U.S. Capitol tree arrives in Dahlonega

DAHLONEGA - With only a slight delay because of Chattanooga traffic, Dahlonega trucker Jeff Underwood and his U.S. Capitol Christmas tree caravan came rolling down Main Street Wednesday evening into the center of his hometown just after dark.

Underwood said it was good to be home, the trip at times was plagued by tough threatening weather out west, but when he pulled into town with horns blowing, a street filled with well wishers cheered him.

"It got real windy there one day, like 55 miles an hour sustained winds and nearly turned us over a time or two, but anyway, we made it and we're real proud to be back," Underwood said.

Underwood also recalled blizzards and eight-degree temperatures and places where snowplows had to clear the road and white out conditions got scary, but the team kept plugging.

Underwood's journey back home began in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a month ago and Dahlonega is really just a stopover. The giant tree, headed to Washington, will be on display until Friday and then resumes the trip north.

Wednesday was proclaimed "Jeff Underwood Day" by the Mayor of Dahlonega. The U.S. Capitol Tree's arrival generated a lot of attention and brought hundreds of people to the historic downtown square, helping to generate holiday visitor dollars just in time for the Christmas season.