Disclaimer: If you are reading my other postings about Ashleigh’s and my Georgia travels on our way to the Augusta Sons convention, do not get confused about this posting. Although in those other postings, we are also poised to attend Jimmy Carter’s Sunday School class in Plains – this posting is about a trip that I just took with my Dad and uncle this past weekend.
My Dad, uncle Bill, and I left on Friday morning 9/22/06 for a weekend excursion to Plains, Georgia for their 10th annual Peanut Festival, which would be attended by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter – followed by a Sunday school class at which President Carter would teach.
The van ride down to Plains was long but uneventful, with lively discussion and good music the high points and Wendy’s and Applebee’s providing our meals. We arrived in Americus, Georgia at about 8:30pm. After a long drive, it was nice to kick back at the Windsor for a few hours before bedtime.
This was my second overnight stay at the Windsor – and the third time I had paid it a visit (earlier this year I only had dinner there). This is a beautiful hotel built in 1892 that has been almost completely preserved in all its ancient glory. We marvelled at the architecture and structure every time we left our rooms and entered its halls.
The glorious Windsor in Americus
On the balcony of the Windsor
Dad in an antique phone booth in the Windsor lobby
There was no need to rush into Plains on Saturday morning as Pres. and Mrs. Carter’s book signings were not until 1:30pm. However, we did go into town several hours earlier in order to browse the antique and souvenir stores, the various festival vendors, and the historic sights. We saw the Presidential campaign headquarters (formerly a train depot) before the festival parade began at 11:00am.
A beautiful Fall morning on Main Street
Dad and me at the Presidential Campaign Headquarters
Billy Carter’s Service Station, across the street from the Presidential Campaign Headquarters
Following the parade, the town’s Mayor and President Carter each addressed the crowd from the balcony of the Plains Historic Inn. Bill, Dad, and I then decided on lunch at Mom’s Kitchen for a great southern-style meal. Inside the restaurant, we were seated at a table next to another table full of several young interns from the Carter Center who were enjoying lunch with Rosalynn Carter. When Rosalynn got up to leave, she circled the room and greeted the diners at the four occupied tables in the room – us included. It was so gratifying for someone like this to take the time and approach us. I told her that this was my third time in Plains to attend President Carter’s Sunday school class and she replied “Well, I guess we’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
Bill and I watch as the Carters address the masses
The Carters on the balcony of the Plains Historic Inn
Bill in front of Mom’s Kitchen
After lunch, we headed over to the Historic Inn for Mrs. Carter’s book signing. We were told that she was only signing books that she wrote, so I was unable to get her autograph on some photos I had of Ashleigh and me with the Carters. I did have her sign two books, one of which she had co-written with her husband.
Just me and the Planters Nut-Mobile
Then we moved on to the Plains City Hall, where President Carter was doing his book signing. A limit on how many books he would sign was never specified, but I divided the six books I had with me equally among myself, Dad, and Bill. This gave them an opportunity to get close to him as well…and I didn’t appear quite as greedy. The line was extremely long but also moved extremely fast. What a well-oiled machine! Only two or three people could enter the City Hall at once, but there were at least four people assisting in opening each book, passing it to Carter, taking it from him, and passing it off to someone near the exit, who then handed it back to you. It was all over within 30 seconds. But in the end, I had six books signed by the former President.
After the signing, we spent the rest of our day seeing the local Carter historical sights: his boyhood home (the family tennis court is seen above),the high school that both he and Rosalynn attended, the hospital in which he was born, and the cemetery where his parents and brother Billy Carter (along with other relatives) are buried. The only complaint I had about the day was the sheer volume of annoying gnats buzzing around incessantly.
Good game!
The Plains High School where the Carters attended school – now converted to a museum
The Lillian Carter Nursing Center where Jimmy Carter was born
At the Carter Family headstone
That evening we had a nice dinner at the Forsyth Bar & Grill after efforts to locate the Rib Rack, recommended by my friend Bob, proved futile – it had closed down. We turned in relatively early in preparation for getting up at the crack of dawn the next day.
Looking for grub, Bill and I roam the town past the historic Rylander Theatre
President Carter’s handprints outside the Rylander
High Living in Americus
Click here for my third Sunday School class in Plains…
See the official Jimmy Carter posting here…
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