Cocoa Joy beside the Davidson River at Sycamore Flats in North Carolina.

I was back in Waynesville, North Carolina, this past week and notice that someone had posted this message to the heavens above as a prayer perhaps for Christmas. . . . But now since that has come and gone, it must be a prayer for the New Year.

I love the paths at Fort Mountain. If you have never been to this magical place, then take a day trip and go! You’ll thank me for the suggestion. The  lower pathway winds around the south side of the mountain and ascends through a forest of hardwoods, pines, Hemlocks, and fir trees.

The day we were there it was late and there wasn’t much light left but that was okay. I have always loved being on this mountain late in the day and especially on rainy days. Can’t explain why and won’t even try.

This is what I really wanted to see. From the top of Fort Mountain you can see the Black Mountains in the distance. This is one of the best state parks in Georgia. And there is lots of history to discover on the mountain. A rock wall runs 855 feet around the top of the mountain. It varies in height from two to six feet. When it was built, it was probably much taller. Lots of unanswered questions remain about its construction: Why was it built? Who built it? When was it built?

Researchers believe its construction ranges from 500B.C. to 1500A.D. The current commonly accepted date for construction is 500 A.D. The myths of the culture who built it abound. Some people say local Indian culture tells of a race of “moon-eyed” people. Some choose to interpret this as “white people”, inferring that the dark eyed Indians would select this as a description for a light skinned blue eyed race. If the “moon-eyed” people myth can be believed it would more likely be a reference to the god they worshiped than to the shape of their eyes.

This is northwest Georgia, which so different than the other side of the state. And it was Chipley’s first visit. It’s beautiful in any season.

Years ago I learned a tremendous lesson on this rock. After a long climb up the trail in the middle of summer when it was hot and humid, I stopped here to rest. The woods were dense with leaves and though I could hear people on the path in front of me, I did not realize just how close the overlook was. In fact, I was sure I would have to travel another mile to reach the summit. I was wrong, the deck that overlooks the valley below and the mountains to the south and north was only a few more yards! But I just stopped and rested and then I turned around and walked back down the path missing one of the most amazing views in the state. Later after a return trip, I discovered what I had missed—an amazing view. It was then that  I promised myself  that I would always see the trail through to the end and never quit until the journey was over.

Grace-Calvary Church is the oldest church building in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. I think I have written that before, but I don’t know if I wrote the following about the structure: “It was built by Jarvis Van Buren a relative of U. S. President Van Buren and consecrated on October 10, 1842. It’s a beautiful example of Greek Revival architecture. The building’s historic features include over 42 multi-paned windows that still retain most of the original hand blown glass, straight-backed box pews and a ‘double-decked’ pulpit. The pipe organ is the oldest working church instrument in Georgia.”

It’s one of my favorite destinations for photography. Earlier today it was bathed in warm evening sunlight.

I can’t remember where this church is located—somewhere on Highway 52 on the way back to northeast Georgia from Dahlonega. I loved the evening setting sunlight. Or maybe it was Hwy 115 out of Cleveland. (smile)

Yesterday Cocoa Joy visited one of her favorite places—Fort Mountain State Park. The drive to get there is much longer than when we lived in Atlanta, which means she doesn’t have the opportunity to go there as often. In fact, it’s been over two years since we were last there but it is still just as beautiful and just as wild and free as ever. Today Cocoa is having a small operation today. Please pray for her. We’ll give you an update later this evening.