At our 2015 event planning meeting, we tried to find new and interesting venues for our monthly road trips. Verna and Cathy suggested that we visit Roosevelt’s Little White House in Warm Springs Georgia with a ride through the Roosevelt State Park along GA 190, the ridge-line highway atop Pine Mountain, and buffet lunch at the Bulloch House Restaurant. This was a departure from our usual intrastate trips and at 130 miles (3-hours over the back roads), one of the more distant for a day trip. Meeting at the BCF parking lot were: David in his MGA; Mac & Ophelia in the XJ6; Don & Verna in their XK8; Russell & Cathy in the MINI, Don in his S2000, and John & Shirley in their T-bird. Because of the time difference and the longer than usual distance, we had to depart the Burlington Coat Factory car park at 8:00AM.
The temperature was in the mid-sixties following the cool front that brought Friday’s rain. Our trip began under lingering leaden skies that began clearing by Elmore County. We motored the freshly washed back roads of east Alabama over the Martin Dam twisties, through Tallapoossa and Chambers counties to the Georgia Welcome Center, for an over-due rest stop. We were joined there by Doris and Pam who had taken the shortcut up I-85. Then it was just another short jaunt to Pine Mountain and Warm Springs. Lush green grass on the shoulders and new-growth on the hardwoods complemented the dogwoods, rhododendrons, honeysuckle, and azaleas that were just showing their colors making the already scenic ride even better. [MAP]
We arrived at the Bulloch House right at noon EDT and were soon joined by members of the newly organized Brits in the Valley group of British car owners from the Columbus/Chattahoochee Valley area. Of course they didn’t have as far to drive as we did, but really came in force. Three MGAs, three MGBs, a Nash Metropolitan, Triumph TR8, two MINI Coopers, a Jaguar F-Type, and a 911 Porsche and not a slouch in the bunch. One of our goals for this year’s car show was to significantly increase the number of entrants over last year’s. With the formation of the Brits in the Valley group in Columbus, GA and our subsequent contact with them, we may well have hit the mother-lode of potential additions.
Our next stop was to Roosevelt’s “Little White House” just a couple of blocks away. We were there one day before the 70th anniversary of FDR’s death. The park had the facility and grounds in pristine condition in anticipation of the visit by dignitaries coming to commemorate the event the next day.
We made one more stop at Dowdell’s Knob that overlooks the valley below Pine Mountain before taking the express route back home.
Thanks to Verna & Cathy for planning this trip and to Keith Farley from Brits in the Valley for helping with the coordination and reservations. Russell
[Times & Distances] [Route MAP] [PHOTOS]