South Georgia Odyssey

"Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything."

       - Charles Kuralt (1934 - 1997)

I drove the back roads over to Cordele, GA, on Friday and while it took  longer than traveling on the Interstate, I had no regrets about my choice of routes. 

I made my way through at least a dozen little communities with names like Claxton, Lyons, Higgston, Ailey, Milan and Seville.  I also passed through Vidalia, a town world-famous for its sweet onions. 

American flags were displayed almost everywhere and occasional "Jesus is Coming" signs were posted for passers-by to read and think about.

I saw many huge cotton fields.  Some were full of harvesting equipment.  Others, evidently planted later, appeared to be several weeks from having to be picked.  I went by three gins, two idle, but one very busy with wagons of the white fiber waiting to be ginned and baled.

In most of these places I observed folks, mostly men, standing or sitting around stores on Main Street chatting with each other.  Some appeared to be discussing the merits of their vehicles, for the hoods were up and they were peering down inside the engine compartments.  Others simply watched the cars go by.  Some waved to me.

Many side roads were named after people: Cleon Mosely, Otis Collins, Billy McCall, Ley Alexander.  I assumed these were the names of the families who lived down these roads or had sometime in the past. 

Most of what I saw seemed of another era, out of place for 2003. 

I finally met my friends, and we played golf for the next four days in the Georgia State Parks:  Georgia Vets, Meadow Links, Little Ocmulgee.  All were good layouts.

Today, I returned home on I-16.  It was faster but I felt something was missing.  Something was.