Directions from Highway 278

This will benefit those of you on the west side of the Atlanta metro area that aren’t so close to I-20.

Take 278 West to Gadsden.

You can access 278 from Marietta by taking Whitlock Ave. (Hwy. 120) out of downtown Marietta and traveling about 12 miles till you hit 278 in Powder Springs.

Take a right on 278 West. In 35 or so miles you’ll hit Cedartown, which has a bypass. TAKE THE BYPASS. Downtown Cedartown is not big, but I always get confused and the 278 signs are not easy to see. So, in short, the bypass is worth it.

At the end of the bypass you will turn left onto 278 West again.

In short order you will cross the state line, then start heading up in to the hills. This should be a lovely drive this time of year.

After you crest the highest hill and start the decline, you will be heading into Piedmont, Ala.

You will come to a four-way stop just before you get into Piedmont proper and 278W will make a right-hand turn.

In 10 or 15 miles you’ll be in Hokes Bluff, which you will pass right through in the blink of an eye.

Four or five more miles will get you to the junction of 278 and 431. In fact, 278 deadends into 431 (well, it runs concurrently with it for a while, but it looks like a deadend).

Take the right onto 431 North. You’ll go 3 or 4 miles to the Coosa River and along the way you will pass a giant Goodyear plant (on the right) and, of course, a Walmart.

Make sure you are in the second lane from the right at the Walmart – the far right-hand lane will stop at the bridge, which is just a block or two away and the far left lanes turn before the bridge.

When you get to the the other side of the bridge, you'll take a right – it’ll look like you are taking an exit ramp – and follow the signs for 411 South. Basically, you’ll take a right at the end of the bridge, come down a ramp and take a right at the bottom of the ramp.

Head down 411 South. The Coosa River will be to your left, and eventually you will pass the Gadsden Mall.

In four or five miles you’ll go through the junction of Hwy 77 and 411.

If you are staying at the hotel, this is where you will turn right – it is about 4-5 miles down Hwy 77 North.

From the 77 junction, it’s about 6 miles to Riddles Bend Road. You will come to a place where a wide bridge crosses a wide creek – Canoe Creek.

There will be a left-turn lane so you can turn onto Riddles Bend Road instead of crossing the bridge. If you cross the bridge and see the St. Clair County sign, you’ve gone too far!

Riddles Bend Road runs alongside the creek for a bit, then veers away.

Bear right at the first fork – there will be a fire station in the fork.

Bear right at the second fork onto Babe Jackson Drive. There will be a big beige house in the fork.

Take the first left onto Guy Hood Road.

Parking is on the left in the field next to the white house. The wedding is behind the white house.

The reception is in the barn on the right side of the road.