This year we spent my birthday at the Stone Mountain Campground in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Stone Mountain is actually pretty cool (as well as just plain PRETTY). The mountain itself was formed over 300 million years ago. It was more than 2 miles UNDER the earth's surface, but eventually the soil eroded to expose the 825 feet of granite mountain that is, today, "Stone Mountain". I had never heard of it before, but it is well known for The Confederate Memorial Carvings on one side of the mountain that depict 3 Southern heroes of the Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. We learned it is the largest bas-relief sculpture in the world. (Bas relief is a projecting image with a shallow overall depth; like those on coins). The sculpture was cut 42ft deep into the mountain and measures 90ft in height and 190ft in width and lies 400ft above ground. The work on the carving began in 1915 and was completed in 1972. There has been some hateful stuff associated with the mountain thanks to some crazies that I won't give airtime to here, but the carving itself is impressive and honors an important history.
My friend Alyson joined me for my birthday AGAIN this year (although in a planned manner this time), and we definitely had ourselves some fun in the few days she was with us. Alyson did a little "glamping" on this trip by renting a safari tent at the campground (complete with a bed, fan, electricity etc...) and she got me to embrace the things that the park had to offer. I sometimes get caught up in the beauty of a campsite and forget to go out and explore. We enjoyed swimming in the pool and touring around the many things that this very large campground had to offer (i.e., covered bridge, granite exhibit, grist mill etc...)
On Wednesday, we took in a MUCH anticipated Red Sox game at Truist Field - but that baby gets its own post in this blog! On Thursday we hiked the 1 mile (each way) "Walk Up Trail" up to the top of the mountain. Our reward was some wonderful views of the park and lake, as well as the city of Atlanta. And, to be perfectly honest, it felt good to earn bragging rites to have accomplished the feat! In the hot sun it was probably a little more difficult than it needed to be, but no regrets on making the hike.
On our final night there Karl and I went to a laser show which is displayed ON the carvings on the mountain. That was pretty cool (especially when it played with your mind and you felt like you were looking inside the mountain)!
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