Happy July 1st (Updates on the gathering)

Updated at 15:00 p.m. Eastern time on July 2

The state of Georgia is now “Hands-Free”. You cannot touch your phone while you are behind the wheel. There is no Grace period. You cannot let your phone rest on your body. It must be in a holder or on your console.

--From the local sheriff

Before the sheriff hosted the Town Hall meeting last week at the Lumpkin Park & Rec concerning the "Rainbow Family Gathering", Lorine Peck called me wanting to offer solutions to what could potentially be an issue with large amounts of garbage being left behind following this large event. Because of Lorine's proactive thinking, I was able to reach out to one of our local business owners and without hesitation Floyd Wimpy of Wimpy Dumpsters agreed to bring a container to the gathering in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest free of charge for the Rainbow Family to dispose of garbage as the event progresses therefore protecting our National Forest and resources.

The Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office will be accepting donations to cover the costs of "dump fees". If you would like to contribute to this cause and help protect our resources, you may drop off your donations to the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office at 385 East Main Street, Dahlonega, GA 30533.  ~~Sheriff Stacy M. Jarrard

The response to this situation from a friend who is on the land. Just an FYI, folks on the land are sorting this out. The Magic Hat may donate some funds and Wimpy's may be given a 501(c)3 to write off a portion via his taxes. I feel there is nothing for those of us not on the land to do because the folks on the land are rocking the situation.


Just heard at 5 p.m. eastern time today that the best place to park is on FS28B.  That may change by the time you read this. Here is the advise I was given: "To do this set your GPS to the Camp Merrill Army Ranger Camp outside Dahlonega. Camp Merrill is at the end of Camp Wasega Road. When you reach the Camp gate go South of FS28-1."

Although if your still reading this blog by the time you get there a trail may exist from FS28B.

Here's a photo of the new parking map that was taken on June 30 at 6:12 PM eastern Time. Thanks to the sibling who shared it. Looks parking on one side of Road 42 on either side of Hwy 77 is now available.

Click to enlarge