Tallulah Gorge

Finally!! The first Saturday in 7 weeks without a chance of rain (not that I am complaining about the rain, Lord). I decided to take full advantage, although with everything going on Friday (one of the worst in recent memory), I did not know where I was going until 20 minutes before departure. I selected Tullulah Gorge. I remember driving by it when I was younger, and I have passed it a few times on business in that area, but this was my first chance to visit as a hiker.

I had intended to do the Rim Loop, which starts along the North rim, goes down 300 steps to the gorge, crosses a neat suspension bridge, and climbs 200 more steps. I was then planning to do section of the Bartram Trail (one of the many long trails in Georgia). At the last minute, I changed the agenda. After riding my bike for 20 miles last night, I did not think my knees could handle the stairs. As such, I switched to the Stoneplace Trail, a 10 mile round trip down to Lake Tugalo, the other shore of which is in South Carolina.

I did not realize on the trip in that I was going downhill the entire way, which led me to a surprise coming back – much climbing. That being said, it seems that my biking is good conditioning for hiking, as I had no trouble with it, doing the entire hike without a rest break.

The trail is wide because it supports hiking and biking. I did not encounter a single hiker (they all headed toward the gorge), but I did see a few bikers. There was a small wilderness camping area at the lake which was in use by a scout troop. I could only see a portion of the lake, but it was quite beautiful. On the return trip, I took the High Bluff Loop off of the main trial, which as you can guess runs along a high bluff. This trail is loaded with mountain laurel, much of which was in bloom.

I apparently made a wrong turn onto an unmarked trail at the end, as I serendipitously found myself at the best overlook along the North rim. Since they were doing a water release for kayakers, it was quite a show.

I really needed my combined 32 miles this weekend because of a bad week particularly Friday. For the first time in my life, I had someone accuse me of being a crook. By God’s grace, I have always been considered above reproach as to legal and ethical matters, so this was quite a trauma. Even through the person apologized quickly, the damage was done.

As I arrived at the lake, I was badly in need of a restroom break, and not looking forward to the shovel and hole method, if you know what I mean. I glanced off to the side, and discovered an “inviting” privy which was not on the map (I recognize the difficulty finding spiritual significance in finding a privy, but stay with me).

I got to thinking about what a good God we have to do something so simple for me as to place a privy in the right place. This caused me to recall a movie I had seen the night before – Facing the Giants (Covington and Covington rate it one thumb up, one thumb down). Actually the other Covington is more correct than me, as the acting is amateurish, and the plot a bit weak. The message is unmistakable and unambiguous however – when facing life’s giants, remember that we serve a big God. A God that puts a privy in the right place can certainly take care of the big stuff!