Here we are in Cornelia, Ga. which is north and east of Atlanta. Yes, we did finally find spring here in Atlanta. Since Friday we have been riding the spring training with BRAG, bicycle ride across Georgia. BRAG’s summer ride event across Georgia occurs in June but this event has become very popular as well. Friday’s ride was 36 miles, Saturday’s ride was 62 and today’ s ride was 40. The terrain was rolling hills with a different route each day. We got some good training for our continued riding as our average speed on Friday was 15.3, on Saturday 14.6 and today 14.4. As the saying goes here “We rode it so we can BRAG about it”. BRAG ran a very organized and pleasurable event. Our home base was the city of Madison, a beautifully restored small town with many southern antebellum mansions. Each day we met several friendly people which made the ride interesting and welcoming. Our thanks to Angie, Melanie, Christine, Mouty, Tina, Don and Karen for your kindness!
On the ride on Saturday, we noticed a crop in the fields with bright yellow flowers. We had guessed clover but found out it is the canola plant. Recently the crop has been grown and found to do quite well. However, there are no processing plants in the area so the crop is shipped north to be pressed. Our ride also took us past Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle , another small historic town. This restaurant was named a top 5 in America for their bodacious buffet by Food Network. After finishing our ride today, we sampled this southern buffet and thoroughly enjoyed each food item! Our favorites are the fried green tomatoes and the southern fried chicken. Good thing we rode 40 miles and also held back on food at the bike reststops today! Several of the rest stops on the BRAG were at parks or churches which each had their own outside pavilions with BBQ pits and long serving tables. Certainly the churches commonly have social outside
events! The pictures show the pastoral countryside and spring in bloom. It has been a very enjoyable three days. Tomorrow we expect to head to The Smokies to enjoy some scenery.
mannymarsha 
Looks like awesome riding weather! Making us up north jealous…
How I envy you! I have a nephew and family in Atlanta, and I grew up near the Smoky Mountains. I’ll have to make fried green tomatoes for you when you get back! You two will be so very fit after this trip. I envy that, too! ;>)
So glad to see you had a chance to eat at The Blue Willow Inn. Hope you didn’t have to wait long. Yes the fried green tomatoes are a big hit in the south.
Hi Angie,
We only waited about 30 mins. No big deal! We figured the fried green tomatoes were southern fare! Delicious! It was the only meal we ate that day. Good thing , it was enough for lunch and dinner. Just finished our visit to the Great Smokies National Park. Beautiful! There was no cell nor internet reception so we will add a new entry about the Smokies tonight or tomorrow. Driving to Nashville as I type.