Day 2 – Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Lake Blackshear GA > Macon GA

Hot Summer Day

First day driving down unknown country roads through pecan orchards.

I stopped at Stripling’s General Store to fill up with gas and started my journey towards Macon, GA driving down backroads lined with pecan orchards. The scenic backroad route on my GPS took me out of my way to Interstate 75. Driving on an Interstate Highway is not possible with a Model T, so I turned around, backtracked through the small town of Byromville, GA.

Byromville, GA  –  Population 546  –  Incorporated 1905

Returning through downtown Byromville, I stopped to take photos. As a matter of minutes, I attract a crowd and the city mayor came out of the local Himm’s gas station and offered me lunch: fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and iced tea.

Montezuma, GA  –  Population 3,460  –  Established 1851

Montezuma established 1851, when the railroad was extended to that point. The city was named after the famous Aztec emperor by soldiers returning from the Mexican War (1846–48). It was incorporated in 1854.

Montezuma is also home to a thriving Mennonite community, because ten to fifteen Mennonite families moved from Virginia in the 1950s.

I cruised through town.

Fort Valley, GA – Population 9,815 – Incorporated 1836 – 102 Degrees – 2:30 PM

After driving for four hours with the front window folded down, the hot and humid wind blowing in my face cooked my brain. Cooked my brain to the point where I could not think straight, and I was getting sleepy. I had to find some shade. I pulled into Fort Valley, Ga, capital of Georgia Peaches and the temperature was 102 degrees Fahrenheit with 87% humidity.

I cooled BuddhaCat down with some cool water.
Side note: My cat will get in the water and swim when we get in the water together.

You can see BuddhaCat CatSurfing at Panama City Beach here.

I slid down into the small front seat and tried to stay still. It was so hot that the gnats try to cool off by skinny dipping in my eyes. For those from the south, know that I’m just about to cross the gnat-line. Then I fell into a dreamless, drunken like slumber, with my feet hanging off the side of the car. I was startled by an intoxicated, mumbling man that would not stop talking. The only solution was for me to crank the car, and continue my journey to my niece’s home in Macon, GA, which was 37 miles away.