Finding Tara and a Senseless Act.

Our Location today is Atlanta, Georgia.

Without really trying we were both awake by 7:30 and finishing our breakfast by 8:00 so we had time to do our morning chores before heading out the door. Our adventure today was not so much finding the plantation called Tara in the book and movie Gone With The Wind.

Our tour guide George dressed in period clothes and Kathy

 

 

Photo of Margaret Mitchell authur of Gone With The Wind.

We were off to visit Stately Oaks Plantation which was the home that became an inspiration to Margaret Mitchell the famed author of Gone With The Wind. At the plantation we learned of the succession of people who had lived in the building over the years until it focused on the growing years of Margaret Mitchell. We learned that something as simple as listening relatives talking of the battle of Jonesboro during the Civil War of the United States had piqued her curiosity into making an accurate archive of local history. She began researching actual people’s families and used their history to create the characters in her book. When she had been interviewed about her book she had stated that it was a fictitious story which was created from actual facts. Her characters names had in some instances been changed with many of the more famous names being used.

 

 

 

 

After touring the plantation and all its buildings we headed into Jonesboro for something to eat as we had already walked off our breakfast so we stopped at Taco Bell for a light but satisfying lunch.

 

This Gown was made from the old curtains because new materials were not available during the war.

Our next stop was the downtown Jonesboro’s Road to Tara Museum. The museum mainly concentrates on the Gone With The Wind book and movie. The book has been published in 42 countries and translated into 38 languages. They had many of the gowns worn in the movie made according to the actual events back in history. There was other historic photos dealing with the actual battles of Jonesboro on August 31^st and September 1^st that would be known as critical battles of the civil war.

 

 

Our tour guide and driver Gary

We also took the bus tour of the area and got a chance to see homes and buildings that actually existed before the war and why they were so special. The Cemetery for Confederate soldiers has an interesting story behind it and the fact that it was laid out in the shape of the Confederate Flag. We even managed to visit the old jail that existed before the battles; where Kathy managed to get herself put behind bars.

Kathy behind bars in the old Jonesboro Jail.

On the way back to the trailer I topped off our fuel and was surprised that the Shell station was selling Diesel for $3.899 a gallon.

Once at the trailer I chose to do some pretravel preparations to save time in the morning including hooking up the truck to the trailer. Kathy had been cleaning inside so she gave me the garbage to take to the dumpster. Of course being so pressed for time I had stopped to talk with Ken from Alberta. We compared notes on our trips down for the winter as well as our plans for the future.

By the time I returned Kathy was starting to panic. She had turned on the television to check tomorrow’s weather report only to watch the first of two bombs exploding at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Sadly a sporting event that is supposed to be a reason for celebration and accomplishment by people from around the world was marred by a senseless act of Terrorism. The President responded that whoever is responsible for this will be caught. The last time we looked at the news there were 3 people dead, 113 injured with some of those having lost limbs.

I recall being involved in a few protests in my day because I didn’t agree with what was happening but nowhere did anyone involved ever think to use a senseless act of violence to make a point. Placards and protest chats always accomplished what we set out to do but nothing this idiotic. Here is hoping those who are responsible are caught and brought to justice soon. The people who were killed or hurt will be in our prayers.

Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

Why did Mickey Mouse take a trip into space?

He wanted to find Pluto.