Hopeless RoamAntics: Jazz and Lobster 2023 (6/2-6/7 2023)

That actually would be a good name for a band, but that is a topic for another time.

We are back out on the road in Ruth for our escape from the Florida summer heat with stops in Rochester, NY for the Jazz Festival and Rockland, ME for the Lobster Festival plus the journey in between. We departed on June 2nd and we have been so busy working our way up North that I have just now had time to post.

Florida is a long state and it takes about a whole day of driving to hit the state line and make our way to our first overnight in Cordele, GA. Over the years traveling I-75, we have passed Carroll's Sausage and Country store in Ashburn, GA. We had never stopped until now. Well, we quickly saw what we had been missing.

Pictured is a pork chop stuffed with
sausage and wrapped with bacon.
Yes, it was delicious.

It had a nice size dirt lot to park Ruth in for the visit. They actually even have RV spots, but we already had plans to be further up the road for the night. The store was a purveyor of pork, beef, cheeses and many other fresh looking items. We stocked the freezer with sausages, bacon, frozen cathead biscuits and prime rib meat sticks. If you are driving by this place it is a mistake. Stop and fill your cooler. You won't be disappointed.

We stopped for the first time at a Love's Truck Stop RV Hook Up. Right off the interstate adjacent to the Truck Stop. We were pleasantly surprised by the facilities and we did not find the truck stop noise to be bothersome inside Ruth. A bit pricey for an overnight, but overall a B+ experience. We would use them again for a convenient one night stopover.

What was a bonus was the Smoakies Bar-B-Que within walking distance of the truck stop. We got a take out of brisket that was just out of this world along with some first rate fried green tomatoes.

The next day of driving on a Saturday would require us to drive through the badlands of Atlanta on our way to Ellijay, GA. Ellijay is the "Apple Capital of Georgia" (never knew of such a designation before) and is at about 1,280 feet of elevation. This may not sound like a lot after our past two years of travel out west, but it was enough elevation to get some cooler temperatures than we left behind in Florida.

After the drive through Atlanta and a 50 min traffic delay through Marietta, GA. 4 lanes were dead stopped, I drove about 5 feet at 1mile per hour on I-75 so Mike could take a "comfort" break in the middle of the jam. I can now say I drove on I-75. Talona Ridge was a delightful and much needed first landing spot.

The RV resort was beautiful, amenity rich and nestled among the apple orchards and vineyards of north Georgia. We met up with some friends in the nearby town of Dahlonega, GA and had a lovely walk through town, a delightful lunch at Monteluce Winery and enjoyed watching a thunderstorm arrive accompanied by live music at Kaya Vineyards. It was a lovely day and great catching up with friends.

This stop also presented the opportunity to visit Amicalola Falls. 175 + 475 steps later we viewed the falls from the bottom to the top and even touched on a piece of the Appalachian Trail. Kind of challenging for my first hike since last summer, but we made it and it was worth it.