Part 2 Sunday November 11, 2012  Tampa to Atlanta

Although we were on I-75 all the way to Stockbridge  except for lunch , stops, and a gasoline fill, there were a few things to mention on this portion of the main road between Florida and the Midwest . (I-75 runs through Detroit to the Sault Ste.Marie in MIchigan). Gasoline in GA is around $3.08/gasoline.

Of course there were the orange fruit markets and a few orange groves that were visible. Georgia places many trees along the road so drivers and passengers cannot see past them. We did stop as Cathy wanted to buy a few oranges to take home as a memento of the trip  through the orange growing country. We did stop, got free samples and a piece of pecan praline as well. Why not ,eh? Cathy said the flavor lasted all afternoon.

We saw maybe 20 of these as the "Florida Citrus Center" has many branches

along I-75 that people can choose from. We also saw a "Bronners" ad in one section.

Cotton is "King, well, maybe in CA, TX and LA, but Georgia is increasing.

We also went through more of the cotton growing country than we did before. It is the beginning of harvest time in GA and that will last through November 15th with the last possible in mid December. Cotton harvesting reached its peak in the 1920’s and ’30’s when 48 million tons were harvested and it went downhill from there. (Much of that was hand harvested.) In recent years due to higher yields, less acreage is yielding some 10-12 million tons per year. A 1996 harvest yielded 960 pounds per acre. We noticed that there were not huge acreages planted but 3-4 acres at most. Georgia is recently increasing their plantings, but CA, TX, and  LA still lead in production.

Signs along the road (political) were hilarious, especially the ones targeting Obama and The Affordable Care Act. I tried to get bill board shots but they were too fast going by. HA!  One I saw a few times said “OBAMA IS NOT WORKING!” (what ever that meant), and the one I did get I’ll post the part I did get clearly. There were about 10 of them, many in Florida and a few on GA. They were regular billboard size. 

This is an anti-Obama billboard of which there were a dozen similar in northern FL

This reads,"Current Foreign Policy; Analyze until you're paralyzed then apologize". (whatever that means!). Others were anti Affordable Care Act signs. 

Oh yes!!!! Florida vote was counted yesterday and Obama was declared the winner. (He took ALL swing states but NC.)

Other signs were those of the Pecan and Fruit industries of which the Indian River groves had many selling places just off the freeway. Those displays were very attractive. Navel oranges and Grapefruit were coming in now. One man drove up while we were talking to the clerk and he asked...”Are these oranges fresh”? DUH! Did he think they were frozen?

We skirted Macon. GA  on I-475 and arrived in Stockbridge , where we are staying two nights at a Microtel.  In the morning we will head for the Atlanta Aquarium in Atlanta.  Another overnight here and then to Lexington KY Tuesday and home on Wed.

Stay with us for the pictures of the aquarium in Atlanta.

Here is a picture for those who want to see what Busch Gardens looks like from the air!

Note entrance at bottom and the Railroad that we used to see the Serengeti with.