WOW! This "pack-unpack, sleep here-sleep there" is getting a bit monotonous. We have seen SO MUCH and learned SO MUCH! Things are beginning to wind down....probably home on Friday. We left Montgomery, but snapped a few pix on the way out of town. Together we are approaching 1000 shots. There will be some big time editing in the home stretch. I look forward to doing a scrapbook....but it takes a LOT of time. I kid Tom and tell him that this is how we will travel in our rocking chairs. It may be more truth than humor!
We headed East sans Interstate efficiency. It is a shame to travel by car and not SEE the countryside....even if it is trees and fields and houses from humble to extraordinary. We went to Tuskegee. I knew of the University but did not know that there was a town. Duh. It is a large, lovely, modern campus of brick buildings. We were in search of the Carver Museum. It delivered big time. Two films....one on the life of George Washington Carver, and, one on Booker T. Washington. Both were born into slavery and overcame incredible odds to become learned and respected men. George Washington Carver really had no middle name. He ALWAYS signed "George W. Carver" (Carver being the name of the man who had owned him). In adulthood, someone pressed for a name to fill out the "W". He just randomly selected "Washington".... and never used it again. He was very smart and insatiably curious. He was first trained as an artist, then in agriculture. His curiosity pulled him into endless discovery and study of plant life....particularly peanuts and sweet potatoes. He lived until 1943 and never married. Booker T. Washington recruited him to HIS faculty at Tuskegee Institute. Carver was a valuable and distinguished addition to the young college. Booker T. Washington was a founder and administrator. He tirelessly connected to wealthy sponsors in the North, securing funds to create the campus. He had a deep conviction that the way to help "his people" was NOT to encourage abstract scholarly pursuits, BUT to roll up your sleeves and learn how to construct buildings and run businesses. The STUDENTS built the Tuskegee Institute facilities....LITERALLY. He did marry and have a family. Booker T. Washington died in the 1920's having had both an academic and political life. They were two very remarkable men whose paths crossed here.
Soon we were in Georgia...and, a one hour advance in the clock! Back to Eastern Time. Have you seen "West Point-Stevens" on linens? Well, there IS a West Point.... in Georgia. It sits near a dam site where there is an enormous textile mill. There is an "outlet" at the factory, so we stopped there for awhile.
It is not too far from West Point to Warm Springs, a charming little town in the mountains (although not THAT high). The entrance to the world-famous Callaway Gardens is just outside of town. (We will go there tomorrow.) In-town is the Franklin D. Roosevelt "Little Whitehouse" and museum. We planned to go there today, but (with the advance of the clock) we were too late. 'Plan to include that tomorrow too.
We are staying at the local Best Western and it is quite nice. Finally got to post yesterday's blog. Cell phone service stinks, but earlier I talked to Carol who was having problems with her flight out of New Mexico. 'Hope she made it!
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