Hiawassee, GA

One of the premier events in North Georgia is the annual Georgia Mountain Fair, which is now in full swing through July 27. The fair is held at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in the picturesque town of Hiawassee on the shores of beautiful Lake Chatuge.

Hiawassee held its first fair in 1950, a three-day agricultural exposition held at the local high school. Attendees numbered 2,000-actually an impressive number for such a tiny town. Now in its fifty-eighth year, the fair draws crowds from all over the southeast and attendance numbers have approached 100,000 in recent years!

The fair features a multitude of activities and events that run from midway rides, to arts and crafts booths, to daily concerts, to demonstrations of old mountain ways of life.

Oh, and let us not forget the food. You have a wide-variety of ways to overindulge from standard festival fare-cotton candy, funnel cakes, hot dogs--to mountain favorites like fried pies, home-cooked vegetable plates, smoked trout and fresh-squeezed apple and peach cider.

Robert Anderson Music Hall-named in honor of a former president of the fair-is the venue for live music that ranges from gospel to blues, performances by cloggers and line dancers, and the annual Miss Georgia Mountain Fair pageant. Some of this year's performers include current country superstars Aaron Tippin and Darryl Worley, perennial favorites The Bellamy Brothers, and gospel legends The McKamey's.

Old-time demonstrations include a working blacksmith shop, a grist mill, a smokehouse, a country store and locals are on hand to show you how to make soap, baskets, and quilts among other skills.

Enjoy a truly wonderful experience at the Georgia Mountain Fair!

Today begins Stage 5 of the Tour de Georgia, the longest and most challenging legs of the tour.  This stage will cover 133.4 miles through the most rigorous-and most beautiful-terrain on the tour, the mountains of North Georgia. Cyclists will make three epic ascents today: Burnt Mountain, Woody Gap and Crown Mountain, before making the mother of all ascents, Brasstown Bald. Brasstown Bald, in Hiawassee, is Georgia's highest peak, rising 4,784 feet above sea level and has awe-inspiring views of four states. The cyclist who makes the ascent to the summit of Brasstown Bald first earns the title KING OF THE MOUNTAIN!

The Tour de Georgia is in its sixth year and is rated as the United State's highest-ranked professional cycling event, along with the Tour of California. The six stage event covers 600 miles in six days as cyclists ride through Georgia's unique geography, from the beautiful coastal community of Tybee Island to the spectacular mountains of North Georgia.  Two of cycling's greats have won the Tour de Georgia on their way to winning the Tour de France: Lance Armstrong in 2004, and Floyd Landis in 2006. 

For complete coverage of the Tour de Georgia, visit their Website.

Here are some interesting -- and colorful -- cycling terms:

Big Ringing It - The chain on the big chain ring, going for maximum speed.

Bonk - Total exhaustion caused by lack of sufficient food during a long race or ride.

Domestique - A team rider who will sacrifice his individual performance to help a designated teammate. Duties can include giving up one's bike for another rider, supplying refreshments to teammates, and catching breakaway riders. French for "servant."

Hammer - To ride hard. Also, to "put the hammer down."

KOM - King of the Mountain. Award for the Best Climber.

Peloton - The main field, or pack, of riders in the race. Peloton is French for a group moving forward.

Popped - Blown. Had it. Knackered. Stuffed. Lots of words to describe the legs just going all weak. Loss of power.

Wheel Sucker/Wheelsucking - Someone who sticks to a rear wheel ahead of him or her and refuses to go to the front.

Lake Chatuge is recovering nicely from the drought of 07. The lake is almost full. Lake lots are looking good. The lake front lots on the upper Hiawassee River section are even looking good.

Based on the MLS data there is now 54 Lake Front Lots on Lake Chatuge on the Georgia side (Hiawassee, GA). Prices range from $69,900 to $1,100,000. The average list price is $477,940. The median list price is $496,000.

Based on the MLS data there is now 24 Lake Front Lots on Lake Chatuge on the North Caroline side (Hayesville, NC). Prices range from $319,000 to $3,500,000. The average list price is $737,363. The median list price is $569,900.

Please keep in mind that anything under the $400,000 range may have issues such as can not get a dock permit, small usable acreage, no ownership below the 1933 elevation, etc.

What ever type of Real Estate be it, Lake Chatuge Real Estate, North GA Property, Western NC Land, Young Harris Cabin, Hiawassee Home, Chuck Albury and Mountain Realty are here to help.

Lake Chatuge was perfect today. With the temperature in the low 70s had to remove a section of canvas on the boat today. Can't wait until we can take the camper top off the boat. The lake temperature is rising too. Actual saw some kids being pulled on a tube on the lake today. Based on Chatuge operating guide we are still about 2 and 1/2 feet above where we should be at this time of year. If we keep getting the rain we may make it to full pool this year.

Chuck Albury and Mountain Realty presents Mountain & Lake Cabins, Homes, Land and Lots as a REALTOR in Young Harris,GA!

Lake Chatuge is up!

Lake Chatuge current level as of 4/3/08 is 1922.29. That is less than 3 1/2 feet below full pool of 1926.00. The current reading of 1922.29 is higher than we ever got last year. TVA has really been trying to keep as much water as they can in the lake. Based on Chatuge operating guide we are about 2 1/2 feet above where we should be at this time of year. If we keep getting the rain we may make it to full pool this year.

Not only are the lake levels up but, the lake temperature is rising too. Water temps were between 55 & 59 the other day when I was out on the lake late in the afternoon.

Chuck Albury and Mountain Realty presents Mountain & Lake Cabins, Homes, Land and Lots as a REALTOR in Young Harris,GA!