Southeast End-of-Summer Thang Rally

nilesrob · 05-18-2008, 02:07 PM

Southeast End-of-Summer-Thang Rally
Blanton Creek Park, Fortson, GA
September 12th – 14th, 2008
For those of you who will be lamenting the end of summer come September, we have decided to host a Southeast End-of-Summer/Before fall/After school has started/Before football/While the water is still warm enough to swim/And the trees still give us shade, Thang Rally! Nothing fancy or complicated – just a little thang for anyone who can join us September 12th – 14th. The rally will be at Blanton Creek Park in Fortson, Georgia – think Columbus in terms of general location on a map. If you triangulated an area between Pine Mountain, GA, Columbus, GA and Opelika, AL (Auburn University), and put yourself on a quiet lake setting in an Airstream (or whatever) with good folks you would be in the right zone - western Georgia.
I can assure you this is one of the nicest campgrounds we have found – rates are $18.00 per night. Located on Lake Harding, the campground is perfect for those with kayaks, canoes or motored boat craft (Feathercraft!) – or tubes to float in for those of you less motivated to move. Many of the sites are right on the lake; there is a boat launch facility about 100 yards from the campground, and there are actually docks at several of the campsites! As far as boating goes, this is about as pretty a lake for boating as I have seen.
There is a pavilion that can be rented for $60.00 if that makes sense. The covered pavilion has water, electricity, picnic tables, grill, bathroom facilities and parking. Oh, did I mention the pavilion has a spectacular view of the lake?
The campground is owned by Georgia Power, and in fact this is the last weekend of their season (you could arrive earlier, but you’d have to depart on the 14th). Reserving sites early is a must, and you need to call to make reservations (706-643-7737).
To see a map of the campground, go to http://www.georgiapower.com/lakes/home.asp and then look under the West Central Lakes region for Lake Harding – and then select Blanton Creek Park.
We have reserved site #9, and sites #3 and #5 have been reserved previously by others. Sites #16 – 23 are for tent camping only. Otherwise, at the moment, it looks fairly open. But you must call (706-643-7737) for reservations. The address is: Blanton Creek, Georgia Power Company, 1516 Bartletts Ferry Road, Fortson, GA 31808.
Hope to see you there!

nvestysly · 05-18-2008, 04:10 PM

That sure sounds like fun! Thanks for the pictures this looks like a nice campground. The end of summer will be here before you know it - time to plan now. We'll check our calendar and get back to you.

Lucius

empresley · 05-18-2008, 06:16 PM

Done! Site 10 - three nights.

Guess we'll bring that painted thang!

nilesrob · 05-18-2008, 07:25 PM

Site #7, if still available, is a pull-through, and has a boat dock! Any Feathercraft takers?

Even if you are not in a site ON the water, the sites are still very nice.

Jim & Susan · 05-18-2008, 08:32 PM

Great idea! Maybe ours will be rollin' by that time.

Jim

nilesrob · 05-19-2008, 10:58 AM

Cool - hope you can make it!

I think this is going to be a nice little venue, particularly convenient for anyone in Alabama, Georgia (less than 2 hrs from ATL), the panhandle and maybe MS. This is a little bit more of a ride for anyone from TN, NC and SC, but still do-able depending on your schedule and tolerance for fuel prices.

We own a cabin about 20 minutes from this campground where we store our kayaks/canoe, so if anyone would like to use one of our boats we will have them there.

nilesrob · 05-23-2008, 07:29 PM

We're going to head to Blanton this weekend with the boats and check out the conditions. Will post some pictures later. Enjoy a safe weekend!

nvestysly · 05-26-2008, 06:47 PM

Danielle and I are giving this gathering some thought but it interferes with a college football weekend. AARGH! We're on the fence at the moment but leaning toward football. We'll keep you posted.

Lucius

nilesrob · 05-26-2008, 09:41 PM

Totally get that. If Auburn had a home game that weekend, we would not be having this discussion.

A few more pics to entice the Georgia/Alabama and boating contingent... Whether it be kayaking, floating or motorboating, this campground location is awesome.

Sugarfoot · 05-29-2008, 07:16 PM

It's about 200 miles from Chattanooga, but I just happen to be off work during this little "thang" and I'm always looking for a good camping trip. I asked for something with shade on the water and they put me in site #6. Brad, I see you have a preview photo of it there. Works for me! I'm reserved for Tuesday through Saturday night.

empresley · 05-29-2008, 07:47 PM

Will this be large enough for BBQ Sat. evening?

Sugarfoot · 05-29-2008, 07:51 PM

And to think, I'm a vegetarian.

Em, you ARE the Grillmaster!

nilesrob · 05-30-2008, 02:41 PM

That should do it as long as there aren't TOO many more attendees...

Do we need to sacrifice a zucchini for Sugarfoot?

nvestysly · 05-30-2008, 03:34 PM

Football... Camping... Football... Camping... Football... Camping...

I'm tossing and turning - I can't sleep at night - this is really tearing me up. Danielle and I have long been planning a road trip to Tampa to see the USF Bulls play Kansas in Raymond James Stadium but this camping outing is creating a conflict.

I'm trying to figure out how to do both. The game is on Friday evening in Tampa. We could stay at a hotel (or campground) north of Tampa and leave early in the morning on Saturday. That might put us back in Georgia at the campground by mid afternoon on Saturday. That sounds like too much driving but I might be able to make it work.

Danielle thinks (er knows) I'm crazy but now there's BBQ in the picture. What's a guy to do?

Lucius