In Search of Cacao

Sweetwater Campground, Lake Allatoona, GA

We drove thru the agricultural farmland of Georgia.  It’s much different than the California salad bowl.  We were surrounded by pecan and peach orchards, cotton fields and peanut farms.  Our favorite was the majestic pecan trees.  The bottom right picture is a trailer hauling cabbages.  

On our first road trip across the country, 10 years ago, we were in search of the best fried chicken in the U.S.   We decided the winner was at the Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette, GA.  And we ate a LOT of fried chicken on that trip!  This place was famous from the movie, “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.”  (If you’ve never seen the movie, I highly recommend it.  One of my faves.).  We’ve talked about that fried chicken for the last ten years and decided to revisit the restaurant today.  Big mistake!  When we last ate there it was not yet discovered.  The waitress sat down with us and answered all our questions about the history of the place and the movie.  It was well off the beaten path and we had the place almost to ourselves. Today, it’s a mega tourist destination.  The place was packed, the fried chicken was awful, in fact I didn’t even eat mine.  However, the collard greens, purple hulled peas and fried green tomatoes were pretty darn good. Sigh, I guess some things are best left to nostalgia.  

After taking it slow and easy on the back roads all morning, we decided to brave the big city and visit some bean to bar chocolate makers in Atlanta. 

Fighting our way thru insane city traffic, and 100 degree heat we finally located the first chocolate maker.  Bust.  Turns out the location was a commercial kitchen shared by ten different businesses. No one there knew anything about the chocolate maker.  Onto the next one.  We located the factory, but once we got there it was locked up.  Peering thru the window we could see the remnants of the business.  On our third try we found “Cacao” a VERY upscale, posh boutique bean to bar chocolate maker. So unlike the standard model.  It was more like buying jewelry than buying chocolate. We bought 2 bars and 1 tasting sample and it was put in a chic luxury bag. It didn’t have the flavor notes that we appreciate. Time to move on.

Our final destination tonight is one of the best campsites of the trip!  We booked this one about six months ago and it felt so great to pull in after 6 pm on a Friday night and get a site right on the water.  We immediately jumped in and floated the night away.  (Dad, this so reminds me of the camping spots we used to get right on the lake with our boat when I was a kid. Gary and I would sleep in the boat being lulled to sleep with the water lapping against the hull.  Such great memories).  Ned fixed me up with a rum drink while I floated. Perfect Friday evening.  Can you find me in this picture? 

In Search of Cold Water Springs

Reed Bingham State Park, GA

It was hard to say goodbye to Marc, Sheila and the boys. A couple of days is never enough time to hang with these guys. Today’s big adventure is heading to Madison Blue Springs.  It was touted by USA Today as the number 1 swimming hole in the US.  It was a very hot and humid 92 degrees and we couldn’t wait to jump in.  We pulled into the spot and...uh oh...closed for swimming!  Turns out the Withlacoochee River had risen and flooded out the springs during Tropical Storm Alberto. It was “browned out” meaning the bacteria levels were too high to swim. We went to take a looksee and this is what we saw.  Yeah, not so inviting, especially if you’ve seen the pictures of all the other cold water springs. 

Top picture is Ned looking forlornly at the flooded out springs.  The bottom right picture is what the springs are supposed to look like, at least according to the sign in the parking lot. 

I put on my best navigator and detective’s hat and located some other springs close by.  The Falmouth Springs was located on the Suwannee River so we thought perhaps it hadn’t fallen to the same fate.  Mmmm, would you swim in this?!  Yuk, time to move on. 

A couple of days ago I made reservations at Suwannee River State Park. It’s a small campground, only 30 sites, and it looked like it was booking up fast.  We were resigned to give up the swimming, as there are no cold springs here, and go for a bike ride instead. Sweet little park, let’s put out the table cloth, some of our things to dry out and go for a ride!  No sooner had we got set up then...kaboom...the skies opened up and it started pouring.  Yeah. Everything was now soaked.  We looked at each other and said, “Plan C.  Let’s head to Georgia and take our chances.”  Enjoy our $30 donation Florida State Parks.  

Georgia or bust!  

The best part of traveling the back roads of Georgia is enjoying the houses, spanish moss tree lined streets and lots of roadside stands.  Seeing  all the delicious peaches made me think of my great nephew Zak and how much he loves peaches, We picked up a few and some homemade peach ice cream too.  I did pass on the boiled peanuts tho.  Maybe tomorrow.  

Pushing on for Reed Bingham State Park was a great decision.  It was a lot cooler and not as muggy as the swampy, rainy Suwannee River State Park.  Luckily, it looks like we had just missed the rain here.  We took advantage of the sun peeking out and went for a bike ride exploring this expansive and beautiful park.  It was a nice chill day, although it could have been a tad chillier.  

More Disneyworld Shenanigans

Fort Wilderness Campground, Disneyworld, FL

Second day at Disneyworld. We are all still getting a kick out of riding our bikes to the dock and taking the boat to the Magic Kingdom. Great way to commute to the park. I think we’ve ridden every ride, even the more obscure ones. Hey, don’t knock riding a clamshell watching Ariel when it’s dang hot outside and the ride is air conditioned! 

Marc won the Buzz Lightyear most points, Brian took his first solo Speedway ride and Owen went for it (well kinda) on Splash Mountain and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.   Fun time had by all.  

We discovered a new game at the park called “Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom.”  It’s a fun interactive way to explore the Magic Kingdom. There are medallions or portals stashed around the park.  When you find them you use your spells and powers to thwart the villains.  You follow clues and use cards you’ve collected.  It was tons of fun, even if it took us awhile to figure it out! 

Here’s something random.  Ever wonder how they make those Minnie Mouse caramel apples?  The ears are marshamallow dipped in caramel and then smothered in chocolate.  I was fascinated watching them make them by hand.  No, I didn’t have any, but I made up for it in caramel popcorn. (Marc brought Garrett’s from Chicago).  

Such a fun family vacation...where we going next year?  

Magic Kingdom

Fort Wilderness Campground, Disneyworld, FL

You know what’s better than going to Disneyworld? Experiencing it with your great-nephews.  Sheila was the leader of this trip and she was on it!  Not only did we have fast passes to all the cool rides, but she was working off two different apps to let us know what ride was best to ride next.  Despite the crowds, we had very little wait time for most rides.  I think Splash Mountain won it for favorite ride of the day with Thunder Mountain a close second. 

We stayed at Magic Kingdom until 4ish, came back to the campground for some swimming and then headed back to the park at 7ish.  So much fun!

More fun pics.  

Loved the fireworks show! We watched part of it while riding Aladdin’s Magic Carpet ride and the other half overlooking the water.  My favorite pic of the day was taken with us riding Splash Mountain.  Marc and Brian were owning it and I was balled up in a fetal position.  

According to everyone’s Fitbit we walked about 8 miles today.  Almost made up for all the ice cream we ate.  Good times. 

Camping at Disneyworld

Fort Wilderness Campsites, FL

One of the best decisions we made this trip was to push on last night for Sebastian Inlet State Park.  It was glorious to wake up right next to the ocean and take an early morning swim.  Hard to believe this was the same ocean when we were here a week ago.  It was more like a lake.  Right before we got into the water we spotted something out a few hundred yards.  We knew it wasn’t a dolphin so thought it was a logger head turtle.  We went swimming and about an hour later...OMG...I felt something close to me.  I looked down and it was a manatee.  I had to pull in my arms and legs not to bump into it! The manatee was that close, less than a foot from me. I never felt such a mixture of joy, exhiliration and surprise at the same time.  We spent the next couple of hours floating in the ocean watching the manatee pop up occasionally around us.  What a great way to start our day. 

Another amazing thing that happened?  We drive from California, Marc & Sheila drive from Illinois...we get to the check in station at Fort Wilderness Campround  at the exact same time!! They pull up directly behind us.  What are the odds of that??  

We’re camped at Fort Wilderness Campground. Next door is the swanky Fort Wilderness Lodge.  The last time Ned and I were here we found a way to ride our bikes to the lodge.  We vowed that the next time we came we would sneak in and swim in the pool.  Marc, Sheila and the boys were down for sneaking in. Game on.  

We had fun biking, grilling and goofing around. 

Tonight was a sing-a-long and movie at the campground.  We had fun singing campfire songs, dancing with Chip and Dale, roasting marshamallows over the fire and watching a Disney movie on the outside screen.  Good times. And yes, Marc hooked us up with Manhattans, Bourbon, beer and popcorn.  I don’t know how I’m going to survive 3 days, but I’ll give it the ol’ college try. 

Sailing in Jamaica, saying goodbye

Sebastian Inlet State Park, Fl

Back at the hotel we took an early morning sail with one of the water sport guides.  It was so much fun! I had a blast trying my hand at the tiller.

Unfortunately our little underwater camera took on some water and the pics weren’t that great. Great memories tho. 

Alas our time in Jamaica has come to an end. Time to head back to the states and continue on our road trip.  We have family to see, places to visit and backroads to explore. Thanks Jamaica, we’ll be back. 

At Montego Bay airport waiting to board, always time for one more Red Stripe beer and goofing off. 

Such a short flight between Jamaica and Miami!  We sailed thru customs got to Winnie about 5 pm and headed for Sebastian Inlet Campground, about 3 hours away. We had so much fun there just a few days ago, why not make that our stop for the night?  Settled in, ready for bed, thanks Winnie for holding the fort down while we were away.  (Nightly prayer:   Please Lord, no matter how old I am let me make the climb into the upper bunk of Winnie.) 

This officially marks the halfway point of our roadtrip.  Tomorrow we start heading West.  

Bachelor’s Hall, Jamaica

Bachelor’s Hall, Bath St. Thomas Parish, Jamaica

The main reason for coming to Jamaica was to visit a cocoa farm and meet the owner/farmer. Based on our previous experience, cocoa farms are never in the tourist areas or easy to get to places. Usually they are tucked away in some obscure valley over a yonder mountain range - or two. But that’s what makes it all the more challenging, intriguing and a little bit magical.  Our goal is to bring our chocolate to every farmer that grows the cacao and thank them for all their hard work. In the fall, we will be coming out with a new single origin chocolate bar from Jamaica. We had the pleasure of meeting Desmond Jadusingh, the owner, and spending the afternoon with him at his cocoa farm called Bachelor’s Hall. 

What a delightful, knowledgeable and kind soul Desmond is.  We connected with him immediately. 

Driving thru Jamaica there are lots of signs that say “icy cold jelly.”  These fruit stands are selling young green coconuts. Nothing quite quenches the thirst as drinking cold coconut water fresh from the coconut and then scooping out the cool jelly flesh.  After our 4.5 hour drive to get to the farm Desmond greeted us with this treat. It was sooo good and hit the spot! I wasted no time digging in. The spoon to dig out the jelly coconut is a slice of husk cut right from the outside of the coconut. 

Desmond took us on a walk about around his farm and showed us his operation.  Here’s some beans being fermented.  They are in a wooden box covered with banana leaves and burlap.  Just love that yeasty smell of the beans at this stage. 

Here’s the drying beds.  After the beans have been fermented (usually 5 to 7 days, I believe Desmond does a 7 day ferment) they need to be properly dried.  This can be really challenging in the tropical climate. Cocoa trees love the rain, but beans need dry weather. Desmond built his own tables for the beds from specific wood from his farm.  Here we are turning the beans and mixing them up.  This is where the love is put into the beans. It’s acutally quite meditative and therapeutic. This was my favorite part.  I could have done this for hours.  

Desmond has about 1000 acres.  He grows both coconuts and cocoa together.  Everything is organic and he works really hard to keep the balance in the land nurturing both these crops.  We picked a cacao pod from the tree and got to taste the sweet fruit.  I wish everyone got the chance to experience sucking the sweet fleshy pulp right from the pod.  Theobromine - food of the gods. 

He also has a woodworking area where he makes all kinds of things from these huge trees on his land - doors, beds, fermenting boxes, etc.  As he was showing us this area he told me it was a “no fly zone.”  I didn’t know what he meant and he said, “Oh I specifically let all the spiders be. It keeps the flies away.”  What the hell?!  I then notices all these HUGE spiders everywhere!!  Seriously, the biggest friggin’ spiders I have ever seen in my life. They were about the size of my hand. This was my least favorite part of visiting the farm.  (Megan, Marlina, Rachael, Jessica - I hope you feel my pain).  

More fun pics hanging around the cocoa farm. As we were leaving Desmond wanted to make sure we had a good journey back so he gave us lots of coconuts. Desmond is quite the success story. His cocoa beans have won awards and several European companies are vying for exclusive contracts to be the sole buyer of his beans. We feel so fortunate to have a supply and are looking forward to sharing our chocolate with everyone.