TRAVEL DAY 21

Today's goal: HOME! Yes, the last night in a hotel, the last day of driving endless hours and the last quick meal at McDonald's... And finally, the last site to check out: the Georgia Guidestones.

Georgia Guidestones

Somewhere, somehow I ran across information about a strange site in the middle of the State of Georgia where massive granite monoliths speak to humanity of world and personal peace. The theme: 

"LET THESE BE GUIDESTONES TO AN AGE OF REASON"

In June 1979, an unknown person or persons under the pseudonym R. C. Christian hired Elberton Granite Finishing Company to build the granite structure in Elberton County, Georgia.

Inscriptions

A message consisting of a set of ten guidelines or principles is engraved on the stones in eight different languages, one language on each face of the four large upright stones. These languages are English, Spanish, Swahili, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese and Russian. A shorter message is inscribed at the top of the structure in four ancient language scripts: Babylonian, Classical Greek, Sanskrit and Egyptian hieroglyphs. 

The ten points:

1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
2. Guide reproduction wisely — improving fitness and diversity.
3. Unite humanity with a living new language.
4. Rule passion—faith—tradition—and all things with tempered reason.
5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
8. Balance personal rights with social duties.
9. Prize truth—beauty—love—seeking harmony with the infinite.
10. Be not a cancer on the earth—leave room for nature. Leave room for nature.

The size of the stones varies, depending on their location, from 19 feet to 4 feet, and their weight varies from 237,746 to 2,707 pounds.

Numerous theories and explanations have propped up to explain the origin and the meaning of this strange configuration of the mammoth stones. Suspicions include anti-religious and/or New World Order origins. While these things remain a deep mystery, it is the mystery itself that was appealing to me, and I don't need to know the depth of meanings and explanations. The structure is amazing in itself and to merely see it was enough for me. Well, almost.

I have to say that there are two tiny little details that haunt me, namely, who and why. Who is/are behind this bizarre collection of stones and suggestions for a better life for the world? Why? I guess one aspect of the "why"—at least why here—we know: the quality of the granite in this area is such that will stand the elements and passage of time. 

And there is more! In the stones can be seen slits and holes that apparently line up at certain times of day with the sun's rays which will then indicated the mid-day and thus the solstice and the equinox.

We left unfulfilled except for the pleasure of having seen this remarkable monument, and drove through a small town on the way eastward. Apparently a Halloween carnival of sorts was in the making. Unhappily I only caught one photo (nice message):

Then, (oops! forgot about this one...) State No. 16:

Here we drove by a fun water tower (?) in the town of Gaffney.

And finally, home state!

And home. Why go looking for beauty when it is right in your own backyard!

So good to be home after nearly five weeks and 7,602 miles! We had a super wonderful time, something we will cherish for the rest of our lives, seeing family and friends and some remarkable spots in this beautiful country we call America.