In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Birthday camping trip to Vogel St Park

Discussion in 'Hobbies and Interests' started by T.Jeff Veal, Nov 12, 2026 at 7:12 AM.

  1. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    My birthday was 11/6, we asked a couple friends to join us for a few days at Vogel St Park in N GA mountains. They rented a cottage and we pulled the camper. Checked in Sunday, 11/8-11/12.
    We may have been a week late on the best leaf color, but it was still very nice...
    Miz Carol took some:ithappened:while I was driving around Gainesville and Cleveland... Messenger_creation_DEEA9015-8E06-4FED-AB8B-76D76B16FF8D.jpg
    Messenger_creation_AFE423AD-B67B-41D5-84CF-90ACDB22E75A.jpeg Messenger_creation_F321EA54-E379-43D0-B8C6-FFF6906A35F9.jpg
    Other mountain views..
    Messenger_creation_E8E26418-D081-47CF-A540-F7CE4019AC86.jpg Messenger_creation_C4D2CCA1-40CE-4E51-8CA9-DFBAE0279C1A.jpg Messenger_creation_70D4C9DC-7D55-4003-88EB-226E977E73F6.jpg Messenger_creation_51213A3B-F12F-451C-9975-E5571080C0C7.jpeg Messenger_creation_FED700C3-8FB7-4D13-9C0E-E84E5C8F93A5.jpg
    First fire Sunday night... 20261109_085414.jpg
    Monday morning fire... 20261109_085455.jpg
    Yep, I had my Grinch shoes on, my feets were warm...:thumbs::thumbs::rofl: :lol: 20261109_090518.jpg
    We were going to cook ribs Monday night, but they didn't thaw out enough, so we rode with our friends over towards Young Harris... 20261109_140122.jpg
    20261109_140318.jpg 20261109_140932.jpg 20261109_141035.jpg 20261109_141107.jpg 20261109_141306.jpg 20261109_142052.jpg
    Saw some elk standing by the road...
    20261109_141511.jpg
    Stopped by a sorghum syrup mill, they weren't cooking any, but had some for purchase, we got 2 jars... 20261109_143038.jpg
    Huge pile of cane stalks behind the sheds... 20261109_142904.jpg
    Resident squirrel was friendly... 20261110_082359.jpg
    Tuesday morning our friends rode with us to Brasstown Bald, highest peak in GA...on the ride over... 20261110_103652.jpg 20261110_104924.jpg
    View of the top... 20261110_105735.jpg
    1st look over he mountains 20261110_112219.jpg
    The sign at the observation deck... 20261110_112351.jpg 20261110_112342.jpg
    Hiawassee Ga and Lake Chatuge in the valley below 20261110_112449.jpg
     
  2. Eric Wanderweg

    Eric Wanderweg

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    Happy belated birthday and thanks for sharing the beautiful views with us :handshake: Looks like it was a relaxing trip.
     
  3. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    x2
     
  4. eatonpcat

    eatonpcat

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    Beautiful Country...Almost makes me forget that Atlanta is in Georgia!!
     
  5. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    Took pictures of the mountains and signs all around us... 20261110_112804.jpg 20261110_113153.jpg 20261110_113429.jpg 20261110_113435.jpg 20261110_113734.jpg 20261110_114149.jpg
    The observation center 20261110_120652.jpg
    Made it back to camp and we got supper cooked, added potato salad and macaroni salad.
    20261110_173127.jpg
    Our friends left Wednesday morning, so we drove over to Helen, GA. It's modeled after a Bavarian town...
    First stop was in Blairsville GA for breakfast... Messenger_creation_14AF3414-E5FA-4104-93F1-2D4458DA2217.jpg
    They had some nice little signs on the walls 20261111_103431.jpg 20261111_103436.jpg 20261111_103453.jpg 20261111_103559.jpg
    Made it to Helen. The Chattahoochee River, it's full of tubers in the summer 20261111_133530.jpg
    Miz Carol trying to convince Santa she's been good...:eek::whistle::thumbs::rofl: :lol: 20261111_134316.jpg
    Nice Christmas tree in downtown Helen Messenger_creation_FCCF703E-F3E3-481E-A420-D2E62AE757A1.jpeg
    I guess the desert scene got a little hot...:eek::eek::eek::bug::bug::bug:looks like the cactus survived...don't know what caused the fire... 20261111_140132.jpg
    Windmill on the edge of town... 20261111_150808.jpg
    Outside of town is an old grist mill 20261111_165622.jpg 20261111_162826.jpg 20261111_163351.jpg 20261111_163334.jpg 20261111_162930.jpg
    They still use this one occasionally, but water levels have been low this year. They have a mill upstairs that's converted to electricity for most milling. 20261111_163212.jpg 20261111_164100.jpg
    yooperdave don't you agree? 20261111_163836.jpg
    A coffee roaster is next door, it was closed when we got there...:(:(... 20261111_165606.jpg
    This is Yonah Mountian, close to Cleveland GA... 20261111_170551.jpg
    A view of Yonah from Russell Scenic Hwy. 20261111_173602.jpg
    Miz Carol did a video of part of our drive on the scenic hwy, missed the couple signs with 12% grade...Definitely locked Godzilla in a low gear to save the brakes...



    Heading home today, would definitely recommend this park. Our site, #50, had a stream behind us and the bathhouse was across the road from us...nice trees around us... 20261110_150344.jpg
     
  6. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    :handshake: yep...I try to avoid that place like the plague it is...
     
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  7. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    God's country, for sure.

    I'll get my version posted in the next day or to so.
     
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  8. Ronaldo

    Ronaldo

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    Happy birthday and thanks for pics and story! Beautiful country you got down there!
     
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  9. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    We made it home safe, got unhooked and most things put back in the house.
     
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  10. sms4life

    sms4life

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    Looks like a great trip. Nice views. Thanks for sharing.
     
  11. Woodwidow

    Woodwidow

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    Looks like you had awesome weather. Camping at this time of year is not quite so busy. Thanks for taking us along on your trip.
     
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