Day 15

We camped in Georgia—near the Georgia and Alabama border. Our site, beside the Walter F. George Lake is idyllic, the setting is pretty. Cotton Hill Campground is so much nicer than where we were last night. It’s just as empty, but it doesn’t feel desolate. It doesn’t look like a place a horror movie could be filmed. Kati is sleeping in the little tent—her choice. G3 and I are sharing the bigger one.

G3 couldn’t wait to set up his hammock. He is content sitting by the water and listening to the frogs.

The sunset was pretty through a break in the clouds. When it got dark, we set up the camping chairs by the water and talked. Everything was too wet for a fire. Plus the sky looked questionable, as if it might start raining again. We watched the lightning across the lake—flashes of orange and pink in the gaps of the clouds. The frogs were louder than the cicadas. Submersed in nature’s sounds I had a good night sleep.

I woke up with the sun and took a walk. The campground has a nature trail. It was flat and not terribly scenic, but I enjoyed being in the woods and smelling the damp earth.

When I got back to the campsite G3 and Kati were still sleeping so i sat by the lake to read. Since we’ve been constantly on the go and driving a great deal, and since we just have only one site to visit today, we agreed to a relaxing morning so that we could enjoy the campsite a bit longer. We are the only ones camping in the tent section the park. If it were crowded, or even there were a few other people here, our experience would have been much different. As it is, we love the quiet and solitude by the water.

We ate breakfast and watched the birds play on the water. Then we went for a swim. The lake was warm and deep and I didn’t have to worry about jellyfish. We had fun.

We spent the afternoon in Plains, Georgia visiting the boyhood home and school of Jimmy Carter. G3 has now seen the homes of 27 presidents and Jimmy Carter is unique because he is still alive. And he still lives in Plains, Georgia. We past his house—the one he lives in—but we couldn’t see it because it’s behind bushes and shrubs.

But we did see the farm where he grew up during the Great Depression. The tour of his house was self guided. It’s hard to believe that a modern day president—one who is still alive—once lived in a house without running water or electricity. It was a simple house. One story. The farm remains a working farm, and yes, they do grow peanuts. The highlight of G3’s visit was the cat who hopped on his lap. G3 was happy to pet him.

The high school—which is now the visitor center and museum—is where Carter attended not only high school but elementary school as well. He had one teacher who always pushed the students. She often said that one day one of her students could be president.

The film about Carter was refreshingly different from every other film we’ve seen about a president. The other films are mini-history lessons, which I love, especially if I know little about the president. But sometimes, it’s nice to see something that isn’t what you expect. Since Carter is still alive, and since many of his friends and acquaintances were alive when the National Park took over the boyhood home in 1994, the film about Carter consisted of news clippings and interview segments, along with a brief biography.

I didn’t know that he had attended the Navel Academy. Nor did I know that he had been in the Navy. It had been a childhood dream. His uncle was in the Navy and he wanted to see the world like his uncle. He left the Navy when his father died. He felt his father had touched so many peoples’ lives and had done so much good even though he spent his entire life in the same place. Carter wanted to do the same, and felt he could do that better at home than in the Navy. His wife was not happy about it. She liked the life of a sailors wife. But she said she “only sulked for about a year.”

Carter first ran for office to be on a school board. When he won, he worked to integrate the public schools. My dad never voted for him, but he always admired the fact that even as president, Carter sent his kid to public school. He never thought he was better than anyone else. He believed in public education for everyone. (Personally, I think all politicians should be required by law to send their kids to public school. By sending their kids to private school, they are demonstrating the fact that they don’t care about doing what’s best for public schools. They aren’t personally vested in them.)

The train depot in Plains was Carter’s campaign headquarters. It was chosen because it was the only public building in town that had a bathroom. When Carter was elected president, the people of Plains rented a train to take them to his inauguration. It was called the “Peanut Special”.

President Carter has arguably done more in his post presidency years than any other president. He never again ran for public office, but through The Carter Foundation, he has done a great deal for humanity. He is one of only four presidents to have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His kindness and compassion should be emulated by all world leaders.

The Main Street in plains looks like it hasn’t changed since Carter was president. Walking down the street, I felt like I had walked into the 1970’s. A large sign on one store advertises that Plains, Georgia is home to Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States.

When Carter was a child, peanuts were nothing more than a favorite local snack. Now they are southern Georgia’s most important crop. And if you know me, you know I love peanuts. I eat them for breakfast almost every day. We entered one store that sold all things peanuts. Yes, I bought a bag and I am looking forward to eating them. I also got me and G3 peanut ice cream.

Since I love doing dorky touristy things, I asked Kati to stop at the giant peanut in town. It’s kind of scary. It’s a peanut with no eyes but a big white toothy smile. It looks like it might eat you if you got too close.