Time for Giving Thanks

Wow – what a couple of weeks it has been.  I personally have been basking in the glory of our wonderful weather.  While it would be wonderful if our skies would part with a little dearly needed water, we can’t control that.  Aside from missing the rain, I do miss sitting outside at night with a campfire burning while I enjoy a couple (few) adult beverages and retell the stories of the past summer to anyone willing to listen! 

I could use some time for rest and relaxation.  Color tour season is always busy for the misses and I.  It seems that family and friends come from all over to see the colors, enjoy the apple houses and farms and drink in near perfect temperatures with warm days and chilling, autumn like evenings.  And, that is exactly what the majority of October entailed.  And now, we will once again be preparing for the influx of guests for the holiday season.  I have to say – I just realized today that Thanksgiving is next week ALREADY!  What happened to Halloween?  In fact, what happened to September and October?  Haha.  I guess time flies when you are having fun! 

Regardless, Thanksgiving is coming and it is always a time to reflect on the previous year and prepare for the next.  I give thanks for the things I have.  I give thanks for the things I don’t have, but give me the drive and desire to continue to strive to get there.  I give thanks for the simple things – blue skies, color streaked forests, a deer wandering around the property, spring rains as the buds come onto the trees before exploding into a thick carpet of greenery.  There is so much to be thankful for and yet so many people spend their lives in turmoil and anger.  Our country has never known that fact to be more true than now.  So many people need ‘power’ and ‘control’.  I don’t need either of those.  I want to be left to my own devices to live my life.  The past election was representative of what went on within our own boundaries not too long ago.  Sad really.  It’s terrible that people have such low personal thoughts of themselves that they can only raise themselves up by attacking others. I hope that sometime in the future the angry parties can accept certain truthes and move on…… but…..enough about that. 

I wanted to take a few moments to post some of the terrific pictures I’ve captured this fall and to tell everyone Happy Thanksgiving!  Additionally, I would like to extend well wishes to our new president-elect.  I’m sure he doesn’t check in on my blog (that often), but I wish him well.  He doesn’t have an easy task before him, but I have every faith that he will do a great job…..we’re gonna love it!

Enjoy the pictures and I’ll be posting again soon as the seasons change along the Coosawattee River.

 Chris

Farewell summer - Hello fall!

My, my, my……what a busy summer it has been!  I’ve been meaning to get back to the blog for several weeks now, but have had so much going on and really enjoying the waning days of summer.  Aside from the usual summer activities of tubing, swimming, seeing the sights of North Georgia and enjoying cool summer libations on the back deck, I have also added off-road motorcycling to my repertoire.  I recently had a TON of fun riding the trails near Lake Conasauga (Windy Gap and Milma Creek) and Beasley Knob in Blairsville.  I’m looking forward to hitting a few more destinations this fall as the weather grows a bit cooler.  There is nothing quite like climbing to the highest elevations of North Georgia and looking down thousands of feet across the peaks and valleys.  Now……speaking of fall…

So, if you have read my blog at all you know I LOVE fall.  I dare say that it is my favorite time of year and unfortunately it also seems to be the shortest season.  I’m especially excited about this fall for two reasons:  1.) the aforementioned bike riding, and 2.) it has been a bit of a dry summer this year in the mountains so that means it should be a great fall for color!  Now, I am not a farmer and probably not the best source information for anyone planning on publishing an almanac - but, if my memory serves me correct the last dry summer we had in 2013 led to one of the most striking fall color shows that we have had in a while.  A stark contrast to the ‘fall that never was’ in 2014.  Well, I shouldn’t say it never was…..the leaves turned color and fell off in about a week.  BUMMER!  I am really hoping for a brilliant color show this year.

Every time I think of the onset of fall I get a feeling of nostalgia.  It may be the trick-or-treating as a child, carving pumpkins as a kid (or very big kid), paraffining leaves, clambering around in leave piles or walking the trails near my house admiring the brief, but beautiful change of clothes that mother nature was showing off.  It won’t be long before the scarecrows begin to make their way out of their summer hiding spots and begin populating their popular haunts around downtown and throughout yards all over Ellijay.  That familiar smell of damp leaves on the ground will perfume the air with a distinct scent etched into my memory from playing in leaf piles and those cloudy days with rogue rays of sunshine cutting through the sullen grey skies to splash across the color stained mountains.  Ahh, yes!  Fall is coming and such a welcome old friend.  Shortly after that, the mountains will go quiet and rest for the winter, but the chaotic and ever invigorating get-togethers of the holidays will leave no time for us to rest.  And just when you think you have a break……the brilliant green buds will begin popping on the trees as we prepare for another activity filled, sun drenched summer.  Yes, we do live in a wonderful place and should all count our blessings for what we have.

I am beginning to lay out my plans for this fall season and thought I would share some of the things I enjoy doing this time of year.

1. Uncle Shucks Corn Maze in Dawsonville – this is a #1 MUST DO!  I don’t care if you are 7 or 70, this is a ball!  Nothing like getting turned around in a 12 acre corn maze.  And, as night approaches, the ghouls make their way into the haunted maze where you must watch your back as you navigate the dark rows of corn……yes…..you may just find “he who walks behind the rows”….. Don’t miss the regular maze, haunted maze, hay rides, marshmallow roasts, corn cannon and precious goats.  www.uncleshucks.com

2. Amicalola Falls and lunch at the Maple Restaurant at the lodge – aside from having an outstanding lunch buffet, the lodge and restaurant at Amicalola Falls provides one of the most stunning views as seen in the picture below.  It's also a blast to park the car and traverse the walk up.....and down the falls.  For fun challenge, see how many of the old wrecked cars you can find in your travels.  These cars are said to be left over from the 'rum runner' days and met their fate many, many years ago.  All that can be seen anymore are rusty frames and bits and pieces of the rusted bodies.  Enjoy!

1. A visit to Helen – You can check out my previous post on the small, quaint town of Helen.  A great spot for an afternoon trip with the family and don't forget to take a walk up to Anna Ruby Falls on a crisp day!
   
2. Pappy’s Plaza in Blairsville – What can I say about this place other than…..different!  It’s very different, but a lot of fun.  Tons of shops and a delicious restaurant built over the Nottely River.  Pappy’s harkens back to a simpler time of roadside attractions and makes for a great afternoon.  And, you can't beat getting a table 'on the water' and watch water rush by!  www.pappysriversiderestaurant.info/
   
3. Brasstown Bald Visitor Center – Brasstown Bald is just a few mile northeast of Pappy’s and provides stunning views of the mountains from Georgia’s highest peak.  Brasstown Bald looms over all other peaks at 4,784 feet.  Make sure to visit on a clear day – though the clouds can still consume the observation deck even if the sun is shining below.  A great trip, nonetheless.  You can navigate to their website by clicking here.
4. Tail of the Dragon at Deal’s Gap – Tail of the Dragon is well known by cyclists and thrill seekers across the east coast.  It is also a great drive (anytime really) once the leaves begin to change.  Just be sure to check your brake pads before embarking on 318 turns in 11 miles.  It's a bit of a drive up to Andrews North Carolina – but a great day trip.  There is a terrific observation/parking area near the top of the mountain that provides pretty amazing views.  Slay the dragon at www.taleofthedragon.com 
   

Or, simply take a drive through the country and stop by any one of the numerous apple houses or farm markets to peruse the seasonal offerings and help support the farms and orchards that make this area so great!

So – what are your plans this fall?  What activities do you recommend for the whole family?  Please post in the comments below.  I am always looking for great suggestions on new things to try and do.

Well, it’s about time find another one of those libations as we slowly wrap up another summer along the Coosawattee River.

Till next time,


Chris

Welcome to the Glampground

So you may have noticed I took a few weeks off from writing serious posts and provided a couple ‘frill’ pieces for your entertainment.  After all, this is my second favorite time of year and I love to roam.  Those of you that read my articles on a regular basis know that I absolutely love the fall and THAT is my favorite season – but I don’t want to rush the summer!  Sometimes you just need to take a step back from social strife, take a deep breath and live your life free from the thoughts of others.  I really felt that I needed to let the smoldering embers of the deer cull fracas cool a bit before diving back in with my thoughts, musings and suggestions regarding CRR.  This week I had a new revelation as I perused www.coosawattee.net.  I noticed a contiguous pair of RV lots for sale and thought….hmmmm.

First, let me start by saying that I think we need to move away from the term ‘campground’.  Let’s face it, staying in a modern recreational vehicle is far from ‘camping’.  It really is the epitome of ‘glamping’.  Typically overstuffed recliners, flat screen TVs, air conditioning and modern appointments that rival those of some homes aren’t usually associated with ‘camping’.  We also have many folks that have chosen the downsized lifestyle of RV living over costly and often unneeded homesite living.  The river parks that provide rental lots are campgrounds - the privately owned RV sites in CRR are really just that:  RV Lots.  I prefer to use the terminology ‘RV section’ versus ‘Campground’.  I also feel that there is an elevated level of perception using ‘RV section’ over ‘Campground’….but I digress. 

I would also encourage any new readers to read my other posts regarding the RV section of CRR.  I personally see the great potential and benefit of this resource within our community and hope to continue to see the positive trends that have been occurring.

So, I’m always thinking about ways to improve CRR as a whole and had a crazy thought about the RV area when I saw the adjoining lots for sale.  I think the board and management really need to take a step back and think long horizon in regards to the RV section.  It often seems that our knees keep jerking when it comes to policy making and developing solutions to known troubles in the area.   A key to any well-defined and well-structured development is consistency – and this does not happen overnight.  For the purposes of my thoughts today, let us say we are looking 5-10 years in the future.  Without lighting any fuses, let’s just agree that there are some areas within the RV section that need some ‘attention’.  Most of these issues, by my observation, linger from abandoned properties that didn’t have much value and were left by their owners.  And it is easy to understand why when you behold some of them.  I also believe that people may have passed, left the property to a family member and it has simply been forgotten.  Whatever the reason the condition of some of the properties is unacceptable and not fair to the other owners.

I also think it’s important to note that there are some really great properties in the RV section.  The removal of the building moratorium has truly made a huge difference in the appearance of the area.  The attractive and well-constructed roof-overs have been a monstrous leap in the right direction.  The addition of a roof-over on a lot screams UPSCALE.  The improving pride in ownership everywhere throughout the area is really blossoming.  Below I’ll detail some bulleted points that are ideas for continuing on this path of re-development and re-discovery of this hidden gem.

• CRR must expand its efforts to buy distressed lots.  This includes lots with and without existing units.  This was a point I made in my June 2, 2014 post: Revitalization of the Coosawattee Campgrounds.  A post that, as of this writing, has had 921 visitors.  Not to sound egotistical – but I put that idea forward over two years ago, and fortunately, someone was listening.  CRR has begun buying these lots, and reselling them.  This business plan serves the owners of the area by removing known blight and benefits CRR through additional lot sales, capital contribution, etc.
• CRR needs to keep the prices of available lots stable.  We shouldn’t be giving fire sale prices on RV lots UNLESS – yes, a big UNLESS, the lot is to be replatted with another adjoining RV lot.  (More on this later)  I’m actually quite happy to see desirable lots priced upwards of $10K.  While some may disagree, it is the only way to improve an aging and distressed area.  Elevated prices bring elevated buyers who bring elevated development and elevated pride in ownership.
• Legal should be assisting CRR in tracking down owners of distressed lots and instead of putting them directly on a collections list, should have the authority to negotiate an offer and purchase of the lots.  Most likely an owner of an abandoned property isn’t going to follow through by actually putting the check in the mail.  We could focus on deed backs and balanced sale prices based on current owed dues.  Again – win/win for the community.  However, the board will need to grant authority to management and let management do what they do – manage the day to day business of CRR.

These are just a few basic steps we can be taking as a community to continue on the current upward trend.  Next, I’d like to talk more in depth about the virtues of replatting.  Replatting was a hot button issue some four or five years ago.  I’ll admit I was not the first person to jump on board as I felt the financial impact during the recession could be devastating for the community as a whole.  As it turns out, it really hasn’t affected the community in a negative way at all.  In turn, I believe it has helped the community.  I am a believer in the practice of replatting and have been preaching the message loud and clear.  I know that many have joined me and are spreading the good word of replatting.  One of my readers who I will only refer to as ‘Tizzy’ (as they wish to remain anonymous) communicates frequently with me and was partly responsible for spurning the idea of this article.  Now….on with the show……

• CRR should be communicating CRR owned lot availability to owners with contiguous lots.  This should be in the form of direct mailers, phone calls and/or e-mails.  I watch property availability because it is interesting to me, but part time RV owners may not visit CRR frequently enough to know a lot is available, or whether it is considered ‘contiguous’ for the purpose of replatting.
• CRR should seriously negotiate with contiguous owners to sell the lots under an agreement that they will be replatted within 120 days.  With this, we also need to make sure that owners understand the costs of the septic systems.  Take for instance that Lot A shares a tank with two other owners and Lot B shares a tank with four other owners.  They would now be responsible for the repair costs of 50% of one tank and 25% of another tank should an issue arise with one of them.  I can only guess this is a something that most people don’t think about.

Now I’m going to wander into some new territory and will be interested to hear what my readers think.

• We should re-address the building rules in the RV section to approve larger storage on replatted lots that consist of two or more lots.  And, when I say storage I actually mean single car garages.  OK, so now you’re thinking I’m off my meds and have wandered too far off track…..but not really.  Remember what I said earlier about consistency and higher end buyers.  Many people look to downsize, but without proper storage you end up with messy properties.  Furthermore, consistently constructed garages would create a re-occurring theme through the RV section just as the roof-overs have.  Additionally, each garage (should the owner choose to construct) would have to adhere to identical building plans which could be scaled smaller (not larger) if required due to available space and setbacks since the RV lots can be quite irregular at times.  The garages would have to be built on a concrete pad with no floor penetrations and nothing additional could be added to the structure beyond the approved plans.  My recommended maximum size would be 20X20 with 8’ sidewalls.  Siding and color options are at the owner’s discretion so long as they meet ARC guidelines, but the architecture would remain IDENTICAL.  Think of the type of buyer and elevated appearance we would begin developing if we tried this one idea?  Many owners would appreciate the ability to store their ‘toys’ for their weekend trips and not have to haul everything with them.  It would also provide plenty of storage to keep a tidy and well manicured property.

So, there are some ideas for you to think about.  I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts.  You can post in the comments section below or e-mail me directly.  My address is listed in the upper left of the screen.  I’m going to head back out to enjoy the splendor of summer along the Coosawattee River.

Till next time,

Chris

The Miracle of Birth At Babyland General Hospital

So, as I sit back and think about some of my travels over the years I often find that my fondest memories come from the locations that are the strangest.  Now, over the years I’ve had many opportunities to visit a lot of great places around our country and even into Canada (never had much of a desire to leave our continent).  Some of them stunning in natural beauty, others strange tourist traps hell bent on extracting the last nickel from your out-turned pockets, others serene and some just damn strange.  I guess under the category of ‘Damn Strange’ is where is I would list my visit to Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland.

Now, the drive to Cleveland (see my post on Helen, Georgia) is a bit of donkey ride around the mountains, but very scenic nonetheless.  Cleveland is your average, quaint mountain town with a population around 3400 people.   While I personally haven’t spent much time in Cleveland, I have driven through Cleveland on many occasions.  Like most small towns in Northern Georgia, Cleveland seems like it would be a wonderful place to have kids and raise a family of homely, often shapeless children with bizarre names…..wait…..

Yes, welcome to Cleveland, Georgia.   Home of the Cabbage Patch Kids.  Who doesn’t remember the craze of the Cabbage Patch Kids in the early 80’s?  Mothers, fathers, and grandmothers going to fisticuffs and shouting matches attempting to stomp out the competition in K-B Toy stores across the country!  Oh, those were the days.  Folks lining up for a chance to spend their hard earned dollars on these (in my opinion) hideous folk art dolls with very strange names – Damn Strange!  However, many don’t realize that the Cabbage Patch Kids came from a humble beginning known as Little People Originals as named by their artist designer Xavier Roberts.  Mr. Roberts is now 60 years old and I’m sure enjoying a gifted life from the revenue of the little people he created.  Some credit should be given to Martha Nelson Thomas who may in fact be the original creator of the dolls but would not sell her design to Mr. Roberts.  He created his own iteration and the rest is history.

Babyland General Hospital is a very strange dichotomy from the moment you pull onto the 96 acre palatial estate.  The lush plantation sprawls out before you highlighting the impeccable antebellum architecture of the ‘hospital’ itself which stands at great contrast to the garish and whimsical interior design.  I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’m not posting pictures from this trip.  You’ll really need to visit and see for yourself.  However, you can gain a bit of a peak into the strange world of cabbage by visiting the hospital’s website:  www.babylandgeneral.com.

Upon entering the hospital you are greeted by nurses at the triage booth.  In the main lobby you can peruse glass cases full of the original Little People and the astronomical prices associated with them.  Needless to say, the glass cases are still full!  These Little People are reserved for adopting parents with VERY deep pockets.

Next you move into a room that features hand stitched Cabbage Patch Kids.  The adoption fees for these children run around $200 per ‘kid’.  Each doll is hand sewn and painted just like the originals.  Once you leave this area you enter into the 70,000 square foot spectacle that is all things cabbage.  While my excitement level was not topping the gauge, the little ones that were with us went berserk.  Anything you can imagine that is Cabbage Patch Kid related is available.    I’m pretty sure you could literally spend hundreds of dollars on outfitting one Kid and that doesn’t include the adoption fees!

It shouldn’t take long upon entering the main area of the hospital to spot the Cabbage Tree and the holy grail of the Cabbage Patch empire – Mother Cabbage.  Every hour on the hour her tender and beautiful leaves open wide and release a new Cabbage Patch Kid into the world (as I laugh uncomfortably under my breath).

OK, I’ll be honest.  This is when things get damn strange.  The hospital, for the most part, is a giant toy store.  However, the hourly celebration of life with Mother Cabbage is both beautiful and vexing.  To witness the coming of life you’ll need to listen for the hourly announcement that Mother Cabbage is ready deliver.  You’ll need to join the throngs of real ‘little people’ that gather around the Cabbage Tree to witness this miracle.  After making the necessary preparations and the initial examination is complete, the orderly gives Mother Cabbage a shot of TLC to help her relax and then it happens…..  No, I can’t really share the whole thing.  Again, you’ll need to visit to understand how each and every kid comes into this world!  All I can say is that I can only liken the entire act to a Disney movie – adored by children and written for the humor of adults.

After the miracle of Kid birth, the audience gets to name the new baby.  Most often, the names are made up from the first, middle and last names of the kids in the audience.  After the naming celebration the Kid is whisked off to its post-natal examination and shots which everyone is welcome to witness.  Keep in mind these Kids are not your average garden variety (cheap pun intended) boxed versions by Coleco (though there are hundreds to choose from).  These are mid-grade kids that run from $100-$200 in price, er, I mean adoption fee.  So, be prepared if you have a little one with you that you may get a full court press to adopt the new Kid that your own little one just watched be born and may have been responsible for naming.  Yeah, it’s a great sales pitch!

While the whole affair is a little strange (sorry – Damn Strange) it is very well done and it’s neat to see the little ones enjoying themselves so much.  The staff are obviously dedicated to their jobs and do a great job staying in character as doctors, nurses, and orderlies.  All and all it’s a great day trip that everyone can enjoy and find a bit of humor in. 

While the spectacle is worth witnessing, nothing beats getting home with empty pockets and self-medicating after a busy day at the hospital ‘birthin’ babies’.  Another great trip ends with a great evening along the Coosawattee River.


Till next time,

Chris

Let's Take A Road Trip To Helen

So, I thought it would be nice to lay aside some of the issues of late and take a day trip in the North Georgia Mountains.  If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times.  We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful area with so much to do.  Even during times where neighbors disagree and resolution may seem far away, we have a responsibility to ourselves to turn those things off on occasion and enjoy and be thankful for what we have.  I am always amazed at simply taking a ride through the sprawling wilderness of CRR and seeing the beauty that surrounds us.  I am ‘one of those’ people that love to look at all the different houses and get design ideas from others.  Likewise, I also enjoy visiting some of the quaint towns in the area and taking in their local flavor and rich southern hospitality.  I guess you could say I’m a curious creature by nature and love to see and do different things.  It truly brings about an appreciation of the world around us.So the weather is nice out – let’s take a day trip to the Alpine City of Helen Georgia!Now, let this be said.  Like many destinations in the mountains there is really NO GOOD WAY TO GET TO HELEN from Ellijay.

When I visit I commonly make the full loop.  I leave Ellijay and head East, South East on 52 and circle my way up to Helen through Cleveland.  Now, if you have never stopped at the Cabbage Patch nursery in Cleveland, you really should.  It is a site to behold.  But, more about that [maybe] in a future post.  And, I typically take the northern loop home from Helen via 76 through Blue Ridge and back south to home.  Feel free to explore, but make sure you have a GPS.  I’ve gotten turned around more than once and ended up driving an hour out of my way!  During my last trip I made a wrong turn and ended up coming home via Young Harris north of Brasstown Bald.  Oh, yeah, Brasstown Bald…..no wait, I promise, that’s another postJ

Anyway, the history of Helen dates back to 1828 when gold was found in the nearby Dukes Creek in Nacoochee Valley.  Following the gold rush that occurred for almost a century came the lumber mills.  The Gainesville and Northwestern Railroad line came up from the Chattahoochee River to valley area that would later be known as ‘Helen’.  The valley was named in 1913 after the daughter of the railroad surveyor in charge of the project.  The logging operations dessimated the valley area.  The logging and sawmill operations lasted until 1931.  The lumber was shipped throughout the U.S. and even to Europe. 

Ten Reasons I Love Coosawattee River Resort Association and the North Georgia Mountains

As I sat down to write this I immediately asked myself – why today?  It is absolutely a gorgeous day outside and I’m going to spend part of it on the computer?  Well, to be honest, I started my day early with cleaning the decks and spraying some VERY persistent weeds in the driveway and decided to take a break for a spot of lunch.  It’s one of those days where you say to yourself “It could be like this year ‘round and I would never complain!”.  The breeze through the window above the computer is pure heaven.

I realized this morning that I’ve written quite a bit about individual topics about our area, but have never done an overview of why I love calling Coosawattee River Resort (CRR) my home.  I have been receiving a lot of e-mails lately from folks that are interested in the area (not just CRR) that are looking for information about the North Georgia area.   Many have expressed that they have been readers of my blog through their process of finding a new home in the mountains and are always looking for more information about and things to do in the area.  So, I thought I would create a list of the things that I love the most about this area.  Some are strictly related to CRR while others are unique to the North Georgia Mountains.

Now, if you have taken a look at the comments on some of my previous posts you may be asking yourself “Why does he bother with a blog?”.  The answer is simple:  I love CRR and the North Georgia Mountains and I love to share my experiences with others.  Fortunately, we live in a society that provides for freedom of speech and while we may not always like what others are saying they have the same freedom as us.  Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I allow them to share them even when they disagree with me.  I will be the first one to tell you that I DO NOT know everything about everything, but I am a person that enjoys sharing my insights and thoughts.  Please, take them for what they are – my personal thoughts, insights and observations.

On a sidebar - I received an e-mail from a reader last night asking me about deleted comments on some of my posts.  As I have said before I don’t limit or delete comments because everyone has their own thoughts – and in my opinion, they are entitled to express them.  Any comments on my posts that show as deleted read “this comment has been removed by the author”.  The ‘author’ is the author of the comment, not me.  I believe you can only edit or delete comments if you are registered with Google+ with a screen name.  I’m not sure if anonymous commenters are given the same privilege.  I have only deleted one comment and explained that in another post.  When I delete them they are simply gone.  Why do I work by a ‘no delete’ policy?  Credibility.  Hey, I’m human too, and will take my lickins’ if I step in it.  Deletion of comments would show lack of tolerance for another point of view.  I’m open to all points of view regardless of the side of my opinion they rest on – just please try to be civil.

So, back to my topic:  Why I love living in the North Georgia Mountains, and specifically Coosawattee River Resort.  I’ve detailed my personal Top 10 below.  It’s also my chance to audition as spokesman for the local Chamber of Commerce – just kidding.  These are listed in no particular order.

1. Natural beauty.  Coosawattee is a beautiful development.  I have never lived anywhere that had so much natural beauty within the limits of the development.  Some of my next items relate to the natural beauty, but I think we can all agree, as a whole, natural beauty sums CRR to a tee.
2. The people.  Yes, we can argue over topics and disagree about things from time to time, but that does not mean that CRR isn’t filled with good people (sorry for the double negative).  I have met many friendly people throughout the community and have met some great people through my digital interactions of this blog.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  These could be the same folks that skewer their friends on Topix, but I doubt it – for the most partJ  Everyone from staff to the residents that call CRR home have always been very friendly.
3. The river.  We have 12 miles of the Coosawattee River flowing directly through the middle of our home.  From fishing, kayaking, tubing and wading; the Coosawattee River provides a constant flow of enjoyment through the community for any outdoor enthusiast.  Owners and guests can enjoy this natural wonder at any one of five river parks.  All of the parks provide bathroom facilities, picnic tables, grills, and view to kill for.
4. Exclusivity.  OK, I have to be careful using that word….but what I mean is the freedom that ‘private’ provides.  During spring, summer, and fall (and sometimes winter) I can take my UTV to the mailbox, the pools, the river or any of the amenities and never have to start my car.  I can simply make a scenic and enjoyable ride out of it.  Believe me when I say that I enjoy driving my UTV MUCH more than getting in the car.  I also enjoy tooling around the community and exploring roads and areas that I had never known of before.  The roads in CRR are private and do not follow ‘rules of the road’ so recreational vehicles are a common mode of transportation inside our gates.
5. Pools and amenities.  I love to swim and enjoy visiting the outdoor pools in the summer and of course the rec center pool during cool weather.  All of the pools are equipped with restrooms and areas to change your clothes so you don’t have to jump in your car soaking wet.  Another reason to get that UTV – wet clothes are no problem!  We also enjoy the game room and exercise room at the rec center and the music at the General Store.  I’m not the best billiards player, but I try!
6. Seclusion with convenience.  It’s true that when you enter the gates of CRR you feel like you are leaving the rest of life’s stresses behind you.  However, depending on where you live in CRR, you are not far from the conveniences of East Ellijay.  Walmart and Lowe’s anchor the main shopping center in East Ellijay.  Think of ‘big box’ stores as you may – but they are nice to have close.  I do prefer the smaller shops of the downtown area, but there are just some things you can’t get there.  However, I must say that I am a HUGE fan of the Ace Hardware.  I just like the feel of the old hardware stores.  Not to mention that they have a huge inventory.
7. Wildlife.  Wildlife abounds in CRR.  (Let’s not go there – OK?)  Previous topics aside, you will see a wide variety of wildlife on any given day adding to the secluded, wilderness feel of the community.
8. Carters Lake.  Carters Lake is a 3200 acre recreational lake created by the Army Corp of Engineers and has approximately 62 miles of shoreline.  Boasting a depth of 480 feet deep at the dam, Carters Lake is formed at the end of the Coosawattee River after it exits CRR.  It has a fantastic beach and swimming/recreation area that can be accessed in just minutes from the Main Gate or Eagle Mountain Gate of CRR.  Here’s a great website that shows more about the lake http://www.carterslake.com/.
9. Neighboring towns.  Ellijay and CRR are surrounded by some great small mountain towns.  Consider visiting Blue Ridge in the fall and taking the train to Copperhill, Tennessee.  The fall colors are astounding and Copperhill provides another peek into the small towns of the mountains.  Or, take a day trip to Helen in the fall and enjoy all that Oktoberfest has to offer.  Better yet, head just north to Cherry Log and explore the secretive world of the Sasquatch at the Sasquatch Museum.  The North Georgia Mountains have lots of great places to visit.  Jump in the car and go exploring!
10. Great weather!  Let’s face it – we are spoiled.  Yes, it gets cold.  Yes, it gets hot.  But, all in all, we have some of the best weather around.  Warm days and mild to cool nights even in the summer make living in the North Georgia Mountains great.

So, what are some of the reasons why you love Coosawattee River Resort and the North Georgia Mountains?  E-mail me or post in the comments section below.

Decks are clean, weeds are sprayed, stomach is full – life is good along the Coosawattee River.

Til next time,

Chris

Shared Thoughts on the Culling (And this is my last post on this topic)

First, I would like to say thank you to everyone that has recently commented or e-mailed me regarding my posts.  The most popular posts at the moment seem to be:  Mulling the Culling, Mulling the Culling II and Coosawattee Campground (almost 800 page views since posting!).

Needless to say I have had a TON of traffic and lots of feedback and I APPRECIATE it.  Communication is the universal solvent and when done efficiently and respectfully can really accomplish a lot. 

Now, back to the 'culling'.  The debate seems to continue on.  Why some things get perpetuated to nausea is beyond me, but hey, whatever floats your boat.  I'm going to begin compiling the feedback I've gotten along with my own knowledge and research about the topic and begin posting some conclusions in this post - but please be warned - some of you may not like what I have to say.  So, in those instances, let's agree to disagree until we get this thing figured out. 

First, I'd like to share some thoughts that have been expressed to me.  I'll put them into brief bullet points as I don't want to quote the sources.  I'm sharing these thoughts as a reference of people's feelings.  The human mind will react in a survival instinct, and that instinct is based on initial, instantaneous feelings - feelings that will persist out of defiance even if the mind knows better.  To get anything done, people have to understand this, accept it and proceed with negotiations understanding it.  Now, for some thoughts/comments that have been sent to me and I'll add my opinion later on:

1.    People are disrespectful on the pro-cull side often resorting to name calling

2.    Most scientific facts that have been used by the pro-cull side could be disputed and are/were for the most part up for interpretation or twisted to serve a point

3.    Good information was peppered with falsehoods to suit personal beliefs and not complete fact

4.    Deer eat corn in nature and it does not hurt them.  (I must add, while it isn't the healthiest choice for them, it won't be the death of them either.  I know there are numerous articles with conflicting discussion.  The fact is that corn is to deer as energy drinks are to humans, and its actually heavy in starch and fattening, but not that most Americans have room to point fingers at any critters eating habits!!)

5.    I'm tired of hearing about the natural fauna being destroyed

6.    There aren't many deer in my neighborhood - is this problem only in certain areas?

7.    People are driving the cull notion for self serving desires

8.    If there is no food as people say wouldn't the deer move on?

9.    Are entire ecology is suffering because we have reduced natural predators so what difference does it make if we reduce the herd when the real problem has not been corrected (I agree whole heartedly with this comment.  A deer cull is only a bandage over the real ecological issues Man has created). 

That is only a sampling of the many comments that have been e-mailed to me, but no need to post all of them as many of them say virtually the same thing.  Now for my view.  I've thought long and hard about this and realistically, I think I have summed up my thoughts in previous posts.  But, here goes:

1.   The nastiness of both sides, though the most nasty has come from the 'pro' side, has got to stop.  Grown adults should not be acting this way and NOTHING will come of this continued behavior other than both sides entrenching themselves further to their ideal side of the issue.

2.   If anyone wants to truly set the eco system back to where it is supposed to be then you have to reintroduce natural predators back into the wild.  Anyone that says that the deer need to be thinned, but we should not inconvenience Man with predators, is preaching from a very personal soapbox and is not looking at a cull as a sustainable solution - only one that fixes the probably right now.  They are not a solution to the problem, rather an extension of it.

3.   The problem as described by a few people may truly not exist in all areas of Coosawattee.  We are, after all, a huge area.  I can say that in my neck of the woods I see some deer, but not to the extent that others report.  There may only be particular areas with higher population of deer and I am quite certain that the deer population is commensurate with the human population.  More people destroying the environment by deforestation to build houses (just being sarcastic) and planting non-indigenous species of plants will draw more deer.  Feeding doesn't help, either.

4.   The CRR Board needs to work with the property owners to reduce building by consolidating vacant lots either through designation of green space or re-platting. 

In summary:  Man has created this issue.  I won't beat the dead equine because I have a post that discusses this.  That said - Man will never be the solution.  Four things need to happen to fix this problem, if it is in fact a problem:

1.    Quit being stubborn and acting like spoiled children.  Communicate like grown adults and have civil, productive discussion to come to a consensus.  This may sound harsh, but we have all seen the actions of folks fighting over this issue and it isn't good.  Just stop!

2.    Reduce future human population/growth through vacant property consolidation and production of green space.

3.    Don't feed the deer.  No matter what you think  - and your intentions are probably good - they aren't starving.  Observe from afar, but leave them alone!  If there is nothing in CRR for them to eat they will move on.  Nature made it long before Man came along with our ill placed sympathies and will most likely make it long after we have destroyed ourselves.

4.    Talk with Forestry and Natural Resources about developing a plan to stabilize the eco system through reintroduction of natural species such as wolves.  Mass elimination of one species will not help long term.  Man has tried that approach many times in our past and it was never good. 

Hopefully this hasn't taken an authoritarian tone, but simply my thoughts and beliefs.  I would like to hear yours - but please keep it clean:)

Thanks again to everyone for reading my [sometimes] rambling thoughts.  As always, I love to hear from my readers and appreciate your communication.

That's it for now because the weather is absolutely stunning along the Coosawattee River.

Till next time,

 

Chris