Adventures in the South East, #12

Georgia, the Peach State

When we were first developing ideas for our 2023 Fall Adventures on the Road trip we planned to visit family and friends along the way. Lori’s sister and brother in law, and some of their family, live in Georgia, and we hadn’t seen them for several years, so our route would bring us to North Georgia as our eastern most point for some family time.

Shortly before starting our trip in late August we heard that Lori’s sister Janie would need a neck surgery for some degeneration in her vertebrae, which was scheduled just as we were beginning our trip. We felt that by the time we reached Georgia in late October that she would be recovering well and be up to our visit.

Janie had been doing well and making good progress at a rehab facility, up until just a few days before our arrival when a set back sent her to the hospital for about a week.

Because of Janie’s hospital stay and the uncertainty of when we could visit her we started to research how to extend our stay. After our first few calls to campgrounds we could see it would be challenging to find a spot during this busy season. Fortunately the Lord gave us favor with the host of a nearby small campground, and we were able to reserve a spot for a few extra nights just down the road from where we we’re currently staying. This gave us peace of mind that we would have time for Janie to get stabilized and to be up to our visit. We did get to have three visits of a couple hours each at the hospital.

While it was not the visit we had originally planned months ago, we were glad that we could be there to visit and encourage the family at this difficult time. 

And we did do some exploring and sight seeing while waiting for our opportunities to visit. We stayed at a beautiful campground in Unicoi State Park, which sits beside a lake called Unicoi Lake. From a visitor center near our campsite we took a leisurely stroll around the lake through a wonderful forest! Several docks along the trail allowed views of the gorgeous fall foliage reflected in the lake.

Anna Ruby Falls trail took us up a short steep grade following the course of the stream until we reached a spectacular twin falls cascading down the cliffs at the end of the canyon.

After we departed from our week in North Georgia, Janie got moved from the hospital to another rehab facility where she is starting her physical therapy over after a week of being mostly inactive 

in the hospital. Her husband Fred is keeping us updated and she is again working hard and making progress.

Finishing our time in Georgia

Heading South past Atlanta we made an overnight stop in Thomaston to visit a family that used to attend our church before relocating to Georgia. It was so great to reconnect with them all and celebrate an important 85th birthday for our friend Mary! 

It is a blessing to be able to travel in our trailer to see family and friends who now live far away. 

Pray Without Ceasing

We would be so thankful for you to join us in prayer for Janie’s recovery and strength through this trial. 

 (Here is a picture from 

a visit Janie and Fred made to California several years ago, under happier circumstances.)

“So He (Jesus) came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;”

‭‭-Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬