2024 Aug 6, Day trip to Shiloh, TN and Iuka, MS. Took our granddaughter AVA

Today, we rode up Savannah Highway 20 to Savannah. 

They were working on the road when we crossed into Tennessee. 

They were also spraying along the bridges and gated areas. 

We rode through Savannah and Crump, turning left towards Shiloh. 

We arrived at the Shiloh National Park Visitor Center. 

Took a few pictures outside.

Ava at the Shiloh Visitor Center

A park ranger greeted us. 

She told us about the museum and said there were some unfinished displays. 

Several were interactive displays. 

She also gave us directions to the Indian mounds. 

AVA is sitting in front of Hagy's Restaurant 

We stopped at Hagy's Restaurant for lunch. 

Hubby and I split a catfish fillet meal.

He ate the salad, baked potato, and a piece of catfish.

I ate a piece of catfish and several hush puppies. 

Ava ordered chicken fingers and fries. 

She ate all her fries and a couple of bites of her chicken. 

We got a Togo plate. 

We rode to Pickwick Dam.

Crossing the Tennessee River, we rode through the park at Pickwick. 

We took the highway going to Iuka, Mississippi. 

A road I had never been on before. 

Lots of marines and boats. 

We rode through the downtown area of Iuka. 

We stopped to see the retired red caboose and red fire truck. 

AVA on the back of an old fire truck, Iuka, MS

We stopped at Lowe's to get some lumber, but their cutting machine was out of order. 

We rode to Home Depot, where Hubby bought lumber and pavers, and I purchased three succulent plants. 

Andy met us at Home Depot, and we dropped off Ava.

I came home, and my Hubby painted the wood; I watered my plants.

I loaded my pictures. 

2024 Jan 7, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Decatur, Alabama

 What a beautiful day for traveling. We rode to the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur, where we saw many Sandhill Cranes and various ducks at the Visitor's overlook buildings.

The newly remodeled Museum was opened. We saw Sandhills and whooping Cranes, Belted kingfishers, Snakes, Alligators, Geese, ducks, hawks, butterflies, otters, northern flickers, and many other animals.

Several empty display cases are waiting to be filled. We saw several friendly people. They were happy to be outside after this last cold spell. 

Sandhill & Whooping Cranes at the Museum 

Belted Kingfisher at the Museum

We stopped at Logan's Roadhouse for lunch. Hubby ordered a salad, steak, and baked potato. I ordered a chicken salad with Roadhouse dressing.

Steak and baked potato at Logans Roadhouse 

On our way home, we saw a Bald Eagle on a Paul Bunyan Power Line near the demolished Paper Mill in Town Creek. 

The eagle made a squawking sound when it saw me. It was letting me know to leave. 

We saw several terns perched on the light poles as we crossed Wheeler Dam. 

Our last stop was Wheeler Dam, where we saw a few White Pelicans, terns, and many cormorants.

2023 May 6, The Moulton and Cullman Strawberry Festivals

 

Artist paintings at the Cullman Strawberry Festival 

Farmers Market in Cullman 

a gallon of Sweet Strawberries

On Saturday, we rode to Cullman for the Strawberry Festival and arrived at the Warehouse District, where the Farmers Market is located, around 9:00 A.M. There were already many people, and more were arriving. We walked to the Farmers Market, where we bought a gallon of Strawberries. 

We had been at the Farmers Market a few weeks before, and they had sold out of Strawberries.

We bought a gallon of strawberries first, and Hubby took the strawberries to the car. 

After that, we looked at what the vendors had to offer. We listened to several bands. Vendors selling clothing, food, household items, handmade items, etc. (Burger Boys, Funnel Cakes, Icee, burgers, Lemonade, Kettle Corn, etc.

There was a miniature train ride and several children's rides (berry-go-round, Ferris wheel, etc.).

We bought a cup of chocolate-covered strawberries in one of the shops in the Warehouse District. (Sweets by T Chocolate Shop).

Miss Piggy was walking around advertising Barbecue. 

A petting zoo with a sign that said Feed me

Tractor Show 

Car Show 

We then rode to the Strawberry Festival in Moulton. They had a tractor show, a car show, rides for the kids, and a Petting Zoo. 

There were several food vendors. They even brought in a Chick-fil-A. There were different vendors with items to win from a spinning wheel. We bought a bird feeder from a school group that they had made. The day started out cool, but by the time we left Moulton, it was up to 80. 

Grilled Chicken Fingers with baked sweet potato, toast, and dipping sauce at OH!Bryan's 

We rode to Hartselle for lunch at Oh! Bryan's is one of our favorite places to eat when we are in the area. It was getting late, but we stopped at Wheeler Dam, where we saw many Great Blue Herons, a few snake birds, and several Great White Pelicans (most of them on the islands far away). We had a great day, but were worn out from all our adventures. 

Great Blue Heron with its catch of a fish 

2022 Feb 1, Day Trip to Guntersville, Alabama

Today, the Hubby and I are going on an adventure to Guntersville. 

I had been told that there was an eagle nest located along Sunset Drive in Lake Guntersville Park. 

We stopped at McDonald's for some apple pies and a Diet Coke.

We saw several people at the park with cameras and large lenses sitting on tripods, watching and waiting for the eagle to leave the nest. 

I had to use the restroom, so I went in search of one, but I did not find one, so we left.

We rode further down into the park, where we found restrooms. Along the way, I spotted several ducks, geese, and seagulls on the waterfront, so we stopped. 

Ducks

People were walking, jogging, and feeding the waterfowl. 

I started taking pictures of the seagulls, geese, and ducks. I spotted several sparrows scratching in the dirt, looking for food. 

One of my favorite birds is the Downy Woodpecker. 

Downy Woodpecker

I  heard a pecking, and this downy woodpecker was going to town on the side of a rotten tree. It was challenging to capture a good picture because he spent most of his time in the shade, but I managed to get a couple of decent shots when he stopped pecking just before flying away.

Hubby spotted a red-headed woodpecker. I was excited to see one, for I had only seen one in the wild. 

Red-headed Woodpecker 

I took pictures of the colorful Bluebirds.

You will not see a bluebird at your backyard feeders. 

Bluebird 

I took many pictures today, but didn't get one of the bald eagles. 

That was okay because I got one of the red-headed woodpeckers. 

We rode to O'Bryan's in Hartselle for a late lunch. I ordered steak and sweet potato. 

We also stopped at Kroger's, where we purchased a few groceries, a bouquet of flowers, and a potted plant.

The flowers that we bought at Krogers

We looked for hawks and bald eagles along the power line near the old Papermill. We spotted a couple of red-tailed hawks but didn't see any bald eagles. 

We stopped at Wheeler Dam, where we saw several Pelicans, cormorants, and a gray heron landing at the substation. 

Gray Heron 

2022 Jan 15, First Day Hike on Multi-Purpose Trail Wheeler Dam

Today, a group of hikers met at the JWSP Cabin Office (24921 Alabama Hwy 101) for a little over a 2-mile hike. We followed in our cars to the hiking spot, "The Multi-purpose Hiking Trail," accompanied by park rangers Sam and David. The trail is located between Wheeler Dam and Fishman's Resort, which offers camping and a lodge. It is a scenic loop that runs along the Tennessee River and Big Nance Creek.

Bathhouse 

We saw several historic ruins of the 1930s, including a bathhouse/restrooms. We saw a couple of overgrown Chimneys and Picnic Tables, once used by the people living here during the building of TVA's Wheeler Dam. We also saw a collapsed viewing area that overlooks the Tennessee River. The rangers hoped to secure a grant to restore the viewing area. We stopped about midway for a group picture. (The ranger David took our picture with his cell phone and said he would email everyone a copy; I have not received mine yet.)

The group stopped for a picture at this spot overlooking Big Nance Creek. We saw several different kinds of hardwood trees, including oak and hickory. We saw a variety of wild mushrooms and berries that feed the park's animals. We saw signs of deer in the soft mud and could hear the many different sounds of Alabama's songbirds.

Open Pit

We also saw a large open grill/pit used to cook outdoor meals for a large group, overgrown with a tree growing in the middle. It was a very overcast day with a chance of rain and snow. The hike began at noon and ended around 2:30 P.M. It started to sprinkle as we were leaving. TVA plans to build a powerhouse to meet the growing community's needs. Hopefully, they will not destroy too much of the walking forest area.

Mushrooms on a log 

Everyone received an "I hiked Alabama State Parks New Year's Day." The first-day hike, scheduled for January 1, 2022, was canceled due to inclement weather. (High winds and threatening tornadoes) and rescheduled for January 15, 2022.

Group of hikers

A copy of the group from Sam and David was sent to everyone. We had three dogs, 10 people, plus two park rangers. (One not showing took the picture)

2020 Jul 22, History of Cullman, Alabama & The "Katy-Did" Crash

Hubby and I spent several hours doing business in Cullman. When we finished, we rode through the Historic area in Cullman, where we saw several murals that represented Cullman in the 1880s.

Dinkelberg's The Santa Clause Store

City Fire Station & Kullman's Hall

DT Kinney Horse & Mules 

Cullman County Historical Society

We took a different route home and came across a historic marker.

 "The "Katy~Did" Crash"

70 years after the 'Katy-Did' fell out of the north Alabama sky, the memorial honors 8 who died

The "Katy-Did" Crash 

Eight U.S. Army Air Corps officers and enlisted men were killed one-fourth mile east of here near the Roundtop Community on Sunday, April 9, 1944, at 2:20 P.M. when their B-26C Martin Marauder bomber, nicknamed the "Katy-Did," crashed nose-down, at full throttle, and exploded. The warplane was on an official flight from Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia, to Memphis, Tennessee, when it encountered a severe thunderstorm. Witnesses reported that the plane reappeared from the heavy storm clouds upside down before crashing.

The victims were: 

Col. Lucius B. Manning, base commander, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia; 

Capt. Howard L. Hardy, pilot, La Harpe, Kansas; 

Capt. Arthur J. Gratis, co-pilot, Seattle, Washington; 

Sgt. John W. Haney, engineer, Buffalo, New York; 

Pvt. Matthew J. Geoghegan, mechanic, Bronx, New York; 

Pvt. John H. Bailey, radioman, Trenton, New Jersey; 

Sgt. James R. Smith, St. Maire, Idaho; 

1st Lt. Hugh Williams, Jr., Megehee, Arkansas.

We saw an Eagle perched on a power pole as we neared Wheeler Dam. 

Along the bank of the Tennessee River below Wheeler Dam, we saw these shorebirds.

2018 Feb 19-22, President's Special The Inn at Christmas Place Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Presidents' Day, Monday, February 19
For breakfast, I cooked bacon, eggs, and toast.
Hubby and I rode to Athens to leave the Chrysler Van for repairs.
Filled up with gas at Murphy's in Athens.

We rode to Madison to look at an old Fireo.
We stopped at Dollar General for snacks, meat skins, and drinks.
We rode through Jasper, South Pittsburg, Whiteside, Chattanooga, and Trenton, stopping at Richville Rest Area, where I took pictures of Pushing Forward Knoxville Union Army on the Move.

We traveled US 72 through Huntsville, crossing into Tennessee near South Pittsburg. We then took I-24 through Chattanooga to I-75 N, continuing to Knoxville. From Knoxville, we took I-40 to Kodak, then followed 66 to Sevierville and 441 into Pigeon Forge.

We went to Huck Finn's for dinner, for we had skipped lunch.
My Hubby ordered the small catfish plate with creamed potatoes and fixings.
I ordered the Cajun Grilled Trout with creamed potato and fixings. (white beans, Coleslaw, onions, pickles, and hushpuppies.

Huck Finn's 

We took several pictures at Huck Finn's.
We checked into The Inn at Christmas Place at 4:38 P.M. for two nights.
We took our luggage to the room and returned up front in time to listen to the Christmas Bells Chime.
We rode through Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg, where we saw many Christmas Lights for Winterfest.
We saw Johnny Rockets, Bubba Gump's, Dicks Last Resort, Dude's Daiquiris, Texas Roadhouse, Calhoun's, Hollywood Star Cars, and Cooter's.
We returned to Pigeon Forge, where we saw a building illuminated in green light.
We saw a sign that read Dollywood loves every moment. Turn here.
We saw a storefront with alligators, sharks, and bear statues.
We rode through the archway at the Old Mill, which was covered in Christmas Lights of red and white.
Hubby took my picture in front of a picture of people skating at the Old Mill.
We bought a bag of yellow stone-ground cornmeal and apple fritter mix.
We rode to Patriot Park, stopping to take several pictures and videos. Stayed on the sidewalk because the ground in the park was still full of water from all the rain.
As we rode through Pigeon Forge, we saw Arcade lit up in neon lights and a new attraction called Alcatraz East Prison.

We rode through The Island, where we saw the carousel, fair wheel, Margaritaville, and Paula Deans's Family Kitchen.
We stopped to take several pictures of Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Adventures, which was covered in Christmas Lights; it was closed for the season.
We also saw the Magic Quest on our way back to The Inn at Christmas Place.
At 7:30 P.M., we sat on the balcony at the Inn eating oatmeal raisin, Chocolate, and Sugar cookies served with hot apple cider.
It was a clear and warm night as we watched the flow of traffic and all the Christmas lights that surrounded the Inn.
We retired for the night, for it had been a very tiring day.

February 20, Tuesday
Took showers, dressed, and walked downstairs to the dining room for breakfast.
I got three sausage links and watched the cook prepare my made-to-order omelet.
I chose mushrooms, spinach, peppers, ham, and cheese.
The cook said he loved to cook, and I told him that my middle son loved to cook.
I said you have to have a knack for flipping omelets, but he said it takes a good pan.

It was still a little foggy outside, and too early for stores to open, so we went back to our room. Hubby watched TV, and I wrote in my journal.
Last night, before we went out, we talked to the bellman of the Inn. He said his daughter was the manager at the front desk, and he was a retired Sheriff of 25 years. He still worked part-time to get his 30 years of service. He said that he loved working at the INN.
At 10 A.M., we rode to Gloria Vanderbilt and Lee's, where we bought Hubby a shirt.
We went to the Tanger outlet, where I bought a shirt from Under Armor and a black and white shirt from Nike. (I had only brought long-sleeved tops, and it was 77 degrees outside) It is too hot for long sleeves.
We rode to Bass Pro in Kodak, where we bought my husband a couple of shirts.
We ate dinner at Uncle Buck's, located inside Bass Pro Shops. We had all-you-can-eat shrimp for $9.99.

Uncle Buck's All-You-Can-Eat Shrimp.

We rode to the Douglas Dam and park, stopping to take several pictures.
We filled up with gas at Murphy's.
We rode by the Apple Bar, where we saw two geese waddling near the Little Pigeon River.
We stopped at the Upside-Down Museum, the Hatfield & McCoys, the Hard Rock Cafe, and the Titanic to take pictures.
We stopped at Dixie Stampede to take pictures of the horses.
We parked at The Island, walked around, stopped for Ice Cream, and finally sat down to watch the fountain dance to music.

Hatfield & McCoys 

The Island 

Watching Fountains Dance with the Sunset

Margaretville

We walked to the Margaretville Hotel, a gift shop, and a restaurant to take pictures.
We rode back to the Inn around 7 P.M.
From 8–9 P.M., we listened to Santa sing Christmas Carols and religious and Country Songs.
After the performance, we enjoyed milk, cider, and cookies.

Wednesday, February 21
My husband and I enjoyed a nice hot breakfast, packed, and checked out of the Inn, and started for home.
We stopped at the Rest Area in Jasper, TN, and Richville.
Hubby dropped me off in Athens to pick up the van.
Hubby rode to Madison to buy that Fireo we had looked at before we went on our trip. It had to be towed home. Hubby bought the Fireo parts for his Fireo.
Today is my grandson's twenty-seventh birthday, so we are meeting him, his wife, dad, and sister at Logan's Roadhouse for dinner.
Hubby and I ate hot rolls and fried mushrooms.
I gave my grandson a birthday card with money inside for his birthday. He said they were taking their camper to Fort Wilderness Campground and going to Universal Studios Theme Park for the weekend.