>> FIRE IN THE HOLE!
(MACHINE GUN)
>> WHAT?
>> I'M ERICK BAKER
AND I'VE SPENT MY LIFE CROSSING
THE SOUTHEAST ON TOUR
AS A SINGER/SONGWRITER,
BUT I RECENTLY REALIZE
I WAS ALWAYS HEADE
TO THE NEXT TOWN
INSTEAD OF SEEING THE SIGHTS
ALONG THE WAY,
SO I TEAMED UP WITH MY FRIEND,
AERIAL NICOLE, TO CHECK OUT
WHAT WE'VE BEEN MISSING.
♪ THERE'S A PLACE ♪
♪ YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ♪
♪ THAT'S RIGHT WHERE ♪
♪ YOU WANT TO BE. ♪
>> WE HOPE TO TAKE YOU
TO PLACES YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED
OR WHERE YOU ALWAYS DREAMED
OF GOING.
♪ UNCHARTED. ♪
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> YOU MAY KNOW THAT I'M
A BORN AND BRED TENNESSEAN
BUT YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT
I'M ALSO A UNIVERSITY
OF TENNESSEE ALUM.
THAT'S RIGHT, A VOL FOR LIFE.
AND AS MUCH AS MY LIFE
AS A MUSICIAN HAS TAKEN ME
AROUND THE COUNTRY
AS WELL AS THE WORLD,
I'VE GROWN FOND OF THE HOME
I'VE MADE AROUND
GOOD OLE ROCKY TOP.
ONE MIGHT EVEN SAY
I'M THE SLIGHTEST BIT BIASED.
SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT
I VENTURE DOWN TO ATLANTA
FOR SHOWS FROM TIME TO TIME,
WHEN I FIRST LEARNED
ABOUT THIS EPISODE,
DURING FOOTBALL SEASON NO LESS,
I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
THE DEVIL MAY HAVE
GONE DOWN TO GEORGIA
BUT I PREFER TO THINK
IT'S BEST LEFT TO THE DOGS.
SPOILER ALERT: I WOULD SOON
BE PROVEN VERY, VERY WRONG.
SOON ENOUGH THE SHOOT
WAS UPON US.
SO RATHER RELUCTANTLY,
I THREW MY CLOTHES IN A BAG
AND, DESPITE HOW HIGH
I WAS PERCHED ON MY HORSE,
HEADED OFF TO THE TOWN OF HELEN
TO LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT
WHAT NORTHEASTERN GEORGIA
WAS SERVING UP,
WHICH APPARENTLY COMES
BY THE PINT.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> WHILE SOME WOULD SAY
THAT THE TOWN OF GATLINBURG
IS COMMITTED TO AN AESTHETIC,
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS,
THE ALPINE ARCHITECTURE
AND LOG CABINS BLEND INTO THE
LANDSCAPE PRETTY INTUITIVELY.
BY CONTRAST, WHEN WE FIRST
ROLLED INTO HELEN,
I INSTINCTIVELY REACHED
FOR MY PASSPORT.
WE ARE IN GEORGIA,
NOT GERMANY, RIGHT?
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY
IN HELEN TODAY.
>> IT IS.
WELCOME.
>> FIRST TIME HERE AND,
YOU KNOW, DRIVING HERE
IT'S WINDING ROADS.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN
THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
AND THEN WE PULL INTO THIS...
>> BAVARIA.
>> YEAH!
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> WHAT IS THE GERMAN
CONNECTION?
>> WELL, IT ALL STARTS
YEARS AGO WHEN SEVERAL
GENTLEMEN HAD GOT TOGETHER
BECAUSE THE TOWN WAS A DYING
LUMBER VILLAGE.
SO THEY WERE TRYING
TO REVIVE HELEN...
>> OKAY.
>> AS IT WAS THEN.
ONE HAD BEEN STATIONED IN
GERMANY AND HE WAS AN ARTIST.
SO, LITERALLY ON A NAPKIN,
HE DREW SOME RENDERINGS
ON HOW TO TRY TO REVIVE IT
AND LUCKY FOR US
THEY ALL STUCK TOGETHER
WITH THAT THEME.
SO, EVERYTHING HAS A RED ROOF.
EVERYTHING HAS WINDOW BOXES,
PICKETS.
SO, EVERYTHING HAS TO FOLLOW
THE CODE WITHIN
THE GERMAN/BAVARIAN LOOK.
>> OKAY.
>> OF CERTAIN COLORS.
THERE ARE CERTAIN COLORS
YOU CAN USE FROM THE INSIDE,
WITH TRIM, ETC.
>> THIS IS LIKE IS ALL
THE TIME, RIGHT?
>> THIS IS YEAR ROUND, YEAH.
YES.
>> YEAH.
>> WE'VE BEEN A BAVARIAN
VILLAGE SINCE THE EARLY 70S
AND THIS IS OUR 48TH YEAR
FOR OKTOBERFEST.
>> OKAY.
>> THE LONGEST IN THE WORLD.
>> THE LONGEST ONE
IN THE WORLD?
>> NOT THE BIGGEST.
WE'LL NEVER BEAT MUNICH,
BUT IT'S THE LONGEST, YES.
>> THE LONGEST RUNNING.
YES.
>> SO THERE'S GERMAN DANCING.
THERE'S GERMAN BEER.
THERE'S GERMAN PRETZELS.
THERE'S GERMAN BEER CHEESE,
GERMAN KNOCKWURST.
>> YUM.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> AND I LOVE, YOU KNOW...
>> THANK YOU.
YEAH.
THIS WOULD BE CALLED DIRNDL.
>> I FEEL OVERDRESSED.
>> I KNOW.
WE NEED TO CHANGE YOUR OUTFIT.
>> CAN YOU...
>> YOU NEED TO LOOK LIKE...
>> CAN YOU HELP ME OUT?
>> I CAN HELP YOU.
>> SO I CAN FIT IN?
I WANT TO FEEL LIKE A LOCAL.
>> YOU KNOW, YOUR HAT'S
A LITTLE OFF TOO.
WE NEED TO GET YOU
A GERMAN HAT.
>> OKAY.
>> YEAH.
>> WELL, LET'S DO THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO.
>> I WANT TO, I WANT TO GET
IN THERE.
I MEAN THE BAND'S KICKING.
>> OKAY.
LET'S GO DO IT.
>> I'M READY TO GO,
GO HAVE SOME FUN.
>> OKAY.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> DESPITE MY HARD-WON
EXPERTISE IN HANDLING PINT
GLASSES GALORE, I FEEL LIKE
IT'S IMPORTANT TO TRULY STEP
INTO CHARACTER IN ORDER
TO EXPERIENCE ALL THAT
FESTHALLE HAS TO OFFER.
AND WHILE SILLY ME RAN OFF
WITHOUT MY LEDERHOSEN
WHILE PACKING FOR THIS TRIP,
I HAVE A SNEAKING SUSPICION
THERE MIGHT BE SOME
EXTRA APPAREL LYING AROUND
HERE SOMEWHERE.
>> WE'LL BE NEEDING A HAT,
A HAT AND A SHIRT?
>> YEAH.
I THINK WE NEED A HAT
AND A SHIRT.
>> OKAY.
>> YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> WE'RE WANTING TO LOOK LOCAL.
>> RIGHT.
WELL, THIS IS
THE PERFECT THING.
>> OKAY.
>> OH, I THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> LOOKING GOOD.
>> HERE WE GO.
>> LOOKING GOOD.
>> OH, YES.
A HAT UPGRADE.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THAT LOOKS DELICIOUS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CHEERS.
>> CHEERS.
THIS IS GOOD.
>> A TASTE OF GERMANY
RIGHT HERE IN HELEN, GEORGIA.
>> OKTOBERFEST.
>> LET'S GO.
>> LET'S GO.
>> LET'S GO DANCE.
>> LET'S DO IT.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> I CAN'T BELIEVE
I'M IN NORTH GEORGIA.
>> MMHMM.
>> RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN THIS IS PRETTY,
IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.
YOU DIDN'T GROW UP HERE,
RIGHT?
>> NO.
SO, I MOVED UP TO NORTH GEORGIA
FOR COLLEGE
AND I DIDN'T REALIZE
I WAS A MOUNTAIN GIRL AT HEART.
BUT TOTALLY AM.
I LOVE IT AND I'VE BUILT
A HOME HERE AND MY FRIENDS
AND MY LIFE.
>> WHICH IS ROOTED
IN PHOTOGRAPHY, RIGHT?
>> MMHMM.
I THINK IT'S REALLY FUNNY THAT
I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER AND I CAN
REALLY ONLY SEE WELL
WITH ONE EYE.
WHEN I WAS 15, I GOT DIAGNOSED
WITH A RARE PARASITIC DISEASE
THAT INVADED MY CORNEA.
AND THEN AT LIKE AGE 16,
A COUPLE MONTHS LATER,
THEY WERE KIND OF LIKE,
HEY, YOU'RE GONNA LOSE
YOUR EYE.
YOU'RE GONNA, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE JUST CONCERNED THAT
IT DOESN'T MOVE TO YOUR BRAIN
AND YOU TELL A 16-YEAR-OLD THAT
THAT HASN'T EVEN LEARNED
HOW TO DRIVE,
THEIR WORLD KIND OF GETS
SHAKEN UP.
BUT THAT MADE ME SLOW DOWN
BECAUSE I CAN'T MOVE AS QUICKLY
OR SEE AS QUICKLY
AS MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE CAN.
SO I PAY ATTENTION TO A LOT
OF DETAILS WITH PEOPLE
AND WITH SURROUNDINGS
AND WITH CULTURES
AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND THERE'S SO MUCH
TO SEE HERE AS YOU SAW TODAY
IN HELEN.
THERE'S SO MUCH JUST IN
THIS ONE TOWN.
THERE'S A BUNCH OF TOWNS
AROUND HERE - DAHLONEGA,
TOCCOA -- THAT ARE FILLED
AND RICH WITH HISTORY.
AND SO YOU CAN KIND
OF SLOW DOWN AND GET TO KNOW
THE PEOPLE IN THOSE TOWNS
AND YOU CAN GET TO KNOW
THEIR STORIES AND THEN
YOU CAN KIND OF CAPTURE THEM
IN THEIR REAL ENVIRONMENT.
>> YOUR STORY IS INSPIRING
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE
PROBABLY HAVE TOLD YOU
ALONG THE WAY THAT,
OH, YOU CAN'T BE
A PHOTOGRAPHER, YOU KNOW.
AND THE FACT THAT YOU'VE KIND
OF USED THAT AS AN ADVANTAGE
BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU'RE SEEING
TRULY WHAT NOT A LOT
OF OTHER PEOPLE GET TO SEE.
>> I THINK SOMETIMES
OUR DISABILITIES
GIVE US CAPABILITIES.
>> UP UNTIL THIS POINT
WHEN I'VE UTTERED THE PHRASE
"BEER GOGGLES,"
I'VE MEANT IT TO MEAN
THAT A FEW TOO MANY SIPS
HAVE SKEWED MY PERSPECTIVE
ON A SITUATION.
HOWEVER, IN THIS INSTANCE,
SITTING DOWN TO SHARE A COUPLE
OF DRINKS HAS ACTUALLY
HELPED ME GAIN SOME PERSPECTIVE
INSTEAD.
DESPITE LIVING JUST A FEW HOURS
FROM THIS INTRIGUING
ATTRACTION, I TOO EASILY
COULD HAVE LOOKED OVER IT,
WHICH HAS ME WONDERING,
WHAT ELSE IS THERE
TO DISCOVER AMONGST
THESE HILLS?
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> WHILE MY FIRST STOP MADE
ME FEEL AS THOUGH I WAS
I WAS CROSSING
INTO ANOTHER COUNTRY,
MY SECOND SEEMED LIKE
I WAS STEPPING INTO CALIFORNIA.
ESTABLISHED IN 1998
BY ATLANTANS
CRAIG AND CYDNEY KRITZER,
THE 57 ACRES THAT
SUSTAIN FROGTOWN CELLARS
ARE UNIQUE IN MANY WAYS.
FOR ONE, THE ELEVATION,
CLIMATE AND CLAY LOAM SOIL
COME TOGETHER TO MAKE
FOR AWARD-WINNING WINES.
SOME OF THE MOST
HIGHLY-AWARDED WINES
IN THE COUNTRY, IN FACT.
BUT THESE HILLS ALSO SERVE
AS FERTILE SOIL FOR WINE-MAKING
PHILOSOPHIES THAT CAN SET
THIS SECTION OF
THE SOUTHEAST APART.
>> SO, WELCOME TO FROGTOWN,
RIGHT?
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME
IN FROGTOWN.
>> YES, FROGTOWN.
DAHLONEGA, GEORGIA.
>> AND IF MY EYES ARE CORRECT,
THESE ARE THE VINES, RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
THESE ARE THE VINES
AND WE HAVE 43 ACRES PLANTED
WITH 23 DIFFERENT VARIETALS.
>> THERE'S 23 DIFFERENT
VARIETIES?
>> MMHMM.
>> HOW RARE IS THAT?
>> IT'S REALLY UNUSUAL.
IF YOU GOT TO NAPA
AND YOU VISIT A WINERY THERE,
YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY'LL GROW
MAYBE THREE OR FOUR VARIETIES.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND IF YOU GO INTO
THEIR TASTING ROOM, THEY MIGHT
HAVE FIVE OR SIX WINES.
>> MMHMM.
>> SOME OF WHICH MIGHT NOT
EVEN BE GROWN
ON THEIR PROPERTY.
WE HAVE SANDY CLAY LOAM SCHIST
IS WHAT THIS IS.
>> OKAY.
>> HERE.
AND THIS IS THE...
>> YOU CAN'T SAY "SCHIST"
ON PBS. (LAUGHS)
>> THAT'S THE COMPONENTS
OF THE SOIL, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S THE COMPONENTS
OF THE SOIL.
VERY MUCH LIKE FRANCE
RIGHT HERE.
>> OH, MY GOSH.
>> SO I COMPARE US TO,
WE'RE NOT CALIFORNIA.
>> RIGHT.
>> OKAY.
WE'RE NOT FRANCE,
BUT WE HAVE HUMIDITY
AND MOISTURE JUST WAY
FRANCE DOES.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> SO IS THIS A SECRET?
I MEAN, SHOULD I KNOW
THIS ALREADY.
>> NO.
>> THAT NORTH GEORGIA IS -
>> WELL, IT IS A SECRET.
MOST PEOPLE IN ATLANTA
DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S HERE.
>> RIGHT.
>> THEY HAVE YET
TO DISCOVER US.
>> AND THEY'RE JUMPING ON
AN INTERNATIONAL, YOU KNOW,
OUT OF THAT AIRPORT...
>> RIGHT.
>> TO GO TO CALIFORNIA.
>> RIGHT.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHEN THEY SHOULD JUST DRIVE
A FEW HOURS...
>> YES.
>> NORTH.
>> YES.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> THAT'S - I GET THIRSTY.
>> YEAH.
WE'RE GONNA GO DRINK
SOME WINE.
>> LET'S DO IT.
>> OKAY.
>> LEAD THE WAY.
LEAD THE WAY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
>> I'VE GOT A NOSE FOR WINE.
>> SO HERE WE ARE.
THIS IS A WEDDING PAVILION
HERE.
AND THEY MAKING THE WINE RIGHT
NOW INTO JUICE, COMING OUT,
GOING BACK INTO THE TANK.
THIS IS WHAT'S LEFT
IN THE BLADDER PRESS.
IT'S ALL DRY AND SMOOTH AND
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY - IT'S DRY.
>> YEAH.
>> IT'S NOT STAINING
YOUR HANDS, NOTHING.
HERE IS WHAT WE SAW OUTSIDE
WHEN IT'S GETTING READY TO GO
INTO THE PRESS.
>> OKAY.
>> SO WE HAVE MALBEC HERE.
YOU SEE THE FREE-RUN JUICE.
>> MMHMM.
>> THE SKINS THAT ARE IN IT
COLLECT ON THIS PLATE HERE
AND THEN AFTER ALL
THE FREE-RUN JUICE IS OPEN,
WE'LL OPEN THIS AND SHOVEL OUT
THE SKINS.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE'LL GO INTO
THE PRESS TO GIVE THAT EXTRA
REALLY DEEP JUICE THAT MAKES
OUR WINE SO FABULOUS.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> WHEN YOU STARTED THIS,
WHAT DID Y'ALL SET OUT TO DO?
>> CRAIG WANTED TO BE
A FARMER.
HE WANTED TO GET OUT OF
THE CHAIR BEHIND THE DESK
AND HE'D NEVER BEEN ON
A TRACTOR AND SO TODAY
HE HAS MORE TRACTOR HOURS
THAN ANYONE WE KNOW, FOR SURE.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT HE LOVES BEING OUTSIDE.
>> YEAH.
>> WE LOVE WINE,
SO THIS IS WHAT HE WANTED TO DO
WITH HIS RETIREMENT.
>> THAT IS SO GREAT.
>> AND HE SAYS IT'S GONNA
KEEP US YOUNG.
>> YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, UH, LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT SOME BOTTLES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO IT.
>> THIS IS AWESOME
AND THEN I WANT TO TASTE SOME.
>> OKAY.
>> NORMALLY WE DON'T DRINK
ON THE JOB.
>> WELL...
>> BUT SINCE YOU'RE HERE...
>> YES.
OKAY.
>> OKAY.
>> NORMALLY, I DON'T DRINK
ON THE JOB EITHER.
>> THIS IS A CHARDONNAY BLEND.
>> OKAY.
>> THAT'S DELICIOUS.
IT'S DELICIOUS.
IT'S CRISP AND LIGHT
AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY.
I MEAN THIS IS PRETTY,
PRETTY PERFECT.
>> IT'S A GREAT WINE TO ENJOY.
>> YOU KNOW, AS YOU SEE
PEOPLE TASTING, YOU KNOW,
FROM VINE TO GLASS,
WHEN SOMEONE OPENS A BOTTLE
OF FROGTOWN WITH THEIR FRIENDS
OR THEIR FAMILY AND THEY
POUR IT IN A GLASS,
WHAT DO YOU HOPE?
>> OH, THAT THEY...
>> THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING,
YOU KNOW, WHAT...
>> THAT IT JUST MAKES
THEIR DAY BETTER.
>> MM, MAN.
>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING
TO BE IN -- TO HAVE SOMETHING
THAT YOU'VE MADE BE
IN SOMEBODY'S HOUSE
AND HAVE THEM ENJOY IT
AND REMEMBER THAT THEY'RE
EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAD
AT YOUR WINERY.
IT'S UNIQUE.
>> BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
>> MMHMM.
I LIKE IT.
A GLASS AT A TIME.
>> A GLASS AT A TIME.
>> IT'S PERFECT.
>> AH, MAN.
HERE, HERE ARE TO GOOD DAYS.
>> YES.
THE BEST.
>> AND THANK YOU.
CHEERS.
>> SO MANY TIMES ON THIS SERIES
I'VE CONNECTED WITH FOLKS
WHO MANAGE TO MAKE AN IMPACT
WHILE HELPING OTHERS MAKE
MEMORIES IN THE PROCESS.
THIS LIFE GOES BY TOO QUICKLY
SO WHETHER YOU PREFER
TO DRINK IT IN BY THE GLASS
OR SIMPLY BASK IN THE BOUQUET,
THIS ESTATE HAS ROOM TO TAKE
A BREAK ALL THE SAME.
>> WELL, I'VE QUICKLY LEARNED
THAT THE LANDSCAPE
OF NORTHEASTERN GEORGIA LENDS
ITSELF TO SOME UNEXPECTED
ACTIVITIES AND INDUSTRIES.
OVERALL IT SEEMS SUITED
TO SLIPPING AWAY TO CELEBRATE,
TO SAVOR, AND TODAY, TO SIMPLY
TO ENJOY THE SCENERY.
ALTHOUGH I'M TAKING TO
THE TOCCOA IN THE OFF SEASON,
I'M TAGGING ALONG WITH A COUPLE
OF LOCALS WHO CAN SPEAK
TO WHY THIS AREA IS SO SPECIAL.
>> SO IT'S A COOL MORNING HERE
IN NORTH GEORGIA
ON THE TOCCOA RIVER.
WE'RE HANGING OUT
WITH AMY FROM TVA
AND THE COLD CAN'T KEEP
HER DOWN BECAUSE SHE LOVES
THIS PLACE SO MUCH SHE'S
COMING OUT AND SHE'S HANGING
OUT WITH US IN FREEZING
TEMPERATURES JUST TO GET OUT
ON THIS WATER AND TO ENJOY AN
AREA THAT SHE LOVES VERY MUCH.
SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO HANGING
OUT WITH HER TODAY
AND GETTING TO SEE THIS RIVER.
WADERS, BABY, HUH?
HOW'S THAT?
>> YOU GOT IT.
>> OOH.
>> THERE YOU GO.
HUH.
ALL RIGHT!
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> HEY!
I MADE IT!
>> NO.
OKAY.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> READY?
>> YEP!
ALL RIGHT.
>> WE'RE OFF, BUD.
♪ IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY ♪
♪ IN THE MORNING ♪
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> LET THE WATER WASH
OUR WORRIES AWAY.
YOU LET MOTHER NATURE
TAKE YOU ON A RIDE.
THERE'S A MUCH DEEPER
CONNECTION TO THIS WATER THAN
IF YOU WERE ON A POWER BOAT
OR A BASS BOAT OR...
>> OH, YEAH.
IT KIND OF CALMS DOWN
THE CRAZINESS AROUND US.
>> TOTALLY.
>> THIS WHERE I COME TO GET
MY CALM.
>> MAN, I FEEL LUCKY
TO BE HERE, ACTUALLY.
>> ME, TOO.
ME, TOO.
>> THIS IS A TVA RIVER?
>> YES.
THE TOCCOA DUMPS
INTO THE BLUE RIDGE LAKE
AND THEN FROM THERE IT GOES UP
TO MCCAYSVILLE AND COPPER HILL
AND BECOMES THE OCCOE.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> WHICH, OF COURSE,
IS FAMOUS...
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> FOR THE 1996 OLYMPICS.
>> YEP.
>> YEAH.
SO, THIS WATER THAT YOU'RE ON
RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY
WILL DUMP OUT THERE.
>> HUH.
>> PRETTY COOL.
OF TVA'S 11,000 MILES
OF SHORELINE,
THIS IS MY FAVORITE.
>> THIS IS NICE.
LIKE TO NOT EVEN HAVE MY PHONE
ON MY BODY,
TO NOT BE CHECKING IT
AND HEARING DINGS
AND BUZZES AND THAT'S,
THAT'S POWERFUL.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> AND THIS IS YOUR BACKYARD
BASICALLY, IN A WAY.
>> THIS HAS BEEN MY BACKYARD
FOR WEEKENDS ALL MY LIFE.
I'VE BEEN HERE EVERY WEEKEND
I CAN SINCE I WAS ABOUT
TWO YEARS OLD.
>> WOW.
>> THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE.
>> AND SINCE YOU WORK FOR TVA...
>> YEP.
>> AND KNOWING THAT,
YOU KNOW, THE WAY IT'S MANAGED
AND THE WAY THAT IT IS.
>> CLEAN AND OXYGENATED.
>> THAT TVA PLAYS A BIG ROLE
IN THAT, HOW,
HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?
>> I LOVE BEING A PART OF IT.
>> YEAH.
>> NOW, YOU KNOW, I - AGAIN,
THIS HAS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE
ALL MY LIFE AND NOW I GET
TO WORK FOR THE FOLKS THAT
MAINTAIN IT, TAKE CARE OF IT,
MAKE SURE THAT THE AQUATIC
LIFE IS GOOD, HEALTHY, SAFE.
>> MMMHMM.
>> THERE'S NO BETTER FEELING.
YOU CAN'T BEAT IT.
>> LIKE HERE COLLEAGUES,
AMY NOT ONLY WORKS FOR TVA,
SHE'S IMPACTED BY THE RESOURCES
THEY MANAGE.
HER JOB OFTEN TAKES HER
ALL OVER THE REGION,
BUT SHE CHOOSES TO LIVE NEAR
ONE OF THE MANY WATERWAYS
THAT WIND THROUGH
THIS WATERSHED.
WHY?
BECAUSE IT'S WHERE SHE'S
SOAKED UP SO MANY SPECIAL
MOMENTS THROUGHOUT LIFE.
TUBING, KAYAKING,
FLOATING WITH FAMILY,
FISHING WITH FRIENDS.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT HER
WORK ULTIMATELY AFFECTS
HER WAY OF LIFE
AND THAT'S A FORM
OF QUALITY ASSURANCE
THAT'S OFTEN HARD TO COME BY.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> I OFTEN THINK ABOUT
WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE
WHEN SOME OF THE SETTLERS
OF THE TOWNS AND CITIES
WE KNOW TODAY FIRST LAID EYES
ON THE LANDSCAPE THEY CHOSE
TO MAKE THEIR HOME.
FOR SO MANY OF THEM THE JOURNEY
HAD BEEN CHALLENGING,
BUT THEY PUSHED ON UNTIL
THEY FOUND THAT PERFECT PLACE
TO DIG IN.
IT WAS PROBABLY A MIX
OF MOTIVATIONS THAT MADE THEM
PICK ONE PLACE OVER ANOTHER,
FOOD, WATER, SHELTER,
THOSE SORT OF THINGS.
BUT ULTIMATELY THEY MUST HAVE
FELT LIKE THEY'D STRUCK GOLD.
ONLY IN DAHLONEGA, THEY HAD.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> THERE IS STILL TREASURE OUT
HERE IF YOU WANT TO FIND IT.
YOU HAVE TO WORK
TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING.
YOU HAVE TO PUT THE EFFORT IN.
WATCH YOUR HEAD THERE.
>> OKAY.
>> YOU'RE GONNA NEED THIS HAT,
RIGHT.
>> OKAY.
KEEP THE OLD NOGGIN SAFE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE READY TO ENTER
THE MINE HERE.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> WHERE WE'RE ENTERING HERE
IS ACTUALLY WHERE THEY CAME
OUT AT.
>> OKAY.
>> YEAH.
>> THIS IS A...
>> IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR.
>> CORRECT.
AND IF YOU LOOK ACROSS
RIGHT THERE.
SEE THAT LITTLE NOOK
STRAIGHT BACK IN THERE?
>> YEP.
>> THAT'S THE GLORY HOLE.
THAT'S WHERE IN 1901,
NOVEMBER 1ST,
THEY TOOK OUT 54 POUNDS,
NINE OUNCES OF PURE GOLD
IN SINGLE DAY.
>> WOW!
SO, 54 POUNDS...
>> 54 POUNDS, THAT'S A -
THERE WAS A GUY THAT JUST
STARTED SHOUTING,
"GLORY! WHAT A HOLE!"
AND THAT'S HOW IT GOT ITS NAME,
GLORY HOLE.
>> 54 POUNDS.
>> YES, SIR.
>> WHICH WOULD HAVE A VALUE
OF WHAT TODAY?
>> AH, THAT'S BE ABOUT,
ABOUT $2.5 MILLION.
>> WOW.
I THINK IF -- I'D BE YELLING
OTHER THINGS.
(LAUGHS)
>> OTHER THAN THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, FAST FORWARD
TO TODAY THOUGH, AND NOW
EVERYBODY GETS AN OPPORTUNITY...
>> THEY DO.
>> TO COME DOWN HERE
AND MINE FOR GOLD, RIGHT?
>> EXACTLY.
AND SEE WHAT THE OLD-TIMERS
HAD TO DO AND GO THROUGH
AND SEE IF YOU CAN MEASURE UP
TO WHAT THEY DID.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO IT.
>> YES.
>> LET'S SEE IF I CAN
MEASURE UP.
>> COME ON.
>> ALL RIGHT.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> NOW LET ME SHOW YOU
WHAT YOU HAD TO DO DOWN HERE
FOR A JOB.
YOU, YOU PRETTY GOOD AT WORK,
AIN'T YOU?
>> AHHH.
NOW, UHH.
>> THIS IS A DRILL BIT.
THIS DRILL BIT IS A STAR BIT.
>> OKAY.
>> THIS IS, OF COURSE,
A LITTLE SLEDGE HAMMER.
>> YEP.
>> ONE GUY HAD TO HOLD THIS.
THIS IS CALLED A JACK.
AND ONE GUY WOULD HOLD IT
AND THE OTHER GUY WOULD HIT IT.
SO HIT, TWIST, HIT TWIST,
HIT TWIST.
IF YOU MISSED AND HIT
YOUR FRIEND, YOU WASN'T BUDDIES
NO MORE.
>> NO DOUBT.
>> WELL, YOU HOLD THAT
AND I'LL HIT.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
HIT, OKAY.
>> I'LL MOVE A LITTLE CLOSER.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
I THINK, YEAH, JUST A LITTLE,
JUST A LITTLE CLOSER THERE.
ALL RIGHT. (TAPS)
>> YOU GOTTA TWIST
>> TWIST IT.
OKAY.
(TAPPING)
>> YOU'RE HIRED.
>> OH, MAN.
>> YOU START TONIGHT.
>> OKAY.
AND THAT'S IT.
>> THEY MADE A DOLLAR A DAY
TO DO THAT.
>> WOW.
BOY, A DOLLAR A DAY.
>> JUST A DOLLAR A DAY.
>> MAN.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> YOU GOTTA REMEMBER.
GOLD IS HEAVY.
GOLD IS 19 TIMES HEAVIER
THAN WATER.
IT'S TWICE THE WEIGHT OF LEAD.
SO KEEP THAT IN YOUR MIND.
>> OKAY.
GOLD IS HEAVY
>> GOLD IS HEAVY.
YOU'LL DIP IT IN THE WATER.
SEE THAT CLOUD OF SAND
COMING OUT OF THERE?
>> YEP.
>> YOU COME BACK UP AND SHAKE
A COUPLE MORE TIMES AND DIP.
SO THERE'S THERE'S
THE SHAKING AND DIPPING.
>> SHAKING AND DIPPING.
ALL RIGHT.
DOWN.
>> SHAKE SIDE-TO-SIDE.
THERE YA GO.
ALL YOU DO IT...
>> OH, HELLO.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> THAT'S EXCITING STUFF
RIGHT THERE.
>> IT IS.
>> THE AMOUNT OF WORK
THAT HAS GONE IN...
>> TO GET THAT MUCH.
>> MAN!
IT'S LIKE, IT'S LIKE SEEING
THE SUN RISE, RIGHT.
COMING, COMING OUT
OF THE CLOUDS.
MAN, IT'S GOOD TO BE A MINER.
>> GOOD TO BE A MINER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
CHECK THAT OUT.
>> MY TIME WITH MINER MIKE
HAS HELPED ME LOOK AT THE LAND
IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT LIGHT.
AND I DON'T JUST MEAN
BY HEADLAMP.
SO OFTEN I EVALUATE LAND
BY WHAT IT CAN GROW,
WHETHER IT'S CROPS
OR COMMUNITIES,
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER
IS THERE'S A LOT
BENEATH THE SURFACE.
SOMETIMES IT'S ELEMENTS
AND OTHER TIMES IT'S HISTORY.
BUT ULTIMATELY,
THEY EACH HAVE VALUE.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> IF AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE
DOCTOR AWAY THEN MY LAST STOP
BEFORE HEADING HOME IS SURE
TO PUT ME IN GOOD HEALTH.
NOW IN THEIR FOURTH
GENERATION, FAMILY OWNED
AND OPERATED MERCIER ORCHARDS
IS INTENT ON OFFERING MORE
THAN JUST THE 50 VARIETIES
OF APPLES THEY CULTIVATE
ON THEIR ORCHARD.
AS THEY PUT IT, THEY HOPE
TO DEVELOP PEOPLE AS WELL
AS PRODUCTS.
>> WE MAKE ABOUT 180,000
GALLONS OF CIDER A YEAR.
>> WOW!
>> THAT IS A LOT OF CIDER.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY
AND I'M LOOKING OUT HERE
OVER THE ORCHARD.
I FEEL KIND OF LIKE
IT'S A GARDEN AND, YOU KNOW,
LIKE A GARDEN OF EDEN IN A WAY.
AND THAT WOULD MAKE YOU...
>> NO.
OH, NO.
>> THE MASTER GARDENER.
THE MASTER GARDENER OF THIS,
OF THIS GARDEN,
OF THIS ORCHARD.
>> I TELL PEOPLE I HAVE THE
BIGGEST OFFICE IN THE WORLD.
I HAVE 250 ACRES OF OFFICE
SPACE IS WHAT I TELL PEOPLE.
>> MAN, 250 ACRES
AND IT'S DELICIOUS.
YOU HAVE THE MOST DELICIOUS
OFFICE SPACE, RIGHT.
>> I HAVE THE MOST DELICIOUS
OFFICE SPACE THERE IS, YES.
>> SO WE HAVE YOU
TO THANK FOR ALL OF THIS.
>> I WISH I COULD LAY IT ALL ON
MY SHOULDERS,
BUT I'M JUST LUCKY ENOUGH
TO BE PART OF
THE THIRD GENERATION
OF THE MERCIER FAMILY,
75 YEARS STRONG.
MY GRANDPARENTS-IN-LAW BOUGHT
HIS FARM WHEN IT
WAS JUST 25 ACRES.
IT ITS ENTIRETY THERE ARE
OVER 10,000 VARIETIES
OF APPLES ALONE.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T
REALIZE THAT.
THEY THINK RED OR GREEN.
>> RIGHT.
>> THAT'S ALL THEY KNOW.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> THERE'S REALLY A LOT
OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES.
WE CATER OURS TO ABOUT 50
DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF FRUIT.
THEY COME AND GO THROUGH
THE YEARS.
WE FIND ONES THAT WE LIKE,
WE FIND ONES WE DON'T LIKE
AND WE GET RID OF THEM.
>> MMMHMM.
>> SOME OF THEM HOLD ON.
I'VE GOT TREES THAT ARE ALMOST
AS OLD AS I AM THAT WE'RE
STILL GROWING, STILL PRODUCING
GREAT APPLES BACK
IN MY GRANDFATHER'S TIME.
HE HAD A LOVE FOR GROWING.
MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAD A LOVE
FOR GROWING.
NOW I HAVE THAT LOVE
FOR GROWING AND WE JUST,
WE EXPAND AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
IT REALLY IS ABOUT FAMILY,
WHETHER YOU'RE A CUSTOMER
OR AN EMPLOYEE,
YOU'RE ALL PART OF
THE MERCIER'S FAMILY.
>> WELL, MAN.
THANK YOU.
>> TRY AND CONNECT.
>> SITTING HERE TALKING,
I'M NOW HUNGRY AND THIRSTY.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> SO, I SAY, I SAY WE GO
AND ENJOY.
>> WELL, LET'S GO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THESE ARE CALLED
ARKANSAS BLACKS.
>> BLACKS?
>> THEY ARE SO DARK RED
THAT THEY'RE BLACK.
BUT THIS IS MY FAVORITE APPLE.
>> OKAY.
>> IT GETS THIS FUNNY LITTLE
FROSTING ON IT.
A LITTLE ORANGE.
JUST MAKES IT EVEN BETTER.
>> YES.
WELL, MAN, LET'S PICK
ONE OF THESE.
IS THAT ALL RIGHT?
>> HAVE AT IT, YEAH.
HECK, YEAH.
>> OKAY.
>> NOW THIS IS MY FAVORITE
APPLE RIGHT HERE.
GRAB ONE OF THESE SUCKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CHEERS.
>> CHEERS.
>> MMMM.
>> IT'S GOOD, AIN'T IT?
>> DOESN'T GET ANY FRESHER
THAN THAT.
>> YOU WANT TO FIND...
>> I MEAN, CAN OUR AUDIO GUY,
I MEAN, JUST ZOOM IN ON HERE
AND LISTEN, LISTEN TO THIS.
(CRUNCHING)
>> HEY, THAT'S WHAT YOU
WANT RIGHT THERE, FOLKS.
MAN!
I LOVE IT!
MAN, THAT IS DELICIOUS, DUDE.
>> IT IS.
IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
KEEP FOREVER.
>> HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?
>> WELL, WE TAKE THOSE APPLES
TO A BETTER LEVEL.
>> YOU DO.
>> WITH A HARD CIDER.
>> YEAH, A HARD CIDER.
YOU KNOW, I'VE THOUGHT,
I WAS APPLES, RIGHT?
THAT'S WHAT I WAS EXPECTING,
BUT, YOU KNOW, BUSHELS
OF APPLES, BUT WE HAVE GLASSES
OF APPLES.
>> WE DO.
>> AND WITH A LOT
OF DIFFERENT TASTES,
YOU KNOW, HARD CIDER.
I'M THINKING THERE'S KIND
OF JUST ONE KIND, BUT...
>> OH, NO.
NOT AT MERCIER'S.
>> BUT CLEARLY I'M VERY WRONG.
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY.
WHAT DO I, I MEAN,
WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?
THIS IS...
>> WE HAVE ABOUT...
>> I MEAN, THIS IS AMAZING.
>> TEN DIFFERENT VARIETIES
OF HARD CIDER ON TAP RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY.
>> AND YOU CAN BUY IT
IN A FOUR PACK.
WE'VE GOT GROWLERS IF YOU WANT
TO TAKE A GROWLER HOME
WITH YOU.
>> MMHMM.
>> BUT WE BACK SWEET
OUR HARD CIDER PRODUCT
WITH OUR OWN INGREDIENTS
SO EVERYTHING IS VERY AUTHENTIC
FROM MERCIER'S.
>> AND IT'S...
>> FROM THE BEGINNING OF
THE OPERATION TO THE END.
>> SO THIS IS ESTATE GROWN,
I GUESS, RIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> OKAY.
WELL, I WANT TO TRY ONE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> WHAT, WHAT, UH, WHICH ONE?
>> I WOULD TRY A LEGENDS,
WHICH IS ONE OF
MY ALL-TIME FAVORITES.
IT'S NOT TOO SWEET,
MORE ON THE DRY SIDE.
>> OKAY.
>> CHEERS.
>> HERE'S, HERE TO MERCIERS.
>> YEAH.
>> CHEERS.
>> SPEAK TO ME ABOUT
WHAT THE MERCIER FAMILY,
AND WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> WE'RE ALL ABOUT
FAMILY TRADITIONS
AND MAKING MEMORIES.
WE TAKE A MOMENT TO TRY
TO MAKE A MEMORY.
>> I WOULD TAKE A MOMENT
TO MAKE A MEMORY.
I WILL DRINK TO THAT.
HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?
>> IT'S PRETTY...
>> CHEERS.
>> IT'S PRETTY GOOD. (LAUGHS)
>> TAKE A MOMENT AND A MEMORY.
NOW THOSE ARE WORDS I CAN LIVE
BY BECAUSE WHEN WE SPEND
SO MANY MOMENTS TRYING TO BUILD
A LIFE, IT'S EASY TO OVERLOOK
THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING
A FEW TO ENJOY IT AS WELL.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> WHEN WE TRAVEL
TO NEW PLACES,
WE OFTEN BRING ALONG MUCH MORE
THAN JUST OUR LUGGAGE.
WE BRING THE ENDORSEMENTS
WE'VE SEEN ONLINE,
GOOD OR BAD.
WE BRING OUR EXPECTATIONS.
WE BRING THE ISSUES
WE'RE LOOKING TO ESCAPE
LIKE DEADLINES AND TO DO LISTS.
BUT THE MORE I TRAVEL,
THE MORE I REALIZE
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
THAT I MAKE SURE AND PACK
AN OPEN MIND AS WELL.
LIVING IN THE SOUTHEAST
MY ENTIRE LIFE,
IT'S EASY FOR ME TO ASSUME
I'VE SEEN IT ALL.
THERE'S NOTHING LEFT
TO SURPRISE ME.
THE SCENERY IS ESSENTIALLY
THE SAME.
BUT IT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
THIS LANDSCAPE IS AS ALIVE
AS THE FRIENDS, FAMILY, FLORA
AND FAUNA THAT CALL IT HOME.
TAKING A BREAK IN NORTHEASTERN
GEORGIA TOOK ME AWAY FROM
A HOST OF RESPONSIBILITIES THAT
WERE WEIGHING HEAVILY ON ME.
IT ALLOWED ME TO MAKE
NEW FRIENDS,
EXPLORE NEW FASHIONS,
FIND NEW FAVORITES,
AND ULTIMATELY, BE SURPRISED.
AND THE OLDER I GET,
THE MORE I REALIZE
THAT ALONE IS WORTH
ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD.
(INSTRUMENTAL THEME MUSIC)
