Peanut Country, U.S.A.

Immediately upon crossing the Alabama border it became clear that we were in the heart of peanut country.  The most telling sign was an enormous state fair like complex sprawling across acres and acres.  The National Peanut Festival has its own facility!  We concocted all sorts of ideas as we imagined what goes on at a peanut festival. 

Our visit to Alabama was abbreviated as we dashed across the border into Georgia to arrive at our campsite in Florence Marina State Park.  The park is 8 miles up the road from Providence Gorge state park which happened to be an unexpected surprise.  The park bills itself as the "Grand Canyon of the East" and the views are reminiscent of the Grand Canyon yet the pinnacles rising from the bottom of the gorge bring back memories of Bryce Canyon in Utah.

Providence Gorge State Park, GA

We hiked the 3 mile rim trail which includes numerous vistas of the rocks.  The temperature was perfect and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.  It was a gorgeous afternoon.

The park has an interesting history.  The geologic formation is the result of poor land management and farming practices that date back to the 1820's.  At that time the farmers cleared the land and planted cotton.  The farmers tended to plow downhill (perhaps because it was easier?) and as a result created mini gorges in the soil that grew and grew until finally mass erosion occurred.  We wonder what it will look like 100 years from now!