In case you have had trouble tracking where I was, I started out in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, followed quickly by a visit with my sister Rachel in Athens before starting the Antebellum Trail and the Ultimate Florida Road Trip.
During my two nights in the Classic City I did a whole lot of eating and touring old houses, but I also ended up here after a big brunch at Mama’s Boy. What is it, you ask? If you follow me on Instagram or if you’re a fan of the band R.E.M., you might have guessed it: the railroad trestle from the cover of the album “Murmur.”
While I’m not a huge R.E.M. fan, I heard about the trestle long ago on a forum of Roadside America. Despite a few trips to Athens, this was the first time I experienced it and it was really by chance. Rachel mentioned that she saw it during one of her class visits.
Before it became a part of musical history, the trestle was a part of the Georgia Railroad line. Clarke County has threatened to tear it down a few times, but voted to save it in 2000. But last year, they deemed it unsafe and said they couldn’t afford to keep it. Either way, the trestle still stands.
We may or may not have gone off the beaten path (literally) to get a better view of the trestle. Should you be so inclined, follow the dirt path up the hill where others have gone before you. I don’t recommend going out on the trestle as my sister did above because it could collapse at any moment.
If you walk down the hill from Mama’s Boy into the North Oconee River Greenway, Athens’ bike and walking path, you will come upon a small bridge. Continue past it and you will see the trestle on your right. I recommend bringing your bike to ride around the surrounding area.
A friend and I walked the length of that at midnight, back in the early 90’s. It was terrifying.