April 13, 2024 - Funfly Northern Georgia

The winds had died down here in northern Georgia.  But they were still bad in Maryland so I knew I wouldn't make it home today.  After a Waffle House breakfast in Jasper, I decided to do a funfly in northern Georiga where there are a lot of lakes and reservoirs.  I planned to come back to Pickens County Airport in Jasper for another night.

I started out by checking out Lake Tamarack just east northeast of Jasper.
   
Looking down at Lake Tamarack.
   
Heading east out of the mountains, looking north.
   
Looking south -- Atlanta is visible in the distance.
   
Approaching big Lake Sydney Lanier northeast of Atlanta.    I flew the lake from southwest to northeast.
   
Lake Lanier (officially Lake Sidney Lanier) was created by the completion of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River in 1956, and is also fed by the waters of the Chestatee River.   The lake's original purposes purportedly were to provide hydroelectricity, navigation, and flood control of the Chattahoochee River, and water supply for the city of Atlanta.  The lake is popular with boaters, houseboats, jet-skiers, and others.
   
A mansion going up on the lakeshore.
   
ZZZ Passing by Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport in Gainesville, Georgia.
   

Passing by Athens/Ben Epps Airport.  Athens is at lower right.

 
   
After flying the length of Lake Lanier, I headed southeast.  Soon I came to Athens, Georgia.  Well, Athens, Georgia means only one thing to me.  It's the home of the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team, winner of two national championships in a row and made a good run for a three-peat this year, but lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship.
   

Looking down at Sanford Stadium, home of the Georgia Bulldogs.

The 92,746-seat stadium is the ninth-largest football stadium in the NCAA (and in the United States), and the 17th-largest such stadium in the world. Games played there are said to be played "between the hedges" due to the field being surrounded by privet hedges, which have been a part of the design of the stadium since it opened in 1929.  The stadium is often considered one of college football's "best, loudest, and most intimidating atmospheres".  Sanford Stadium from the outset had, and continues to have, a natural grass surface, planted with Tifton 419 Bermuda Grass.
   
Looking down at Athens/Ben Epps Airport.
   
Passing by Washington/Wilkes County Airport (KIIY).
   
I came to the end of Clarks Hill Lake which runs roughly west to east where it joins the Savannah River.
   
Continuing east.
   
Starting to look more like a lake now.
   
Approaching the Highway 47 bridge.
   
Clarks Hill Lake ends at the Savannah River.  I turn left -- northwest -- to follow the river.  I could have turned right and followed the Savannah to Augusta, not that far away.  The Masters tournament is being played today but I figured it would not be a good idea to fly around overhead while they were playing.  I did fly overhead last year but not during the tournament.  Link.
   
Approaching the Savannah River Bridge (Highway 378).  Georgia is ont he left, South Carolina on the right.
   
ZZZ
   
Approaching the Richard B. Russell Dam.
   
The dam was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1974 and 1985 for the purposes of flood control, hydroelectricity, recreation, additional stream flow regulation, water supply, and fish and wildlife management.
   
Looking at the Calhoun Falls Bridge (Highway 72) on the left.
   
ZZZ
   
I followed an offshoot west, called Tate Lake, to Elbert County Airport-Patz Field.  I decided to land here and stretch my legs.
   
The airport was deserted but has a nice pilot shack to hang out in.
   
Who knew?
   
A nice tribute.
   
Notice the tie-down ropes.  Many airports do not have tie-down ropes because they are afraid of getting sued.
   
My bird on the ramp.
   
Heading back east down Tate Lake to the Savannah River.
   
Back on the Savannah River.   Starting to see some of that famous GeorgIa red clay.
   
On the right side of the river is South Carolina.
   
Taking a closer look.
   
A golf course out on the peninsula.
   
The river gets narrower.
   
Passing over Anderson Highway (Hwy368).
   
Boat landing.
   
Georgia on the left; South Carolina on the right.
   
Another boat landing.
   
About to cross over Smith McGee Road (Hwy 181).  That's the Old Truss Bridge next to it.
   
An old quarry?
   
Approaching Hartwell Dam which creates big Lake Hartwell.
 
   

The dam was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1955 and 1962 for the purposes of flood control, hydropower and navigation. The Hartwell Dam currently produces 468 million KWh of electricity annually, has prevented over $40 million in flood damage since completion and also provides recreation, water quality, water supply, along with fish and wildlife management.
 
   
That sort of looks like a giant plane submerged in the lake.
   
Camping out on the peninsula.
   
Sailboat race!
   
Turnin and burnin.
   
 
   
We got a party!
   
Continuing north up the Savannah River.
   
I start to approach civilization, look down on the iPad at the sectional and realize it's Clemson, South Carolina.  I have of course heard of Clemson because of their outstanding college football program.  I knew it was in South Carolina but I really had no idea where it was.  And here it is.
   
Getting closer to Clemson, home of the Clemson University.  It's obviously a college town.
   
A better look at Clemson University.
   
Looking down at Memorial Stadium, also known as "Death Valley" where the Clemson Tigers play their home games.   In the past ten years, Clemson has been a powerhouse, right up there with Alabama and Georgia.  They've played in four national championship games and won two of them.  They also won a national championship back in 1981.
   
Across the river from Clemson is Oconee County Regional Airport (KCEU).
   
Continuing up river with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.
   
 
   

Over big Lake Keowee. 
 
   
The lake runs north towards the mountains.
   
Nice waterfront property on Lake Keowee.
   
Unusual to see a powerline tower on an island in the middle of a lake.
   
More waterfront houses.
   
Passing by the Oconee Nuclear Power Plant.
   
The lake turns into a river.
   
 
   
That's a nice one.
   
Getting into the mountains now.
   
Approaching a dam in the high country.
   
It's the Lake Jocassee Dam.
   
Must be a lot of pressure on that dam to hold all this water back.
   
Pretty mountain lake.
   
I follow the lake north to its end.
   
Now looking south.
   
Weaving over the lake.
   
Looking back at the dam and the way I had come.  I turn southwest and plot a course for Pickens County Airport in Jasper.
   
Nothing but tree-covered mountains to the northwest.
   
Looking southeast, I pass a river that runs down to the Savannah River.  I've had enough fun for the day, will have to pass on this one.
   
The river peters out to the northwest.
   
I pass by Toccoa Regional Airport (KTOC).  I check its information on Foreflight.  Courtesy car, decent fuel price, runway into the wind -- looks promising.   If I go back to Pickens County, I'll have to backtrack over the same ground tomorrow morning.  Why not just stop here for the night?
   
On final for 27 at Toccoa Regional.  The friendly FBO Manager gave me the keys to the car, recommended a local motel, I fueled up, checked into motel, had dinner at Chik-fil-A, watched some more Masters and called it a day.
   
 
   
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