The trek from deep in the Okefenokee Swamp back up to the Northeast Georgia mountains leads you along many country highways and small railroad towns. Much to our delight, it also leads you right by General Coffee State Park, which Teri and I have wanted to visit for some time, because … well, we like coffee. The park however is not named after our favorite morning beverage, but instead after Coffee County and General John Coffee, a planter, U.S. Congressman and military leader.
The unusual amounts of late winter rain had some areas of the park closed – including the boardwalk, which was one of the areas that we were interested in hiking. We’ll definitely have to make a return trip to check out the other areas, but we enjoyed seeing the Heritage Farm and the accompanying farm animals. We got a chuckle out of the small shelter located on a circular island labeled “Jasper”, but not finding any creatures in sight, we inquired from one of the rangers.
“Oh, Jasper is the goat” he replied.
“Does he know that he’s going into exile?” I questioned further.
“Well, we haven’t found the way to break it to him yet…”
It was early enough in the morning that the rangers were still doing their morning chores, and we were the only visitors, so they entertained our every question as we carefully settled in for what ended up being a chicken portrait session ?
I could see this park being a really great one for anyone looking to spend the day a little off the beaten path. With multiple offerings of farm life, boardwalks, hiking trails, unique flora and fauna, and historical buildings, its got a little something for everyone in the family.
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