Folktales by Firelight- Easy Hike & Story Telling at Arabia Mountain

I love a good story . . .  and I love Arabia Mountain!  This event combines both of these loves into what promises to be a very entertaining event!

Jonah McDonald, author of the book Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests: Intown and Out that I have used as the basis for my "By the Book" hiking series, is also a story teller!  He will be leading a beginner hike on Arabia Mountain that includes shady stops for stories. What an imaginative combination!  The hike won't be strenuous, but the stories will certainly be fascinating.  After the hike, folks can make their very own s'mores!

This is a RAIN or SHINE event!  I'm sure stories will be told in the Visitor Center or in the pavilion if rain becomes an issue, so don't be scared away by showers.  

Although our AOC event will conclude at 5 pm, those who like can register for a second night-time session of stories, from 7 pm to 9 pm.  This second session will begin with a lesson on friction fire-starting, after which folks will sit around a campfire, cook s'mores, and listen to more of Jonah's tales. See Jonah's invitation poster for the event:  https://www.facebook.com/events/799733416801301/

People living in the East Cobb, Sandy Springs area can contact others for an informal carpool from the parking lot at Whole Foods on Hammond Drive (The Exchange At Hammond, 5930 Roswell Rd, Atlanta Georgia).  Keep in mind that if you are staying for the second session (7-9 pm), your carpool participants must all be planning to stay. 

Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve

Directions taken from a past event by Charlie Cottingham. 

DIRECTIONS from the I-20/ I-285 INTERCHANGE on ATLANTA'S EAST SIDE:  (This "hypothetical starting point" for driving to the Park is about 10 miles east of downtown Atlanta via I-20 - also about 10 miles south of "Spaghetti Jcn" via I-285.)

1.  From the East-side I-20/I-285 Interchange proceed eastbound on I-20 about 5 miles (outside I-285 toward Augusta)and exit to your Right at Exit #74 ("Evans Mill Rd/Lithonia").

2.  Take the 1.3-mile-long exit ramp and access road STRAIGHT AHEAD to its end at the second traffic light where Evans Mill Rd crosses underneath I-20.  (AVOID the first "Evans Mill" opportunity, which would be a right turn before the end of the access road.)

3.  Turn Right at the traffic light onto Evans Mill Road and go just 0.1 mile to another traffic light.

4.  At that light continue straight ahead onto Woodrow Drive and continue another 0.8 mile to the stop sign at Klondike Road.

5.  Turn Right onto Klondike Road and in about 1 mile you will pass through a traffic circle at Rockland Road.  Stay on Klondike Road for another 0.25 mile beyond the circle and look for the" Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve"nature center on your right.

6.  Turn Right into the Nature Center's gravel parking lot where we can park for free.  We AOCers will gather initially by the big bulletin-board kiosk between the parking lot and the Nature Center building.

For folks who are staying for both storytelling sessions (or for those who aren't staying but would like to join us for an early dinner), we can plan to eat together from 5 - 7 pm at the nearby Arizona's Restaurant close to the Stone Crest Mall.  The address of the restaurant is

2040 Stone Crest Circle, Lithonia, GA 30038  -  Phone:  678-526-7775

MENU:   http://www.thearizonasteakhouse.com/docs/Arizonas-Atlanta-combined-menu.pdf