BACK TO PINEWILD 5

So, from "Pell to Pine"

But first, a bit about Pell City. Had never heard of it, but then, the country is so vast, how could one know every place by name?

Pell City was founded in 1890 by railroad investors and named after George Pell of the Pell City Iron and Land Company, one of its financial backers. The city was incorporated on May 6, 1891.

 Kids are well-provided for in this town!

There's even a "kastle" for them. Fun town.

And for those who prefer sea-air... I know at least ONE person who would love to have access to all this.

But never mind... Pinewild awaits. Via Georgia

Georgia's terrain spans coastal beaches, farmland and mountains. Capital city Atlanta is home of the Georgia Aquarium and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.

Georgia is known as the Peach State, but it's also the country's top producer of pecans, peanuts, and vidalia onions. The state's onions are considered some of the sweetest in the world. (Onions can be “sweet”?)

Speaking of peanuts, Ashburn, Georgia, is home to the world largest (fake) one. 

Some commerce on the freeway:

Follow those cars!

 

Altanta
Just skirting Atlanta, avoiding the mayhem of its traffic! 

But if I were really into commenting something about Atlanta, it would be a couple of things. First, in Finland in my childhood there was a coffee creamer called 'Atlanta.' But most importantly—I guess—Atlanta is the host town for Masters golf tournaments. This month, as it happens, the PGA Championship is currently underway on Bethpage Black Course. (My dear hubby has played the East Lake Golf Course, the oldest course in Atlanta.)

It seems we encountered all possible road- and bridgework everywhere!

Stone Mountain

Funny how plans can change quite suddenly. Stone Mountain was about the only place I really wanted to see on this trip... But when we missed the road there and we were getting tired and anxious to get home, we decided not to go back and retrace the miles. BTW, this is how our road map would have look like had we actually visited the site:

Well, anyway, this is what I found out. 

Stone Mountain is well known for not only its geology, but also the enormous rock relief on its north face, the largest bas-relief in the world. The carving depicts three Confederate figures, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, and has been the subject of widespread controversy.

These pictures show the bas-relief depth and size in detail:

Stone Mountain is also a popular sight-seeing and picnicking destination—in fact, it is the most visited destination in the state of Georgia.

At its summit, the elevation is 1,686 feet (514 m) above sea level and 825 feet (251 m) above the surrounding area. 

Stone Mountain is more than 5 miles (8 km) in circumference at its base. The summit of the mountain can be reached by a walk-up trail on the west side of the mountain or by the Skyride aerial tram. 

Penultimate State... South Carolina

Oh sweetness, we are almost there... but first this oddity that ought to belong to Georgia, but here it is, in Gaffney, South Carolina.

And so, forget all the commentaty and look for this, our 9th State on this road trip.

And our home here for a little while...