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

Today, a group of hikers meets at JWSP Cabin Office (24921 Alabama Hwy 101) for a little over the 2-mile hike. We followed in our cars to the hiking spot "The Multi-purpose Hiking Trail" with park rangers Sam and David. The trail is between Wheeler Dam and Fishmans Resort camping and 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, 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 said they hoped to get 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)

This spot overlooking Big Nance Creek is where the group stopped for a picture. We saw several different kinds of hardwood trees, oak, and hickory. We saw a variety of wild mushrooms & berries that feed the animals that are in the park. 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 PM. It began to sprinkle as we were leaving. TVA is planning to build a powerhouse to feed the growing community. Hopefully, they will not destroy too much of the walking forest area.

Mushrooms on log 

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

Group of hikers

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

2010 March 27, Saturday, Grandkid discovering the Natural Resources of Florence

I took three of my grandchildren to the Hall Memorial Native Plant Garden at TVA.
Where we saw the Iris Crostata, Jacob's Ladder, Bloodroot, Solidago caesia, Sessile Leaf Bellwort, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Ohio Spiderwort, Wild Columbine, Purple Phacelia & others. 
The grandchildren listen patiently as Mr. Rose told them about all the wildflowers. 
We left the garden and went deeper into the woods to see more wildflowers. 
The grandkids love walking in the woods. I am sure some of the information stayed in their heads.

A group picture at the end of the hike. 

Walking deeper into the woods looking for wildflowers

The grandkids wanted to explore the cascading waterfall at TVA. As we were walking along the banks of the Tennessee River we saw many birds. We could see the TVA Dam,  the Marriott Hotel River Heritage Park, and The tower 380 Degrees Restaurant. 

Standing on the banks of the river

the backdrop of the Waterfall 

We stopped at Domino for a pizza and we took the pizza to Deibert Park. 

After we finished eating we walked the trail where we could learn more about our environment. We stopped at the pond to watch the turtles pop their heads up out of the water. 

Watching the turtles

Watching for the Turtles

We walked deeper into the woods where we saw signs that listed the different creatures, plants, and trees that we might see.

Some of the signs that we saw were: muskrat, loblolly pine, Rufous-sided Towhee, Caroline Wren, ticks, Great Blue Heron, black cherry tree, dogwood tree, bluebirds, sweet pepper bush, cardinal, gray squirrel, and many others. 

The grandkids discovered some of the metal art that was displayed in the park, to bring a bit of culture into the park. 

Discovering Art 

The grandkids enjoyed playing on the train, monkey bars, swings, horses, tire swing, and seesaw.

We stopped at my dad's to wish him a Happy Birthday. It had been a full day for all of us. 

Riding the train 

Swinging 

  

2010 February 27, Saturday, Hiking on TVA Trails

I parked the car near the TVA Power Station at Birding Site Number 8. 
Where my granddaughter and I began our hike. Before 911 there was a Visitor Center at TVA where visitors could come and see how our power system works. Most of the information is now located at Muscle Shoals Town Hall.

Birding Site 6

The first thing we saw was the TVA Dam and the cascading waterfall. The path was still coved with fallen leaves and most of the trees bare. The best time to hike is in the fall or winter because of snakes.

Walking to the Rock Pile

Walking on the trail 

Rock Pile Trail
Old First Quarters 1.8 miles
Follow White Blazes
A National Recreation Trail 

You are at the Rockpile Recreation
To the east is a scenic waterfall near Wilson Dam
To go to Wilson Dam via the trail follow the road up the hill a short way and turn left onto the stairs
To travel toward the Patton Island Bridge follow the old rail bed until you get to a hill with some cross-tie steps on the left. Follow the trail up those stairs.

We passed the rock pile and we walked along the rail bed up the steps to Patton Island Bridge. 

Following the rail bed

We walked past the Patton Island Bridge and continued up the hill. 
We walked until we reached a gravel road.

Walking on a gravel road

Walking on the sidewalk

We crossed the highway over to the sidewalk and walked back to the car. 
We stopped to read the signs that are posted in a shelter near the TVA Dam Power Station

Gulls Glorious Gulls

Birds of North Alabama 

Exploring the River 

After the long walk, we were hot, tired and hungry. I drove us across the TVA dam and we went to Cracker Barrel to eat lunch.
It was a nice day for hiking not too hot. We did not see any critters along our path. We did cross several bridges and walked up and down several hills. We had to watch our steps for fallen branches. 
I had a great time hiking in the woods on the TVA Trail with my granddaughter. 

2003 ~ April 2-6 My English cousin comes to Alabama from Reepham, England

Day 1: Wednesday, April 2, 2003

I took two of my grandchildren with me to pick up my cousin at the Huntsville, Alabama Airport.
His flight arrived at 5:53 P.M.

I tried to give a little history about the Buxton Family to my grandchildren. 

I told them that one of my great-uncles was a midget.

My granddaughter said, “ Granny was your great uncle born small and did he grow small?

My granddaughter was trying to figure out why my great-uncle was a midget.

I took the grandkids to Zaxby’s for supper where they ordered hot wings.

While we were at Zaxby's the kids asked me what my cousin looked like, and I said I had not seen him in five years but I am sure he looked the same.

After we finished eating we went to the airport to pick up my cousin. We met up with him at baggage claims.

My cousin said he was starving so we stopped a SubZone.
My grandson was still hungry so he ordered a Meatball sandwich.

The ride home took a little over an hour and a half.
We stopped at Ronald's and then I took the grandkids home. 
My cousin was impressed by the double-wide trailer where the grandkids lived.
We live in an RV with only one bedroom so we booked my cousin a room at Days Inn in Florence Room number 124.

Day 2: Thursday, April 3, 2003 
I picked up my cousin and we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast.

I ordered two pieces of sourdough toast and my cousin ordered fried apples and muffins.
My cousin wanted to make a long-distance call to his wife, so we stopped at a pay phone booth at a local gas station.

Off to see the sites that the Shoals has to offer. 

Our first stop was the Renaissance Tower, it was closed for renovations, but the front office was open so we went inside.

The clerk in the office said, “The Renaissance Tower will open again to the public in about one and half years.”

Then she said, I love your accent, where are you from?

Somehow we got on the subject of wine and the clerk said,” They have French Wine at Sam’s Club and it is marked down to $4.00 a bottle.”

She said the reason you can get the wine for this cost is because of the French. They supported the Americans in the war against Arabia. 

The Renaissance Tower

We rode across Wilson Dam

We stopped at my cousin's, she had just pulled into her drive. 
She had left her husband at the hospital in the ICU and had just a few minutes to visit with us.

We rode to Spring Park to see the beautiful manmade cascading waterfall.

Spring Park 

 Ivy Green

Next, we stopped at Ivy Green, the birth home of Helen Keller. 
We paid the admission price and the curator was very knowledgeable about the Keller home.
She told us how Ann Sullivan had dedicated her life to Helen Keller. 

She told us that Helen was the daughter of Mr. Keller and his second Kate. 

She also told us that Helen was born in the small house next to the large house, which was at one time occupied by David and Mary Keller Helen’s grandparents. 

She told us that Helen had spinal Meni at age 18 months, which left her deaf, dumb, and blind.
We thanked her for all the information and started touring the house.
Next, we walked outside to the building where Ann Sullivan took Helen, so she could teach her without interruption.

We walked by the water pump where Helen said her first word, WATER!

I rode passed the house that my grandfather built and lived in until his death. 
My cousin is a relative of my grandmother on my father's side. 
I also rode passed the cemetery where they are buried. 

We stopped at McFarland Park which is along the Tennessee River.

For lunch, I took my cousin to the historic, Classic Parlor Trowbridge on 316 N. Court Street. 

They are known for their different types of ice cream, hot dogs, and quick sandwiches. 

Don’t remember what we ordered but I know it was good.

Our next stop was Pope's Tavern.
We paid the admission and the curator started filling us in on the history.
I think she said was a former professor and a Watson.
She told us some history about the Watson family not sure right now how that related to the Tavern.
She was a very interesting person and she kept us way past closing time.

We rode to my home where my cousin used the computer to send his wife an email.

For dinner, we went to Barnhill's where we met up with other family members.

Amelia and her husband Peanut, my brothers David & Terry, and Terry's wife Caroline.
Harry and his wife Brenda and my son Mike.
We had a very enjoyable meal reunion.
We dropped my cousin off at the hotel and drove home. 

Day 3: Friday, April 4, 2003
My cousin and I ate breakfast at Cracker Barrel.

I ordered scrambled eggs, bacon, and two slices of sourdough bread. 

Our first stop was Wal-Mart.
My cousin had promised to give my aunt, who worked at Wal-Mart, some British coins.

My uncle was also there.

In Wal-Mart we met a woman in the automotive department, she asked my cousin where he was from in England and he said Reepham, then she said, I am from a little town not far from where you live.

She said I married an American Soldier and came to America to live. 

Next, we went to the bus station so my cousin could purchase a bus ticket to Myrtle Beach South Carolina. 

More site seeing: 

Our first stop was the log cabin/Home/Museum, where the Father of the Blues W.C. Handy was born and lived. The cabin was moved to this site. We saw the Handy library, Several photos hanging on the walls. There were a couple of quilts lying on the rockers, a quilt atop the bed, a fireplace, a rug on the floor, Kerosene lanterns, a beautiful piano, and in the kitchen wooden dough bowl, glassware, and many cooking tools, dishes, rub-board, dipper, bucket, washpan, soap, pitcher, and many other items. 

Our next stop was Indian Mount where we walked many steps to the top.

We rode across the O'Neal Bridge named for Governor O'neal who once lived in this area. 
We rode to Tuscumbia to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
We toured the museum and stopped in the gift shop.  
The woman in the gift shop said where are you from? I love your accent. I said my cousin is visiting family and he is from England. 

  WC Handy Museum 

For lunch, we stopped at Rick's in Muscle Shoals.
We ate supper at Newborns in Florence. Once again we met up with family members. 
Amelia's husband doesn't eat fish so he ordered chicken. 

Day 4: Saturday, April 5, 2003 
Amelia cooked supper and everyone brought a dish.
Bobbie, Dad, Teresa, Rick, Harrison, Paula, and Robert

Amelia had prepared chicken, blueberry, and strawberry cheesecake.

My cousin talked about our relatives who lived in England.

Day 5: Sunday, April 6, 2003
My husband took us to the TVA Dam to show us how the dam works.
My husband took us inside of the dam, and we all had to wear hard hats.

He showed us how the flood gates, & turbines work.
He showed us the waterfall.

 Wilson Dam Turbines

We then rode to Opry Mills in Nashville.

We stopped at the Bass Pro Shop and walked through Opry Mill Mall where my cousin bought a music box for his daughter. 

On the way to Nashville, we saw a lot of farm equipment.
My cousin was very impressed with the many different types of tractors he saw. 
He is a cattle farmer in England.

 Bass Pro Shop in Nashville 

Day 6: Monday, April 7, 2003
Sadly we had to say goodbye.
I dropped my cousin off at the bus depot and from there he is going to 

Myrtle Beach South Carolina.
He said he enjoyed his visit to the Shoals and would love to come back.

I am so glad he came for a visit. It is not very often we ever get to meet relatives that live so far away.

2004 ~August 24-27, Trip to Guntersville and Grant, Alabama

My granddaughter and I traveled with hubby to Guntersville, Alabama. 

Hubby worked at the TVA Guntersville Dam from Wednesday, August 24 to Friday, August 27.

We stayed at Holiday-Inn Guntersville 2140 Gunter Ave Guntersville, al 35976 256-582-2220. 

The hotel is on one of the largest fabricated lakes with over 949 miles of shoreline. 

It has an outside pool, playgrounds, restaurant, and a lounge with a deck. 

It has boat launches, charging stations, a pier, and boardwalk. 

Day 2: Thursday, August 26, 2004

My granddaughter and I traveled to Cathedral Caverns, Grant, Alabama. 

Cathedral Caverns is the world's greatest cavern with frozen waterfalls and is the golden gate to the stalagmite forest. 
It is the seven greatest cavern discoveries in the world. 
Located just off US 72 US 431 and Hwy 79.

We took highway 431 from Guntersville to Grant Al.
Cathedral Caverns State Park

Day 3: Friday, August 27, 2004

One night, we ate at Outlaw steakhouse 4641 Wyeth Dr. Guntersville, Al 35976. 256-582-4653. 

Each of us ordered a steak, baked potato, salad, and ice tea. 

Outlaw Steak House has a rustic, clean, neat setting inside and out; it has the old west look.  

The service and food were wonderful.
http://www.outlawsteakhouseguntersville.com

We shopped at Walmart and rode all around Lake Guntersville. 

Lake Guntersville is in the Tennessee Valley, overlooking the majestic 69,000-acre Guntersville Reservoir, this park ranges over 6,000 acres of natural woodlands. 

My granddaughter and I enjoyed walking along the boardwalk and the swimming pool at the hotel where we were staying.
We enjoyed several meals at Sunset Bar and Grille located inside the hotel.

At the restaurant, we were served fresh, tasty, seafood, prepared perfectly with friendly services.

Hubby did not take the full-time job offered by TVA and I was glad.

Guntersville would be fun if you enjoyed the water and hubby is not crazy about the water like me, 

 Guntersville is all about the water.

2006, Tuesday, August, 29, Day Trip Mayfield Ice Cream Plant Tour, Lost Sea Cave and TVA in Fort Lauden, TN

We left home at 7:30 A.M. and traveled about four hours stopping to eat lunch at Logan’s Steakhouse.  

We arrived at Fort Lauden Tennessee where Hubby has an interview with TVA, which should take about an hour.

We left Fort Lauden and rode to Sweetwater & Athens, Tennessee where we tour the Lost Sea Cave and the Mayfield Ice Cream Plant.

  

The Lost Sea is located at 140 Lost Sea Rd., Sweetwater, TN

the Lost Sea Adventure

Going into the Lost Sea Cave we were in a group of six that were led down a corridor by an extremely knowledgeable guide, which took about an hour.

The long corridor 

The cave was gorgeous, and at a constant 58 degrees.

Inside Lost Sea Cave

When we arrived at the bottom of the cave, we all loaded into a glass-bottom boat that took us onto the lake where blind trout fish were jumping out of the water.

They were blind because they lived in total darkness.

The boat returned back to the dock, where everyone disembarked from the boat, and we all started the long journey back up the steep hill to the top of the cave. 

Our last stop of the day was a thirty-minute tour of the Mayfield Dairy Farms to see how milk is processed into Mayfield Ice cream. We were just in time for the last tour of the day.

The Plant is located at 4 Mayfield Lane, Athens, TN   37303 1-800-MAYFIELD

Hubby parked the car at the Mayfield Dairy Plant, we got out of the car and started walking toward the plant and was greeted by a sign that read:

Welcome to Mayfield Home of the “World’s Best Ice Cream”, since 1923.

Then we began to follow a yellow walkway, that was covered with Jersey cow hoof prints.

Welcome to Mayfield 

May Field Dairy

As we approach the building we saw a mural painted on the wall. In, the mural we saw a huge red roof barn that house the jersey cows, a beautiful lush green pasture, an old farmhouse and sitting next to the farmhouse was an old model T milk truck. 

Red Roof Barn for Jersey Cows

On the side of the yellow milk truck was words painted in jersey brown, Mayfield’s Creamery, Pasteurized, Grade A Milk, below was it was written Athens, Tenn., Phone 386 and in white were the words: Dept. of Public Welfare, Bureau of Health, City of Athens Milk, Permit 20/202.

Painted behind the yellow milk truck, were beautiful Jersey cows grazing in the lush green pasture.

Mayfield Creamery Truck

Once inside the building we were given tickets, to tour the plant, but had to wait for a guide.

Our guide greeted us and then led us through the plant where we watched the employees process and package Mayfield ice cream.

We saw many flavors of ice cream novelties, many flavors of Sherbets, & light froze yogurt being processed and packaged.

The packages were beautifully displayed in sizes of 5 quarts, pints and in many shapes and forms.

We thanked the guide and exited the gift shop, where we could purchase the freshly made ice cream. 

On our way out we stopped to say goodbye to a statue of Little Lady, who is Mayfield’s Jersey Cow, who lies in front of the plant. 

We had a great trip, Hubby had an interview with TVA, we ate lunch at Logan’s Steakhouse, visited The Lost Sea, Mayfield’s Dairy Processing plant and was home about 11:00 P.M.