2026, July 19, Day Trip on the Hiwassee Train Delano, TN with Backroads Tours LLC

 We rode to Athens, stopping at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. I ordered two biscuits with sausage and fried apples. Hubby ordered pancakes and fried eggs. We both ordered iced tea. 

I gave Hubby one of my biscuits and a piece of sausage.

We rode to Gabe's in Scottsboro, and everyone had loaded onto the bus except 5 more people and us.

We left Scottsboro around 10 A.M.  on bus 3006 with driver Kathy.

Our first rest stop was at Pilot in Cleveland, TN. Our bus air conditioner wasn't working, so when we got to Delano, TN, the driver dropped us off and called the bus company, which sent another bus, 3006.

We boarded the Hiwassee Train, where we were given green wristbands, a train ticket, and a snackbox. 

Snackbox contained candy, nuts, Little Debbie, hand wipes, and water. 

Our guide had purchased Premium seating for cars 4 & 5. It included a boxed lunch: ham on a croissant, lettuce, tomato, pickle, a chocolate chip cookie, and a bag of chips. We also had a cooler full of different sodas.

After the train had begun, a young conductor came calling, "Tickets, please," and he punched them.

We began our journey by eating lunch as we traveled a scenic 50-mile round-trip on the Hiwassee River Gorge Railroad. 

Outside our windows, we could see people tubing, canoeing, and kayaking as we traveled through the forest up the mountain slopes. We crossed the famous Hiwassee Loop at Delano and Forner. We stopped at the top and began our trip back.

We rode past the TVA Apalachi Powerhouse, which comprises two generators and generated 103.8 GWh during Sep-Dec. It is located in Polk County, TN. During the day, people can enjoy fishing, tubing, kayaking, and canoeing, but at night, the generators are turned off, so the river becomes a creek.

Apalachia Facts:

https://www.tva.com/energy/our-power-system/hydroelectric/apalachia

Everyone swapped sides so the people on the right could sit on the left to see the Hiwassee River.

I walked through the train, stopping to visit other passengers. The trip took 4 1/2 hours. We loaded onto our new bus and began our journey to Scottsboro.

On our way home, we stopped at Krystal in Scottsboro, where I ordered 3 double Krystals, fries, and Cokes.

We arrived home around 10 P.M. Another wonderful trip with friends. 

The Louisville & Nashville train car with the words " Memory of PW Jones" in the Blue Car and the Chesapeake and Ohio on the Gray Car. 

2019 May 15, Day Trip Decatur's Historic & Parks Gardens 💐 🌷

Hubby and I had a great day. I was unsure if we were going anywhere because by 10 A.M., it looked like rain, but we decided to go anyway. 
We rode to Decatur, stopping at Old Bank Park, Where We took pictures of the Garden.

Old Bank Street Park Garden 

Next, we rode to Frazier Park. (Never been to this park) I was surprised at how beautiful and serene it was. It had blooming Hydrangeas, and Magnolia trees were in bloom, along with other shrubs, trees, and flowers, by a running stream with a cross-bridge. 

Frazier Park 

We rode over to Albany to Delano Rose Walk and the Children's Riverwild Playground, splash pad, and Garden. We took the grandkids to the park to play when they were small. The River Wild Garden Walkway was new to us. 

DragonFly 

River Wild Park 

Toad Frog 

Swamp Rabbit 

Tortoise 

Delano Park Rose Garden

We loved the Frogs, Toads, Beavers, Fireflies, Turtles, butterflies, signs, and statues throughout the Garden. By the time we reached the Rose Garden, it had begun to sprinkle. A landscaper working in the Garden, I said A little rain cannot hurt but he said I cannot get my work done in the rain. I kept on taking pictures, but the rain got harder. I looked around, and the gardener had disappeared; he had gone back to his truck to keep from getting wet. I started back to the car, and the rain began to come down hard, but I made it to the car before I got too wet. We drove to Huntsville to get our car's oil changed. By the time they finished, the sun had come out, so we rode back to Decatur so I could finish taking pictures.

Pink Rose 

Entrance Way lined with Snow Queen Hydrangeas

We were getting hungry, and since we had stopped at the Shell Gas Station, which sells hot food, we bought some corn fritters for lunch. Hubby had been wanting some. We also stopped at McDonald's for hot apple pie.
We ended up eating at Jack's on Hwy 31 because we couldn't decide where to stop in Decatur. But that was okay because we both liked Jack's