KINGS BAY NAVAL SUBMARINE BASE, GEORGIA

We could have stayed at Jacksonville next, but getting to another state after so long in Florida seemed like progress. Eagle Hammock RV Park at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base gets great reviews so we headed there. Once again, we were going to be in Overflow.

The tourist attraction billboards intensified as we neared the border. Live baby 'gators?

Our AAA Tour Book for Georgia offered some interesting information. Carole usually reads it while Linda drives. 

"Even American history trivia buffs might not know where the first U.S. gold rush took place, Hint: It's not California. The 1828 strike at Dahlonega was so great that 10 years later a federal mint was opened. Building materials from the region still contain traces of gold, and even today gold nuggets wash up in Atlanta water-treatment plants after heavy rains."

"Preservation of the past is big here... Savannah's mix of old fashioned tradition and contemporary verve is epitomized by restauranteur, food network personality and magazine cover perennial Paula Deen."

The last thing I'd brag about is the Olympics that ruined a man's life with false accusations.

We headed for the Visitor Center, as usual, with Linda driving. In the interest of saving time, she dropped Carole off at the door to get maps and went to circle the parking lot. Yikes! There was no way to double back into the VC parking, only the exit. Okay, there must be a way to get into the VC from the community. These people have to come to work from nearby, don't they? Apparently not. After a long ramble in the area Linda just headed for the next exit and got on I-95 going South. Surely you can get to the VC from that direction? Nope. Another long ramble through neighborhoods, growing increasingly excited over seeing the holy trinity of Spring blossoms, azalea, wisteria and dogwood, she gave up the struggle and got back on the Southbound side. A short drive back into Florida and a U-turn led back to poor Carole, patiently waiting for rescue. What if a family had left a kid in the bathroom or the dog tied to the picnic table? What an intro to Georgia!

Panorama of the West campground loop. Overflow sites are just alongside a regular site, plugged in to its power and water.

The baskets were there for our use. It made it so easy to carry laundry back and forth. This really is one of the nicest campground we've been in.

Turtles on the bank. The campground is beside a lake named Lake D.

A young alligator across from the office.

There was a knock on the door one evening while we were making dinner (we don't really eat out very often). The man at the door said, "Excuse me but I take exception to your bumper sticker."  Our faces must have reflected our frantic minds, groping for what bumper sticker he could mean. He broke into a grin and said, "This is a submarine base and we don't want to be kept above water." We laughed so much we could hardly finish fixing dinner. What a great place!

Bumper sticker on the tow car.

A Nine-Banded Armadillo beside the road leading away from the campground.

We made a trip into town for mail. Linda cannot be kept out of book stores so we looked for one in town. First came the used book store where she only bought one paperback. 

Now on our list of favorite Christmas trees is this 'book tree'.

The wreath made from book pages evoked mixed feelings.

An entire shelf in the new book store devoted to Paula Deen. They weren't kidding, were they?

Next up? The Okefenokee....