Saturday in the Park

Fluffy white clouds drifted lazily above in the vivid blue sky. A steady breeze rumpled my hair, and tempered the heat of the evening. I gazed across the expanse of the Chattahoochee River, my eyes straining to catch a glimpse of a hawk which I knew lived in the trees on the other side. The river rushed through one of the lower floodgates of the dam and swirled over and around the large, smooth rocks that lined the riverbed. Watching the swirling water, I recognized the signs of undertow, a dangerous phenomena for which many large rivers are notorious. The water appeared calmer as it flowed into the deeper center of the channel and on toward the bend about a quarter mile downstream. Yet I knew from having grown up around the wild Savannah River that the deadly undercurrent still lay within its depths. Not seeing the hawk, I turned my attention to the other activities going on around me.

People come to West Point Dam for varied reasons. Hardly Creek Park is located at the dam site and affords hours of fun and relaxation for all ages. Along with picnic tables scattered among the towering pines and oaks, the park boasts a paved walking trail, play areas for the kids, and a side pond in which children and persons with disabilities can fish. Squirrels play throughout the park. Ducks and geese can be seen in the pond, especially during the fall and winter months. For me it is a place of serenity. The rushing water has a calming effect. Communing with nature centers me. And the squirrels always make me laugh. But the main reason people seem to come here is to fish.

Seated on the rocks below me were a couple of men, fishing rods in hand, casting into the river's center. The current quickly took their bobbers downstream. I wandered toward the lookout area close to the dam itself. As I walked along, I spotted movement out on the rocks. A large grayish bird was walking gingerly through the shallows. A Great Blue Heron. It stooped low, drawing in its neck as if trying to make itself look like a rock. Then it crept forward, tilting its head sideways as though for a better view...of what? Suddenly with a snake-like quickness its head shot out and down, coming up from the water with a wiggling fish in its long beak. With a quick toss and a gulp, the fish disappeared down the heron's throat. Ignoring me and the other fishermen, the heron walked back across the flat rock and took up a sentinel stance, waiting for another fish to stray within its reach.

I stopped at the overlook, grumbling to myself for missing a good shot of the Great Blue catching a fish. Having turned off the camera to prevent battery drain (the bane of digital cameras!), I wasn't prepared to get the shot. Later, I did manage to take a few good photos of the bird standing quietly by the water's edge. Lined up along the causeway to my left was another group of fishermen...and fisherwomen. Their rods looked sturdy, and some had what looked like plastic soda bottles tied to their lines. Have to confess, I was somewhat puzzled. They casted their lines out and down...waaaay down...to the dark water that rushed from the gate below their feet. As the current caught their lines and pushed them toward the center of the river, I saw the wisdom of using a soda bottle as a cork. Those whose lines had a regular cork attached were much harder to see in the swirling water than the lines with the soda bottle attached. Hmmm. But still, it was a long way down and I wondered what pound test line they were using and how on earth would they get any fish they caught up to the causeway without it wriggling off the hook. And I found that out, too, as a flurry of excitement soon alerted me that a fish had been hooked. The man's rod bent as he played the fish. All the while, he was moving along the causeway in my direction. I moved back so he could pass and caught a glimpse of a very large fish. Wouldn't the egret have a time with that one! Gingerly the fisherman climbed down the rocks to the river's edge, still reeling carefully. He caught the fish by the gills and climbed back up to the overlook. I nodded as he passed. Nice fish...a fine bass, probably 5 pounds or better. A few of those would make a nice mess for supper.
Thinking of supper made me hungry. From the picnic area I could smell hamburgers on a grill. With a sigh, I turned and walked back to the truck. I would visit the park and the dam again as Summer neared. It is fast becoming my favorite place to relax down here among the Georgia pines. ~~~StellaD

Lazy Daisy Days and Nights

If ever a flower bloomed whose sole purpose was to herald the lazy days of a Southern Summer, it had to be the daisy. These perky flowers with the sunshine center form bright splotches in fields and pastures and cascade down embankments to mingle with the red clover now blooming along the roadside. Daisies are happy flowers, denoting warmth, fun, and laughter. One can't help but feel light-hearted at the sight of a field full of daisies dancing in the breeze. And who, in their youth, hasn't plucked one by one the tiny petals while chanting the phrase, "He/She loves me....he/she loves me not." Although the wild-flower version of the daisy will soon fade away, the domesticated varieties, such as Gerber and Shasta Daisies, will lend color and variety to your garden or porch boxes throughout the months of summer.

Since I start vacation in a few days, one of my projects is to put some new flowers in the beds beside the front porch. I love flowers, and have found that with a little planning, it's easy to have color outside all year long.

I love these days in late May as Spring comes to a close and June brings the new season of Summer. The days warm up enough to go swimming in the lake or pool, but night brings a soft coolness just right for a night on the town. The atmosphere of Lafayette Square in uptown Lagrange takes on a different motion as evening fades into darkness. Eclectic coffee houses, restaraunts and pubs fill with the lively banter of people perusing the pleasant weather. With less traffic than at peak day times, one can take a leisurely stroll around the square. In the middle of the promenade, the statue of Lafayette watches over all in the soft glow of the floodlights from the fountain. The new LaGrange Theatre draws its share of the late evening crowd, too. Weather-wise, there is hardly a better time than now for dinner and a movie.

Hmmm...I think I'll take myself up on that! See you uptown!
StellaD

Looking for Summer Fun

Hooray, it's May! Temperatures here have touched the 90 degree mark this week. We had a brief cool spell last weekend. Blackberry Winter some call it, because it occurs just as the blackberry bushes begin to bloom. Now the seasons turn toward Summer. Wildflowers, such as crimson clover, yellow meadow flower, purple asters and daisies cover pastures and spill out onto the roadside. The sweet scent of honeysuckle rides on the heated air. The talk at work turns to fishing and golf, and spending time with the kids/grand kids. There is a sense of delightful anticipation of this new season in the air.

School will soon be out and it seems every one's thoughts are on Summer vacations. Today, more and more parents are looking outside the usual amusement parks for new things to do with their children. As the price of gas goes up almost daily, they are also looking to add value to their vacations. Whether they are planning day trips, weekend getaways, or week long vacations, the focus is on spending quality time with the kids. But finding new places to visit that are fun and informative for both adults and children takes a bit of research. While the Internet makes researching destinations easier, the hectic lifestyles of modern families make finding the time to do the research nearly impossible...especially with the amount of information one can find online. Wouldn't it be great if someone could do the research for you? Wouldn't it be great if someone could help you put together a vacation package with activities the whole family can enjoy? Someone can...

Travel Cat at Travel With the Kids http://www.travelwiththekids.com/ creates family vacations with a personal touch. Following the trend of people seeking more family friendly vacation destinations, Travel With the Kids combines personal travel experience with in-depth searches of the web, travel guides, and magazines. This in-depth research gives you up-to-date information on family friendly activities in many popular areas. Visit Travel Cat's blog www.travelwiththekids.blogspot.com to check out some of the cool activities listed for destinations such as Seattle, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington DC, and others. Current operating hours and admission prices are listed for each post. You'll be pleased to find that admission to many of the activities is free. Travel Cat loves to travel and is constantly on the look-out for affordable activities that enlighten, educate, and are just plain fun for the entire family.

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Travel With the Kids: Bringing you the best family friendly activities no matter where your vacation takes you.

Travel With The Kids is an independent travel designer. It is not a travel agency, nor is it associated with any museums, restaurants, or tourism bureaus. By the same token, Rambling and Writing has not and will not receive any monetary compensation nor other preferential treatment for this review.