Stone Mountain Adventure

Danielle Weiss

8 September 2013

“The Flaneur in Atlanta”

Stone Mountain Adventure

            We slowly approach the large stone gated entrance of Stone Mountain Park in our tiny blue car.  I am in awe of the tall green trees that tower over the sides of the streets as we wind through the park. Small pods of people swiftly move down the sidewalks in their neon colored exercise gear. Little kids sit happily in strollers being slowly guided down shaded paths by their smiling parents. I notice that the early morning sun is breaking through the small gaps in the trees, gradually lighting up the park. Focused bikers speed down the sides of the streets flying past all of the other morning joggers barely noticing them. As we make our way around the bend I see a huge, rounded, stone Mountain standing exactly at the center of the park.

The mountain is like a giant slimy gray rock and is mostly bare with no trees.  Stone mountain park is full of eager families which I see are filling up the little restaurants and amusement attractions that surround the mountain. 

            We take a sharp left turn and journey down an unpaved path toward the bank of Stone Mountain Lake. We approach the large white boathouse and groups of rowers slowly emerge from cars and make there toward the crew boats. The air is warm and white wispy steam is rising from the calm lake. The rowers yawn as they try to wake themselves up for early morning practice. 

After everything is prepared and ready to go we set out on the lake in a steady rhythm. Old fisherman are scattered on the outskirts of the lake in their beat up kayaks waiting for the fish to bite.  

Im relieved that there are green trees that tower of the lake that will provide me with spots of shade on my long row. A crowded duck boat passes loaded with tourist looking and waving at the crew team. The smell of campfire fills my senses as we approach a campsite nestled on the side of the lake. Parents surround the campfire preparing breakfast as their kids play around the lake. Multi colored tents scattered through the trees give color to the campgrounds.  I’m relieved to turn around and head back as we approach a dead end in the lake.

The morning is still very calm and quiet and I find myself falling into a steady relaxing rhythm. My mind is cleared of stress and I am only focused on moving my arms and legs in time with the person in front of me. A motorboat interuputs my inner peace as it speeds past us causing a ripple of waves that rock our boat. Little birds fly through the trees softly tweeting distracting me from how tired I am. The sun is now bright overhead causing me to squint as I look around. A flock of ducks is bunched around the dock as we pull up. The air

is extremely sticky and we quickly get our stuff together and head out of the park. The The walkers, runners, and bikers are more active now in the late morning and the sidewalks are twice as filled. The picnic tables and bar-b-que pits are filled with lively families and friends who seem to be happy to be spending time together in the fresh air. As we are leaving we are replaced with several other cars happily zipping into Stone Mountain park to enjoy the sunny summer day they still have ahead of them.

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 http://www.stonemountainpark.com/directions.aspx