Bill Bowers Cove in Union
County, Georgia
1978 - 2009
By Janice Boling
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Bill Bowers Cove off Owltown in Union County
Bill Bowers Cove was off the beaten path. When we camped there, we were hidden from the world.
Bill Bowers Cove in 1979
Pam and I were there -- and so were Gomer, Phil, Hambone, Joel, Joe Fox, and others. Joe was passed out on the old green bench seat. A can of green beans was sitting on the cooler and half of a pig was roasting over the fire.
Camping in the Cove
This was my first pig roast and we must have been expecting a crowd. I don't know how the meat ever got done that far from the heat.
Diane threw a horseshoe as Gary looked on.
She has a cigarette in her mouth. Most of us smoked back in those days.
Kids loved to play at Bill Bowers Cove
Joe B, Big John, Vanessa, a blonde woman, Steve, Bush, Pam, James, and many more enjoyed a day at Bill Bowers Cove.
Billy and Raymond
Billy and Raymond played horseshoes in Bill Bowers Cove. Looked like Raymond was about to lose his balance but he was just surveying the situation.
Brad at Bill Bowers Cove
Little Eddie, Brad, and James at the Cove
Photo submitted by April Mason
The Cove Kids
Curtis, Brad, Lisa, James, Timmy, Eddie, James, Mike, Stacy, and April gathered up for a group shot. Computer games and smart phones were a thing of the future. These kids played real life games.
Janice in the culvert
I climbed into that culvert and someone took my picture. This was in Bill Bowers Cove where the water ran cold, the campfires burned bright, and the parties lasted all night long.
Pam at Bill Bowers Cove
She was wearing my top and vest. We could switch out tops but not pants or shoes.
Mike with rebel flags in Bill Bowers Cove in the North Georgia Mountains
Raymond throws a shoe
This was a fun day in Bill Bowers Cove. Hambone, Pam, Marie, Eddie, and a bunch more gathered to enjoy the horseshoe games.
A day in Bill Bowers Cove
Ricky, Duke, Larry, and others enjoyed the weekend.
A group watched the horseshoe game.
Vanessa and Steve used to party with us back then. A few people just drifted away. They had families and settled down, moved away, or passed on.
Vanessa and Janice
Vanessa and I enjoyed a day at Bill Bowers Cove. I did not keep that hair style for long -- it was the only time I had a mullet.
Look at my Georgia Snoopy shirt. It was supposed to be for sleeping but I wore it out in public.
Richard in the Cove
Richard stood to go get another beer while Eddie sat in a lawn chair.
A crowd in Bill Bowers Cove
Jimmy, Brenda, baby Shane, Leanne, Raymond, Hambone, Debbie, Richard, and Gomer at Bill Bowers Cove
Hambone in shorts
Yes, this proves that Hambone wore shorts on this day in Bill Bowers Cove. We didn't see the men's legs very often because they always wore jeans.
Phil and Tony in the Cove
Phil looked good in red and so did Tony in that cropped Coca-Cola classic shirt.
A game of horseshoes in Bill Bowers Cove
We loved to party in the Cove but the road was usually horrible. Sometimes the ruts were so deep, you had to ride the high spots or get stuck.
Steve and Bush with unidentified woman
These two good looking guys had big smiles on this day in Bill Bowers Cove.
Van, Joe and Becky in Bill Bowers Cove
Notice the jar of green beans sitting there on the ground. We ate a lot of homegrown green beans and potatoes on all of our camping trips.
Sometimes Joe and I camped in the Cove alone. One night a pack of wild dogs invaded our camp. While we were zipped up inside the tent, they stole some food. When Joe tried to run them off with a big stick, they just growled and bared their teeth. He quickly retreated back into the tent. Thankfully, they did not try to get us.
Tim with two boys at Bill Bowers Cove
Stephen, Tim, and Cary enjoyed a sunny day in the woods.
A good day to party
There are probably 20 people in this old picture. I see Trish, little Myra, Richard, Alvin, Jeffery, Larry, Barbara, Gomer, Ham, Brian M, and Darlene.
I think it is in the Cove but it could be an early shot of the End of the Pavement. We finally moved our parties to the End of the Pavement because there was not enough parking in Bill Bowers Cove.
Wilson in Bill Bowers Cove
Wilson watched the fun from his perch on a cooler.