Reed Bingham State Park

After driving 250 miles, we pulled into Reed Bingham State Park in Adel, Georgia. In my book, towing the camper 250 miles is a good day. We chose Reed Bingham State Park Campground because it was not too far off the interstate and it was halfway between here and there. We thought it to be a good place to lay over for a few days. I do not recall ever being disappointed staying at a Georgia State Park—not that we have been to a lot of them—only enough to determine that Georgia takes pride in their parks.

On the way to our site, we drove pass a lake. It had a boat ramp, fishing dock, and swim beach. The grounds were well kept and manicured. Picnic tables and covered pavilions were spaced around, perfect for group gatherings. We saw a playground and mini golf. The pamphlet we were given at check-in included a map, list of camp rules, and description of the amenities within the park. We were pleasantly surprised to read there were seven miles of nature trails for hiking and biking. It was a pleasing setting and we were eager to get set up so we could check it all out.

We had site 7 on loop 1. It was a level back-in site with water and electric. I don’t worry anymore about not having a sewer connection unless we plan to stay for more than a week. We can manage our tanks for that long. Not requiring full hookups opens up more camping options for us. It also saves us a little money, as there is usually an up charge for sewer hookups. If you prefer a full hookup site, no worries, those are available on loop 2.

I mentioned in our previous post that we installed an ARE cap on our truck to better carry our e-bikes. We have two Lectric 2.0 e-bikes. A feature of these bikes is they fold in half for easy storage and transport. When folded, they fit nicely inside the Craftsman 50 gallon tote, but even after folding the bikes and putting them in the totes, they did not fit under the tonneau cover of our pick up. Our camper’s storage bay is not big enough to house the bikes and since we did not want to hang them on a bike rack, we just put the bikes inside the camper. This presented some problems for us.

First—we often like to stop for a short break when we are towing. It could be at a rest stop on the interstate, a county park, or a parking lot. We will stretch our legs then go inside the camper where we might fix a bite to eat or just lie back in the recliner and rest our eyes for a few minutes before driving on. This is quite the hassle with the bikes in the camper.

Secondly—when we arrive at a campsite the bikes are put outside until we pack up again. They are exposed to the elements and to opportunistic thieves. Steps were necessary to protect the bikes. We bought bike covers and locks, but still felt it wasn’t enough. Under the truck cap the bikes stay dry and our hope is it provides an additional level of security and reduces the risk something undesirable might happen. 

Regardless of the hassles, we like having our e-bikes. We have never been into biking, though. Fact is, until recently, I haven’t been on a bike in more than forty years, maybe fifty years. Rediscovering the fun of biking has been exhilarating. It is a youthful experience.

Everyday, while at Reed Bingham State Park, we went for a bike ride. We explored the trails and rode the boardwalk surrounded by nature’s splendid beauty. One morning, while riding along the Little River Trail, we quietly came upon a doe and two spotted fawns. They were surprised to see us. They gave us a look like where did you come from? Nonetheless, they were obliging and posed for a picture.

We were not so stealth on one of the other trails as I could be heard screaming out in pain after hitting a tree root the size of an anaconda. It was like getting a swift kick between the legs. Not a pleasant experience, I assure you. I am no dumbing though, it only took me a half dozen more times before I learned it was easier (and less painful) to get off the bike and walk it over the roots. We avoided that trail for the rest of our stay.

We did venture from the campground one day for an excursion to a farmers market. What would a trip through Georgia be this time of year without finding some fresh Georgia peaches? Burton Brooks Orchards was more than your typical roadside stand. Judging from the crowd of people, I’d say it was a popular destination. There were picnic tables under the trees where one could sit and enjoy lunch from the food truck or cool off with a cup of Big John’s old fashion homemade ice cream. We thought about ordering lunch from the food truck, but instead, we made an adult decision and ordered the ice cream.

Reed Bingham State Park turned out to be just what we had hoped for. A place to work out the kinks. A place where we could find our camping grove again. More than that, it was a quiet and peaceful place where we rode our bikes more than ever before. I will remember Reed Bingham State Park as somewhere to stop again during our travels along Interstate 75 in south Georgia.

In the mean time…there is more adventures to come, more sights to see, and more bike trails to ride as we strive to live the best life we can. “Hey Grammi, is that peach cobbler done yet?

Until next time…Happy Days and Safe Travels.