Sunday, March 14, 2010 - Off to Georgia

Having wasted so much time trying to (unsuccessfuly) solve my computer problem, we recalculated our trip and faced the inevitability that we were behind schedule and would have to make it up, and soon. Fortunately, from Shockaloe to our next stop was a straight shot on I-20, and both the beginning and end were only a short distance from the highway, so we decided to make the entire 400 miles up today. By now the horses were seasoned travelers, and with few hills and curves to contend with, we felt they could do the 8 hours with no problem, providing they got plenty of hay and water along the way. We got out early and drove unimpeded for hours, stopping only for the ocassional break. We had originally planned to go back to Hard Labor State Park, but really didn't like their high fees ($25 per campsite, $18 per stall, plus entrance fees), and as we progressed, we made such good time we decided to try for the next horse camp along the way, at the AH Stephens State Park, about another 40 miles on. We hadn't been there before, but since daylight savings started last night, and the horses seemed fine, we decided to go for it. We arrived around 6:00 EDT to a lovely, well-appointed park. Good signage made finding the horse camping area easy, maps were in the mailbox at the park office (which, of course, had already closed), and I quickly checked and discovered there was a wireless signal coming from the office. We were WAY too tired to do anything at that moment but get set up, feed the animals and us, and go to bed. There was water at every site, and there was construction going on improving the sites from rustic to a graveled pad. Having lost TWO hours today (from Daylight Savings and from going from Central to Eastern time), we were both feeling jet-lagged and ready for bed, where we were headed early.