Ah, Burton, GA. Thinking about that place brings back some memories, let me tell you.
It wasn’t like I lived there or anything. Passed through a few times, you know? But one specific trip sticks out. It was during that phase where I thought I could just, like, drop everything and live a simpler life. Had this grand idea – or so I thought back then.
That Whole Roadside Stand Fiasco
So, I got it in my head I’d set up a little stand near the area, maybe closer to Clayton but Burton was kinda my landmark in mind. Wanted to sell some handmade wooden stuff I’d been carving. Thought people driving by, tourists heading to the lake or mountains, they’d love it. Simple, right?
Wrong. Man, was I naive.
First off, finding a spot wasn’t easy. You can’t just pull over anywhere. Talked to a guy who owned a little patch of land, seemed friendly enough at first. Let me set up for a small fee. Okay, step one done.
Then came the actual doing it part. Here’s how that went:
- Day one: Hotter than heck. Sat there for hours. Maybe five cars stopped? One bought a tiny little carved bird.
- Day two: Rain. Like, serious Georgia summer storm rain. Had to pack everything up in a hurry, got soaked. My poor wooden things got damp.
- Day three: Tried again. This time, some official-looking person stopped by. Asked if I had a permit. A permit? For selling wood carvings by the road? Apparently, yes. Didn’t have one. Got told to pack up.
That was pretty much the end of that dream. Packed my carvings, paid the landowner guy (who suddenly wasn’t so friendly), and just drove off. Felt pretty dumb, honestly. All that planning, hauling stuff out there, sitting in the heat, just to be shut down.
It wasn’t really about Burton itself, you know? The town seemed nice enough the couple of times I drove through it proper. It was more about me, about that whole experience. Made me realize that “simple life” idea takes a lot more work and know-how than just showing up with some stuff to sell. You gotta know the rules, deal with the weather, actually figure out if people want what you’re selling.
So yeah. Burton, GA. Reminds me of sunshine, sudden rain, and the hard lesson that good ideas need more than just enthusiasm. Still got a few of those carvings sitting in my garage somewhere.
