2021 Mar 9, Day trip Oak Mountain State Park Pelham, Alabama

Today, we rode to Pelham via hwy 43 through Russellville, ending on I-22 going into Birmingham. We filled up with gas at Love's Gas in Jasper and took a restroom break. We traveled through Birmingham on I-65 to Pelham. We stopped at the Interpretive Center and then the Treetop Nature Trail, where we saw a Eurasian Eagle-Owl and Shelby the Bald Eagle. Most of the Interpretative Center was closed for renovations. We also saw several hawks and owls in another area.

Bald Eagle 

owl 

As we were coming back inside the center, we met a Park Ranger with a red-tailed hawk that was blind in one eye. We spoke with her for several minutes and watched as she fed the hawk. She said that the food comes to them frozen, so they just thaw it out for them. She was returning the hawk to its cage. We thanked her for taking the time to show us and tell us about the habits of the red-tailed hawk.

Red-tail Hawk 

We began our journey back home, having not eaten dinner, and both agreed that we would like to stop at O'Bryan's in Hartselle. I ordered a petite Sirloin steak with a sweet potato. Hubby ordered a Delmonico Steak, baked potato, and salad bar. After we ate, we took pictures of the Blues Brothers statue and other memorabilia at the steakhouse.

Oh' Brayn's Hartselle

We stopped at Kroger's in Hartselle and headed for home. We traveled from Hartselle to Decatur, taking Hwy 20 Alt 72 to Wheeler Dam. The sun was setting as we approached home.

Sunset

We had a great day; both of us were worn out from all the traveling.