertained us with tales of the Highland Neighborhood which even had its own parade. The omelet adorned with fresh fruit was incredible but the most unique feature of the restaurant is the bathroom! Yes. The bathroom. A picture is worth a thousand words so see for yourself.

I told you

you wouldn't believe it

Our next stop was very special to me.

Elvis

It was like a dream of Hillbilly Heaven. I was walking in the footsteps of Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Sr., Johnny Cash and many of the other Country Music greats.  I was getting a backstage tour of the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, former home of the Louisiana Hayride. The person reveling this wonderland of one of country music’s greatest shrines, was none other than Maggie Warwick. ( I told you we would get back to her)

When Maggie, then Margaret Lewis, first sought her slice of the country music pie in 1957 at the tender age of fifteen, she could have no idea that her career was to intertwine with most of the greats of country music.  The Louisiana Hayride at that time was an outlaw version of the Grand Ole Opry. It was the proving ground where many a young hopeful took his or her best shot at fame.  

Maggie tells about the Hayride backstage

For Maggie, the Hayride was where it all began. She met the greats of Country music there and moved on to a successful career as a singer/songwriter in Nashville.

Maggie made it all come alive for us with her stories. We stepped into the dressing room Elvis used. We stood on stage and experienced the magic of the old building. Maggie’s husband, Alton, pointed out a “no smoking” sign backstage. He explained that in the 50s, the sign was not prompted by health concerns as by the danger of fire. Of course, he said, all the entertainers mostly ignored the sign.

The building itself would deserve a visit just for the architecture even without the history. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of only two National Historic Landmark in the Shreveport/Bossier area. Naturally it has a entire range of resident ghosts.

Great for "kids" of all ages

This was one place I would have loved to continue exploring all day and into the night but there was more to see. The Sci-Port is a 92,000 square-foot science and entertainment center in Shreveport-Bossier, featuring over 290 science, space science, technology and math exhibits; daily changing programs, an IMAX Dome Theatre, open-access, interactive, laser Space Dome Planetarium, gift shop and cafe. Sci-Port is located on the downtown Shreveport Riverfront.

It is wonderful for kids but also can hold an adult’s interest. The Hubble Exhibit there is fascinating. Naturally, Chris and Pat didn’t want any of us to faint from hunger so they got us all a “Humphrey Yogart.” OMG!!! Those things are delicious! I can tell you what is in them: Yogurt topped with three fresh fruits, granola, and honey. I can’t even come close to describing the taste. You just have to go there and try one. The concession there is run  by Counter Culture so you may find one elsewhere but do find one. Soon.

Meadows Art Museum

Next we visited the Meadows Museum of Art, a branch of Centenary College of Louisiana The museum houses a large collections of works by Jean Despujols. A traveling exhibit, Visions and Visionaries, Works by David Holcombe was a bonus.

Now after leaving here, several members of our “krewe” threatened to mutiny if Chris didn’t take us for some drive-through daiquiri’s, Ever the gracious host, he complied. We got to sample drinks like “Pink Panties,”  ”Motel Bound” and “Pimp Juice.” They were frozen and tasty.  Chris assured us the neighborhood was in sync with the drinks. We did not tarry at the stand.

The Pink Poodle

Our next treat was the whimsical Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Mardi Paws Parade. Mainly dogs, but some horses, cats and bunnies, in costume were the cutest thing ever. The humans threw beads. The pets simply marched on and stopped for regular petting sessions along the route. My personal favorite was a little pink poodle.

Last stop before heading to our home away from home, the Marriott, was the Robinson Film Center.  This is north Louisiana’s only venue for independent, international, and classic cinema. The theater has two theaters and three multi-use  showrooms where films can be shown or other events hosted. There is Abby Singer’s Bistro for dining before or after a film.

The entertainers for Oscar Night Party

As we were leaving we met a group of “characters” including Opra, Lady GaGa and Rooster Cogburn, who were entertaining at the Oscar Night Party being held there later.

Our farewell dinner that night was at Chianti’s Restaurant. Great Italian food. Very sophisticated and upscale.  My Lobster Alfredo was wonderful.

Next morning it was back home again. But the experience will stay with us all and, I am sure it will draw me back to Shreveport/ Bossier again. Louisiana’s Other Side is a very interesting side.

For more info:

www.shreveport-bossier.org

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/shvsb-courtyard-shreveport-bossier-city-louisiana-boardwalk/

artspaceshreveport.com/

www.barnwellcenter.com

www.bossierarts.org

www.bowlholidaylanes.com

www.animalkrewe.org

www.kreweofcentaur.org

www.kreweofgemini.com

www.mardigrasmuseum.org

www.centenary.edu/meadows

municipalauditorium.homestead.com/

www.robinsonfilmcenter.org

www.sciport.org

www.redrivercruise.com

www.crawdaddyskitchen.com

www.papafertitta.com

www.oncloudwineonline.com

www.columbiacafe.com

http://www.bistrobyronz.com/

Homemade Jamz entertains

When we arrived back at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, I just had time to register. Luckily, I hooked up with one of my good traveling buddies, Renee Gordon, at the desk. We tossed out stuff in our rooms and headed off for the Tabernacle where the Mississippi Tourism Luncheon was being held. SAw another fellow traveler there, Doc Lawrence.

The building is beautiful. Filled with architectural elements and vivid colors. It was also filled with good smells from the food and wailing blues notes from the band. Homemade Jamz was a fantastic band. They have won multiple award even though the oldest member is just 18 and the youngest is 12. When the lead singer had flames streaming out the pipes of his double-necked guitar, he redefined hot licks.

After a bountiful feast and an interesting introduction to Mississippi’s new branding slogan, “Find your South in Mississippi” we were free until evening.

Antique Delivery Truck at WOCC

The evening’s reception for us journalists only was held at The World of Coca-Cola. They had hors d’oeuvres and drinks and welcomed us to Atlanta. I met up with a few other journalists friends I have traveled with in the past: Christine, April, Bobby, Kevin, Apryl and others. We were free to wander the museum at our own pace. Here is a sample from my Georgia’s Ghostly Getaways that tells what is found there.

The new World of Coca-Cola moved from its former location in 2007 and already is garnering praise for the new facility. Marketing Manager Jacquie Wansley stated,  “This new facility is large enough to house 1,200 artifacts from around the world.  It showcases the history of the country’s favorite carbonated beverage.”

One visitor remarked, “I never realized Coke has been a part of our history for so long.”

A nostalgic tour of Coke-inspired pop-art and a 4-D movie combine to make this attraction fun for all ages. Everybody agrees the best part is the tasting. You can sample Coke products from all over the world. 

Our dinner at Georgia Aquarium

The fun continued next door at Georgia Aquarium. We were wined, dined and entertained by a very hot band. Again we were able to wander to our heart’s content among the exhibits.

With more 100,000 animals of 500 different species, Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest. Entered from the central atrium, the aquarium’s five galleries, Georgia Explorer, River Scout, Ocean Voyager, Coldwater Quest and Tropical Diver, offer an in-depth look at different aquatic environments. The aquarium has the world’s largest tank, holding more  than 6 million gallons, making it almost as large as a football field. This is the only aquarium outside of Asia that has whale sharks and two manta rays. It’s also home to several Beluga whales. As you can imagine we all had a great time.

Our waiter brings us...you guessed it...More fried green tomatoes

Wednesday  was devoted to meetings which were helpful to me to get new places to write about but would bore you readers to tears so, I’ll skip to the fun part. We did have a lovely luncheon provided by Travel South with a cute skit based on Glee, the TV show. For dinner  we got another taste of Southern cooking at Mary Mac’s. That restaurant has been a local legend for many years. Fried green tomatoes are one of my favorites. They ring my Yummy-Meter right up there with fried chicken and chocolate anything but I have had more fried green tomatoes during these ten days than ever before in my life. Not complaining but just noting that one of my favorites is becoming very popular.

Curtis Ritchardson weaves his magic Brer Rabbit story

Thursday morning was  a new attraction for me. We visited Wren’s Nest, the home of Joel Chandler Harris.  Lain Shakespeare, the director, is the great-great-great-grandson of Harris and can offer many insides to his family history. Although born the illegitimate son of an Irish laborer, Harris got the best of a classic education from his mentor, Joseph Addison Turner and at the same time a completely different education from his African slave friends on Turner’s  plantation. Among people like Uncle George Terrell, Old Harbert, and Aunt Crissy, Harris felt more at home than among the white elite.

Curtis Richardson, one of the museum storytellers kept us enthralled with his renditions of several Brer Rabbit stories. We were all in stitches with his re-enactments  of the characters. The man has a great talent.

After the museum, we returned to the World Congress Convention Center for another Glee Luncheon. Then it was a mad dash from my hotel room to the nearest post office located in CNN to mail out all my goodies and paperwork. It was a struggle but better than trying to drag them to the airport later and pay ridiculous extra luggage fees.

One of Scarlett's costumes at the GWTW Museum

Then it was on the Jonesboro, home of the Gone With the Wind Museum and Stately Oaks and not incidentally site of one of the most important battles of the War Between the States. Our guide was Peter Bonner of Historical and Hysterical Tours. He led us through Jonesboro in  away Sherman might have envied. Of course Peter left no destruction behind just interesting stories and inside observations. One of my favorite of these inside stories was one I cited in my Georgia’s Ghostly Getaways, second edition. It relates to the notorious

John Henry “Doc” Holliday, the gunfighter. The Hollidays were relatives of Margaret Mitchell’s grandmother who lived at the Holidays’ home while she attended Fayetteville Academy. While Margaret Mitchell was researching GWTW, she visited Fayetteville and located many of the graves of her great-grandfather’s family buried in the city’s cemetery. This was the nucleus of the O’Hara clan. Scarlett O’Hara attended the fictional Fayetteville Female Academy.

It’s not a big stretch to assume she also based the characters of Melanie and Ashley on her distant cousins, Mattie Holliday and Mattie’s first cousin and love of her life, John Henry “Doc” Holliday. As everyone familiar with the famed gambler and gunfighter knows, he left home after he was not allowed to marry his cousin. She entered the convent and took the name Sister Melanie.

Peter noted that when Doc Holliday died his possessions including correspondence with Sister Melanie, which had continued throughout his lifetime, were returned to the Holliday family. The family burned the letters claiming “there was nothing of historical significance in them.” What a loss to fans of GWTW!

Peter Bonner, our guide, Scarlett and Art Carvy at Stately Oaks

Then on to Stately Oaks where we were greeted by Scarlett, Union officer Art Carvy, and the talented docents. Here again I fall back on my book for the description.

Margaret Mitchell’s great-grandfather, Philip Fitzgerald, lived in Jonesboro, and it is commonly believed that Stately Oaks was the inspiration for Tara. It is an 1839 plantation home built by Whitmell Allen. It was located four miles north of Jonesboro, where Union soldiers camped on its grounds during the Battle of Jonesboro, until it was moved to its present location. It is now the headquarters of Historical Jonesboro/Clayton County, Inc.

I was enthralled by the docents stories as they led us through the house and grounds and strongly recommend it for any one visiting Atlanta.

Are those costumes gorgeous or what?

That night was the closing dinner hosted by next year’s Travel South Host, Kentucky Tourism and Louisville CVB. The event was staged as a Roaring Twenties Speakeasy. It was held at Ventanas, a rooftop venue with floor to ceiling windows allowing you fabulous views of  Atlanta’s  night skyline. Everything was staged perfectly, When you arrived you needed to give the password, Kentucky whiskey makes you frisky, through a slot in the door to be admitted. Once inside you found your hosts all dressed like characters for a old flapper movie. I saw more men who looked like close relatives of Al Capone and all the women sported gorgeous dresses with fringe and sequins, the costume completed with a cigarette in a long holder. Fortunately none were lit.

The Atlanta Skyline

I tried a delicious new bourbon by Jim Beam, Red Stag. It has a hint of black cherry and is great mixed with 7up. The food was all southern too complete with my old friend fried green tomatoes. I did pig out. Enough to last me through my non-existent meals on the flight to Shreveport for the next leg of my trip. But as Scarlett would say, “Tomorrow is another day.”

Who knows maybe I’ll even get it posted later today.

For more info:

Mary Mac’s http://www.marymacs.com/
World of Coca Cola http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/
Aquarium www.georgiaaquarium.org
Wren’s Nest http://www.wrensnestonline.com/
GWTW Museum www.visitscarlett.com/
Stately Oaks www.historicaljonesboro.org
Kentucky Dept of Tourism http://www.kentuckytourism.com/

A Mountain Tree Spirit at Forest Hills Resort

North Georgia always holds a fascination for me. Maybe it’s those wise old mountain spirits that call my name. Maybe it’s the different kinds of fun found there. Then I am sure the food plays a role in motivating me to  head for the hills every chance I get. So when Travel South, a new to me travel marketplace for both journalists and tour operators, offered the chance to do a very busy trip to Rabun, White and Dawson counties I jumped right in.

Dawsonville Poolroom really is a poolroom!

Bet you’re thinking, “That would make a nice two week vacation.”  It surely would but we did it in less than thee days. Leaving from Atlanta at 4pm on Saturday, we made a shopping stop (always a sure crowd pleaser when you have a lot of female journalists in the group) at North Georgia Premier Outlets. Next we  headed right for Dawsonville where NASCAR began with local moonshiners. All that shopping had stirred up  our appetites so our fearless leader, Cheryl Smith, directed that bus to The Dawsonville Poolroom. There we were greeted by owner Gordon Pirkle. He proudly showed us his collection of history and memorabilia on Bill Elliott’s NASCAR career and early moonshine runners.Elliot know locally as  “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville” frequents the restaurant but he was busy racing in Daytona this night. We all dug into the filling food. My favorite was the corn nuggets. Of course, I have to admit that I ate a lot  of other things too.  Gordon’s favorite menu item is the Bully Burger. He told us how one of the cooks originally created this burger by combining together just about everything but the kitchen sink on the meat.

My room at Forrest Hills. Can you imagine anything more relaxing?

Our home for the night was Forrest Hills Mountain Resort, a delightful 140 acre wilderness hideaway snuggled into the Appalachian Mountains. That huge jacuzzi in my room felt good that night. The resort has been nominated as one of the US’s top 100 Resorts for ten of its 30 years of existence.

You could spend a week or longer and never run out of things to do. There are the horse stables, hiking, roaming the trails and even playing with the resident cats. You are close to the Kangaroo Conservation Center (just 3 miles away), Amicalola Falls and the beginning of the Appalachian Trail (just 5 miles), canoeing, kayaking, gold mining and so much more. There is a wonderful dining room on site where we ate a hearty buffet style breakfast.

A tiny bat sleeps deep in the mine

Then we set off to search for gold. We found our treasure deep inside the bowels of the earth as we explored a real gold mine, Consolidated Gold Mines, the largest hardrock gold mine east of the Mississippi.

Prowling around the square in Dalonega is always a golden experience. There is the old Courthouse with its mining history and the shops of every kind. My favorite is the old general store. They still sell coffee for a nickle.

The “golden” theme was carried into lunch at the Smith House.You  can still see the old mine entrance inside. This former home of a gold miner was converted to a world class inn and restaurant. The food is good old southern cooking served family style and all you can eat. Yummy!!!

A baby is delivered at Babyland

From gold to babies. At our next stop we all found ourselves parenting a brand new “baby.” Babyland Hospital in Cleveland Georgia is the “birthplace” of the Cabbage Patch Kids. This is as much fun as Disney except it’s free. We all watched in awe as a mother cabbage “gave birth” to a brand new little Cabbage Patch girl. The “doctor” and “nurse” then took the newborn into the examination room and did some tests to be sure the little one was healthy. Strangely enough all of these kids are born with a special birthmark, Xavier Robert’s signature on their little butts. We were all allowed to adopt a “kid.” Mine is Evelyn Vicktoria, a precocious little beauty pageant princess. She’s going to adjust well to being mothered by a travel writer as she gave me no complaints when I had to ship her home in a box from Atlanta after the trip.

An Indian Snake Jar by Melvin and Michael Crocker

The Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia was a trip back to the earliest days of Georgia’s potters when “throwing” a pot or bowl was not art but everyday life. The museum is part of the Sautee-Nacoochee Community Center, which houses a local history museum as well. It was so much fun to look at this area of North Georgia history.

Next stop we headed for a quaint little Alpine village high in the mountains. Located not in the Alps but the Appalachians, Helen is a re-creation of  a picturesque Alpine town. It seem to always look like Christmas there. Wish we had had more time to check it out but we needed to get checked into the Unicoi State Park. This park is filled with natural wonders including Anna Ruby Falls. If you want to rough it there are camping and RV sites as well as the lodge. The decorations in the lodge consist of some of the most charming handmade quilts I ever saw.

For supper this time, Sautee-Nacoochee Community Center brought together the best food and wine of the region to offer us a feast worthy of royalty. There were three local wineries, Habersham Winery, Sautee Nacoochee Vineyards and Yonah Mountain Vineyards, who offered us the finest fruit of their vines distilled int liquid perfection. Our food menue was composed of the best of local cooking styles from Bernies, Nacoochee Grill and Stovall House, complemented by fresh baked bread from Old Sautee Store; coffee and beverages from Sweetwater Coffee House and dessert from Scarlet’s Secret. It was my pleasure to meet in person Hamilton Schwartz, the proprietor of the Stovall House who had provided me with a lot of interesting background material for my book, Georgia’s Ghostly Getaways.

One of the Brave Ones

We enjoyed  a fine breakfast at the Unicoi Park Lodge and headed to Rabun County to experience zip lining. I have to admit I chickened out on this one. I made it to the point of being buckled into a harness that would have held a large elephant and getting on the trial run. However, once my feet left the safety of the platform, my brain started shouting, “You were never meant to be suspended between heaven and earth dangling from a thin cable!”

I enjoyed taking pictures of my braver (or more foolish) comrades as they whisked from treetop to treetop at what seemed to approach the speed of light.

Cheryl pets one of Grape and Beans cats

Next stop was one I was able to take part in quite heartily, lunch at Grapes & Beans. It’s a quint little downtown restaurant with a friendly back deck. I had a spicy Southwest Chicken Fajita with seasoned chicken, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, tomatoes and chipotle dressing and warm fajita squares. I was happy to learn the chicken is hormone free and locally raised. The food was tasty and the owner, Sue Willis, is a cat person like me. She had a few furry friends sharing the porch. It felt just like home to me.

Nest we moved just two doors down to Persimmon on the Square where owner Mary Ann Hardman treated us to a wine tasting of her own vintages. She explained how her vineyard operates on a biodiversity principle. We learned about her sheep and the part they play in creating a wonderful vintage.

Which of us looks more contented?

From sheep to goats, Goats on the Roof that is. This is a fun stop for kids of all ages. The goats are precious and well cared for. We even got to pet Fudge, a four month old kid. Supposedly, the goats are aliens from outer space who have landed and made a home on the roof of the buildings. They prance around between the building by means of a plank and rope bridge. You can feed them by means of several clever pulley type devises. Their ice cram is out of this world too. And, no, it is not made from the goat’s milk.

Janice and Erin struggle up the steps at Tallulah Gorge

From the earthy to the sublime. Our next stop was to one of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern U.S., Tallulah Gorge, known as the Grand Canyon of the East. It is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep. Visitors can hike rim trails to several overlooks. Some of us hiked down to cross the suspension bridge over the deep canyon where in 1970, at the age of 65, Karl Wallenda thrilled crowds with his tightrope walk across the gorge without the benefit of a safety net. Ditto on my zip line feelings about doing something like that. (For those who want to know more about Tallulah Gorge, there is a great article on www.americanroads.net in the winter 2011 issue currently online)

We spent the night at the Dillard House, a Rabon County institution. The view of the mountains from there is spectacular.In 1794, Captain John Dillard was awarded a land grant of 1000 acres between the mountains for his service in the American Revolution. His descendants flourished and in 1917, Carrie and Author Dillard opened the present Dillard House as an inn. Over the near century since, it has flourished. Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone and Walt Disney. Arnold Palmer, Larry Bird Johnson, President Jimmy Carter, Senator Max Cleland, Mayor Maynard Jackson and Ambassador Andrew Young are among the prominent guest to have enjoyed the Dillard hospitality.

Dinner at Zepplins

For dinner that night it was a trip back to the days of old Rock and Roll legends at Zepplin’s Pasta House. Owner Cappy Taylor and her husband Mark specialize in the freshest food mostly all organic. If you are a fan of Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and their elk, you will love their pictures decorating all the walls.

Is this table overflowing or what?

Early next morning we gorged on breakfast Dillard House style. The buffet was filled with just about every berry and fruit known to man. But that was not all. Soon our table groaned under the weight of eggs, bacon, sausage, county ham, grits, biscuits, two gravies and a few other delicacies. Their County Ham was chosen by Chef Alton Brown on the Food Channel’s The best Thing I Ever Ate. Upon leaving we were presented a cookbook and a button that read “I ate TOO much at the Dillard House.”

Then we all settled in for the bus ride back to Atlanta and Travel South. Next installment will tell about the fun places we visited while in Atlanta. So tune in same time same blog in a few days for the low down on that.

For more information:

Dawson County Chamber www.dawson.org

North Georgia Premium Outlets www.premiumoutlets.com/northgeorgia

Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber & CVB www.dahlonega.org

Forrest Hills Mountain Resort www.forresthillsresort.com

Consolidated Gold Mines www.consolidatedgoldmine.com

Smith House www.smithhouse.com

Alpine Helen-White County CVB www.helenga.org

Babyland General Hospital www.cabbagepatchkids.com

Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia www.folkpotterymuseum.com

Unicoi State Park www.gastateparks.org/info/Unicoi

Sautee Nacoochee Center www.snca.org

Rabun County Convention & Visitors Bureau Authority www.rabuncountycvb.org

Chattooga Ridge Canopy Tours www.wildwaterrafting.com/chazip.php

Grapes & Beans www.grapesandbeans.com

Persimmon on the Square www.persimmoncreekwine.com

Goats on the Roof www.goats-on-the-roof.com

Tallulah Gorge State Park www.gastatepark.org/info/tallulah

Dillard House www.dillardhouse.com

Zeppelin’s www.zeppelinspastahouse.com

Bust of Rosa Parks at musuem

Seems like just yesterday I was starting my blog on Travel Media Showcase in Kansas City.  Last week I was just leaving Montgomery, Alabama after another wonderful hectic Travel Media Showcase. We met  with lots of convention and Visitors reps, some new people and lots of old friends.

Each year we do a fam tour and this year I chose the Civil Rights Tour. We visited the Rosa Parks Museum. Incredible museum about an incredible lady! You enter and see memorabilia and then a film leading you to Rosa’a courageous act of defiance. At that point the film stops:doors open to a scene of a bus stop and becoming more crowded. You are viewing as if standing on the sidewalk looking through the bus windows.

As the bus fills with people, The driver gruffly orders Rosa to vacate her seat so a white man standing in the aisle can sit down. Rosa refuses. She is tired. Tired after a hard work as a seamstress at Montgomery Fair department store where worked. She was tired also of being treated as a second-class citizen just because of the color of her skin.

“No” she says to the driver.

The driver, Bruce, threatens her with arrest. I can call the police.”

Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church

“You may do that,” is her quiet reply that touched off the beginning of the battle for civil rights that spread like a raging wildfire from Montgomery across the nation.

Then on to the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church where the new young pastor named Martin Luther King, Jr. picked up the torch and led his people into a peaceful quest for the right to equal treatment. If you go there be sure to see the basement mural. It is a beautifully done piece of art depicting scenes from Dr. King’s life painted by John W. Feagin. The church is also a treasure from a historic point of view because of its age. It was built in the 1880′s. Stained glass windows to the front and the ones on top of the side windows are original to that period. An interesting irony is that this church  congregation  originally met in a slave traders pen. It was designated a national historic landmark on June 3, 1974,

The King parsonage

Next we went to the parsonage. Some of the furnishing are  the actual  pieces the King family used when they lived in Montgomery. Although Dr. King preached the way o f peace and non-violent resistance, his opponents did not. There are still traces of the bombing inflicted on the parsonage when his wife and young baby were home.

The Greyhound station where the Freedom Riders entered Montgomery may only be viewed from the exterior where markers retell that story. Then we continued on to Freedom Memorial, a round, flat, granite sculpture with water flowing gently over its surface. It was  designed by Maya Lin, who also created the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

This is a trip you do not want to miss.  Black or white, this is an integral part of our history.

We do have a few things in common. Both of us were flying on Delta Airline yesterday. Both of us missed a connecting flight. I only know that you were flying into the U.S. and your plane was late landing. I was returning from six hectic days on the road. I’m a travel writer and had just attended Travel Media Showcase in Montgomery Alabama and then continued on for a post trip to Huntsville, Alabama. Then the accommodating Huntsville Convention and Visitors Bureau representative, Charles Winter and our long suffering bus driver, Tom, returned those of us flying back to the Montgomery airport.  The entire experience was great fun but very exhausting.  I will tell you all more about the trip itself in the next few days right here on Just Naturally Me. But today, I want to explain why I do so appreciate you, Alexandra.

I was way ahead of time and boarded the Montgomery to Atlanta leg of my flight just fine. That’s when the plot began to thicken and the suspense built. Our cheerful flight attendant announced we would be parking on the side for another 30 or so minutes due to congestion in Atlanta airport.  And, oh by the way, no refreshments would be served since this was such a short flight. Short flight but long delay. I could have used a Coke or something stronger as I contemplated the fact that I would have less than 20 minutes to get from the very end of D terminal to the opposite end of A terminal. Not a likely prospect. The flight attendant laughingly agreed I most likely would not make it but nothing she could do. Thank  you for flying Delta!

It was exactly 20 minutes to four, my Jacksonville flight departure time, when I hit the tarmac dragging my computer case, also containing two cameras, three lenses, assorted chargers. a tape recorder and a bunch of incidentals I could not travel without, and a purse that could be registered as a deadly weapon due to its size alone never mind all the stuff I had crammed into it. I gave it a good shot pretty much running down the aisle and only rolling over a few toes as I raced for the underground train and the elusive A terminal.

As I reached the bottom level, the train doors were just snapping shut. I threw myself and all my attachments headlong into the train just barely avoiding the door slamming shut on my rear end. I grabbed an overhead strap already firmly  held by one gentleman who probably has a black and blue bruise about the size of my hand  and hung on for dear life

I was pushing my way up the escalator in A terminal when I heard the fatal announcement “Final boarding call for Flight 1654 for Jacksonville!”

Had the departure gate been anywhere near the escalator I would have gotten to that plane but as you all can guess I surfaced around gate A 20 and I needed A2. Still I gave it my all. I did swerve around anyone in a wheelchair but any other walkers were fair game. When I arrived gasping for air and parched the ticket/boarding clerk had disappeared.  It was 3:55. I think I set a new record for transversing that distance in Hartsfield Airport. “You just missed it.” was a comment from the sidelines.

Well, as you can guess by the time I found a ticket/boarding clerk at another gate and explained my predicament I was not a happy camperor flyer. They knew I was scheduled and heading here as fast as I could. It didn’t faze her at all. “Our job is just to get our planes in the air on time,” she shrugged.  I guess it doesn’t work that way in Montgomery or something.

She handed me a new boarding pass for an 8:30 flight. An 8:30 flight! The true proportions of this tragedy hit me. This was worse than just being home a few hours later. This was epic. I was going to miss the season finale of  True Blood!

My devastation must have showed. The ticket/boarding clerk took pity. She handed me a new boarding pass. This one for the 5:10 flight. “It’s standby but you night get on.”

Hallelujah! A light at the end of the tunnel!

When I hit the departure gate, I was number one on the standby list. The boarding clerk there would not venture a guess on my chances until she had the plane boarded and all passengers accounted for. Naturally this plane takeoff was delayed. They all are except when I have a connecting flight then they go right on schedule.

By 5:25 they had boarded and had one missing passenger. They kept calling her name on the loudspeaker but no answer. One clerk said to the other “When did her plane get in?”

“Just a few minutes ago,” he replied. “If she is tied up with emigration, it could be an hour or more.”

They both looked at me. “If she isn’t here in a minute, you’ve got it.”

I was down the breeezeway halfway to that only seat in the plane still hearing the echos of the last announcement “Alexandra S. report to gate A10 for your Jacksonville connection.”

That’s the one other thing we have in common, that one last seat that was first assigned to you and then to me. I did enjoy it. Thank you so much. Alexandra S.

This was an emergency or I would not have taken the car to a dealer. My last dealer experience with a Chrysler dealer in Palatka had made me wary. That time I had a steering pump problem. For those of you like me who know very little about mechanics, when power steering goes out it has to be one of three items: a hose, the tank or the pump itself. I had already had the tank replaced just a few weeks before so that eliminated one possible culprit. The dealership made me go through a diagnostic test so they could determine the problem. (I already knew it was the pump or the hose) They ended up replacing all three items including the new tank. Cost me $1,300.

So you can understand why I was leery this time.  But here we are sitting in Rustin, Florida researching a book that was already way behind schedule. So when the Jeep refused to start and responded to a jump from the friendly maintenance men at Little Harbor Resort with just a small ticking noise, we knew the starter must have been a goner.

So faced with having to get towed somewhere for repairs and not knowing any mechanic in the area we went with the dealership. Bad choice!

Oh, they were courteous and polite. Then they took several hours before they got the car in and checked it our.  When they called back the news was what I expected about the starter.  They also said one battery terminal was cracked and needed replacing. The estimate was shocking, over $900 but I had no choice. I needed my car back. We were paying $35 per day for a rental car. Plus Chrysler had told me if I didn’t have the work done there I was going to have to pay a diagnostic charge of over $130 dollars and my roadside assistance would not have paid to tow it elsewhere.

When I got the Jeep back and looked at the itemized repair statement, I really felt taken. Not only were the labor charges exorbitant, but the actual items were highly inflated.  It was only when I got chance to check out what a starter should have cost that I was really furious.

As you can see on the statement and warranty I posted here, the starter I got was a re-manufactured one with a three-year warranty. I paid $318.33. I priced one that would fit my car at a well known car parts store. A new one with a limited lifetime warranty sells for $129.40. Chry7sler’s charge was well more than double. And remember I got a re=manufactured one for that inflated price.

The terminal they bought cost $3.50 compared with $1.89 online. Again, I didn’t really shop the price for comparison, just checked a reputable auto parts place.  That leaves only two possibilities regarding the prices Chrysler charges; either they are very poor comparison shoppers or they just gouge their victims/customers unmercifully.

Now the labor is interesting. I can’t argue with the labor to put on a starter as I couldn’t do that job but I surely could and have put on new battery terminals. You just take off the old one, peel back insulation, cut off any corroded wire and stick the wires through the place between the two bolts that hold the wire and tighten it. Then just push it onto the battery post and tighten the little bolt. No big deal. I have done it on the road with just a pair of pliers in the past. The dealership charged a whopping $161 labor.  Boy, was Jessie James in the wrong business?

Note another interesting charge on the statement: Shop Supplies $69.95. What in blue blazes are shop supplies? A few rags to wipe the mechanics hands? Some Go-Jo to clean hands? I could have bought them a few Martha Steward towels and some imported perfumed soap for that price. And why should a customer pay for shop supplies anyway?  That is not my concern. I really don’t care if they wipe their hands on their coveralls.  Just think what old Jessie could have done with a shop supplies charge. Can’t you just see him charging the railroads for bags he needed to carry the loot away from the robbery?  He would have charged the banks he robbed for the saddle and bridle for the getaway horse.

So much as I love my Jeep, when it comes time to replace it do you think I am going to consider a Chrysler vehicle?  Yeah, I’ll consider a Chrysler just as much as Jessie James would have considered contributing to the Pinkerton’s retirement fund.

I’m just finishing up on my latest book, Wild About Florida: North Florida. The last bit of traveling I did on this one was very unique.  One episode in particular reminds me of how like us the animals are.  Life and death is part of their cycle also.  One zoo I visited had a brand new addition to its family. Another lost one of its treasured family.

Harry, the brand new jaguar cub at Jacksonville Zoo

New Years day 2009 was a very special day at the Jacksonville Zoo. Their four and a half year-old female jaguar named Zassi gave birth to a very special cub, the first jaguar cub born in the zoo since 1981. On April 13, 2009 mother and cub were released into the Range of the Jaguar. Martin and I were as excited as proud relatives going to visit a new baby for the first time.

Their award winning Range of the Jaguar now has the most jaguars of any zoo in the country.

Of course the jaguars are not the only thing that makes this zoo special. The zoo consists of spacious exhibits where animals enjoy a life in conditions that closely replicate their native habitats.

On the other side of the scale. I visited a great little zoo in Panama City Beach, Zoo World Zoological and Botanical Park. Here the other side of the coin comes into play. I was quite intrigued to see a orangutan and a yellow tabby cat sharing a cage and asked about the story. Here is what I was told:

Tonda and TK (Credit Zoo World)

“Tonda lost her life mate a couple of years ago. Since her loss, much like any human would react; she lost her zeal for life. She would spend her days lying on her island home with her head down and covered with her security blanket. The keeper staff tried to keep her entertained by providing her with a variety of toys which she would lose interest in quickly if she paid attention to them at all. Because Tonda is beyond child bearing age, it has been impossible to find a mate for her. After an extensive search for a new companion to no avail and her condition was not getting any better. Tonda’s keepers had to come up with some way to elevate Tonda’s zest for life. Enter T. K., Tonda’s kitty, the cat you saw. T.K. has the sweetest personality and the keepers quickly realized he would be compatible with Tonda. As the introduction process began, Tonda’s attitude completely changed. She is now alert and active; there is a new light in her eyes. A match made in Heaven, Tonda has found a new reason for living and T. K. is getting all the attention he loves and richly deserves. Tonda and T. K. now spend all their sleeping and waking time together.”

I was saddened to learn Tonda died on March 20, 2009, just a few days after I visited Zoo World, but feel I was privileged to witness such a beautiful friendship.

More about both zoos and so much else can be found in Wild About Florida: North Florida which will be out by the end of May 2009.

Justin Sachs

Your Mailbox is Full

I’d like to introduce you to Justin Sachs who is the author of a new book, Your Mailbox Is Full and is the founder of the Creating Possibilities Coaching Program in which Justin helps teenagers to increase their grades, eliminate procrastination, and create balance in all the areas of their life.

1. What do you do?

I work with teenagers to increase their grades, eliminate procrastination, create balance in their lives, and overcome any obstacles standing in their way of success.

2. Tell us about your new book.

Your Mailbox Is Full is a book for teenagers, that teaches them the tools they need to become successful in school and throughout their lives. They learn things like goal setting, time management, living a healthy lifestyle, and modeling and attracting success.

3. Why did you write it?

When I was 14 years old I went to my first Tony Robbins Seminar and I was in a room full of thousands of adults thinking, “Where’s all the teenagers?” “Why aren’t other youth here getting these powerful tools and strategies?” It was with that realization that I found my passion: Empowering teenagers with life-skills and leadership development tools for success. That’s what my book is all about: Teaching youth the most powerful skills they need to know to create enormous success and fulfillment in life! Now, teenagers don’t have to wait until they are 30 or 40 to get these tools and strategies, they are available to them within Your Mailbox Is Full.

4. What makes you an expert in your field?

After going to Anthony Robbins seminars for 3 years, I began working for his product sales team and non-profit organization at all his events worldwide. I then began working for Mark Victor Hansen, the co-founder of Chicken Soup for the Soul Series, and learned even more about life-skills, writing a book, and supporting people in bringing possibility into their lives. I then read everything I could get my hands on from The Secret, to Jack Canfield, to Stephen Covey, to Eckart Tolle, among many others. I learned everything I possibly could about personal development and transformation such that I can now create transformation in others!

5. What type of people should read your book?

The book is designed for teenagers and young adults, but parents throughout the country are reading the book and loving every page! The contents of the book are limitless, this is the perfect book for anyone looking to take their lives to the next level, especially youth!

6. Are you on any social networks? Eg. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn

Yes, on www.Twitter.com/JustinSachs or http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=511068642

7. Advice for Teens or Parents of Teens

Follow your passions and never give up on your dreams! If you have a goal, a vision, or a hope for the future, hold on to it, focus on it, and take action to make it happen! You’ll be amazed at how quickly your dreams will manifest themselves when energy is focused on them.

8. Favorite Quote

Every day, every week and every month, you must challenge yourself to continue to grow to new heights and to take your standards to higher and higher levels. ~ Justin Sachs

9. Favorite Theme Park

Walt Disney World of course!!!

10   How can we purchase your book? Learn more about you? Do you have a blog?

My book is available on my website: www.YourMailboxIsFullBook.com To learn more about my coaching services visit www.JustinSachsOnline.com and be sure to check out my new radio show at www.MotivationalMindsRadio.com

]]> http://justnaturallyme.wordpress.com/2009/04/23/a-visiting-author/feed/ 0 justnaturallyme justinsachs1 your_mailbox_is_full http://justnaturallyme.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/scary-sadies-curse/ http://justnaturallyme.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/scary-sadies-curse/#comments Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:14:26 +0000 justnaturallyme http://justnaturallyme.wordpress.com/?p=73 ]]> Most people think a writer’s life is all glamor and fun. Well my friends, I’m here to tell you there are days that are just down and dirty. Oh, in retrospect they’re funny but at the time they make you wish you were a Wal-Mart greeter.

A few years back I had one of those days. I was doing a combination book signing/information-gathering trip, zigzagging from St. Augustine to Tampa then back via the East Coast. I had set six book signings promoting my current book, Last Step. Now Last Step has nothing to do with travel. It’s a mystery romance about a mother’s quest to find the truth behind her daughter’s drug related death. However, since, authors aren’t all rich from the sale of their books; I’m also a travel writer. I enjoy the excitement of new places and love passing that information on to my readers. This trip was going to provide more excitement than even I craved.

Normally, with travel writing, you get comp lodging, attractions and even meals.Book signing tours are different. If you’re with a small press or print on demand, you’re on your own.

This trip was a combination, I did get some lodgings and attractions comped in Lake Wales, St. Cloud, Sebring and Tampa. The rest of the time I was on my own so I decided to take my pick-up and slide in camper to save on expenses. Where I didn’t have comp lodging, I planned to boondock.  Besides selling books, and getting material for travel articles, I needed to locate interesting ghost stories for my new book, Finding Florida’s Phantoms.

Right from the beginning, the Florida book picked its own direction. I would hear about a place with a ghost. When I checked with local people I found no story there but learned of another story nearby. This created a lot of surprises but that was okay. In fact, most of these new places had never been written about so it was a “scoop” for my book.

By the tenth and last day of the trip I had experienced the usual ups and downs. I had spent nights in fabulous places like Saddlebrook Resort and Chalet Suzette I had discovered lots of ghost stories like the long dead former owner of the Hunter-Arms who still supervised the maids, and the spirit on the third floor of Kenilworth Lodge in Sebring. I had found lots of good magazine article material like the Plant City Strawberry Festival where I parked in the front yard of a lovely older couple who lived near the fairgrounds and rented parking spots. Have you ever tried to sleep in a camper with the sounds of the roller coaster and carousel just two blocks away? Still even though this wasn’t exactly free, it was boondocking as I had no hookups or facilities. What I did have was walking distance from my main destination at a fraction of the cost of an RV park. Lesson here, if you are attending a festival or event that draws a large crowd, don’t be afraid to approach people living on the fringes that may have a large lot or even a unused space in their driveway. They may be happy to get a few dollars extra for that space they aren’t using anyway. This is one of the safest places to be due to all the event traffic and the property owners nearby.

It was March 17, St Patrick’s Day, when I rolled into Melbourne. I had spent the night in a Wal-Mart lot in Vero Beach. I felt very safe as there were people coming and going all night. The lot was between a Wal-Mart and a Sam’s Club and I parked close to the Sam’s side because they were closed at night. So the traffic in the Wal-Mart lot was more comforting than disturbing.

Next morning I drove into Melbourne. I had time before my 3PM signing at Books-A-Million. After checking the known local haunts I began looking for new blood. There was an Irish festival downtown that was as good a place to start as any. I learned of a coffee shop on the beach that was reputedly haunted so I headed there. I ordered tea and a muffin at Murray’s. The china was chipped and the service was slow. The owner was cooking inside. Since the place was packed and they were two people short, she informed me briefly, “Some people claim to have seen things but I don’t believe it.”

I asked if I could come back after they closed, around four, and talk to her. She agreed. If I knew then what would befall me, I would have accepted her disbelief and left, never to return. But, of course, curiosity drew me back after the book signing.

I was in a good mood as I approached her parking lot. The signing had gone well and I was heading home as soon as I left here. I pulled into the lot and all that changed instantly. Crash – the edge of my camper top hit a slightly overhanging limb. I had safely entered this same driveway just hours ago but the overhanging oak limb had just enough hook that it got you if you pulled in close to the tree side of the driveway. I had and it did! It slammed the top driver’s side of my camper like a giant battering ram. The force of the blow threw the camper backward. It popped the safety chains like they were made of paper instead of heavy gauge steel. I jumped out and surveyed the damage. My camper sat almost completely off the truck with one corner smashed into the dirt and only a few inches of one front corner still on the truck.

I rushed to the restaurant door and frantically pounded. I could see the owner and another person inside but she wouldn’t answer the door. My husband later suggested she was afraid I wanted to sue. I was just seeking help or even consolation and a Coke while I decided what to do.

As I turned from the porch, three men who could have passed for Hell’s Angels approached me. “What happened?”

“I was just pulling in and knocked my camper off.” My need for help was stronger than my fear of their appearance. I need not have worried. They were more like regular angels; abet slightly tipsy angels, than anything else.

Donald, Scott and Beef spent the next three hours helping me right the camper and get it reattached to the truck. As my guardian angels had been strenuously celebrating St. Patty’s Day, I had the added burden of being careful no one got hurt in the process.

After attaching it as best they could, my helpers queried, “What brought you up here anyway?”

I replied I was a writer looking for ghost stories. That elicited boisterous laughter. Beef replied, “Ma’am, there ain’t no ghost here. It’s just Scary Sadie’s curse. A woman named Sadie lived here before it was a coffee shop. When she had to move, she cursed the place. It was Scary Sadie’s Curse what got you.”

Needless to say, I drove the ensuing 140 miles or so home that night praying no one stopped me with my one working taillight and my very insecurely fastened camper. I guess Scary Sadie had finished with me as I made it home with no more mishaps.

For those of you who worry about boondocking, this should let you know you may be in more danger from other things, seen and unseen, than muggers breaking into your camper. Still, exercise caution especially if you are a woman alone at night in your camper. Never open the door for a stranger. Keep a cell phone handy in case anyone tries to break in. And do beware of Scary Sadie.