 |
| Sunrise |
Later that morning, we rode to town and stopped at Hobby Lobby (where many people were looking for holiday decorations), Dollar Tree, and Ollie's to get our B12 shots.
We rode to Muscle Shoals, stopped, and ate lunch at the new Highway 55 Restaurant.
I ordered a hamburger with the fixings, onion rings, and unsweetened iced tea. I ate about half of my hamburger but all of my onion rings. Hubby also ordered a Mushroom hamburger and onion rings. He ate all his hamburger but not all his onion rings, so we had enough for another meal.
Bought gas at Murphy's and stopped at Foodland in Muscle Shoals for crab legs(they were on sale for $15.99 a pound. Since we were on 6th Street, we headed to Leighton Pond on Fennel Road to see & listen to birds.
 |
| Leighton Pond on Fennell Road |
All we saw was mud and a few fish flopping.
Believe it or not, fish were swimming in the pond. If the water level gets any lower, there will not be any for the fish to swim in.
Hubby turned on the GPS System to take us to a different route home.
On our way, we saw a small cemetery, the sign said Shaw Cemetery, just off 6th Street.
Several of my relatives are buried in this cemetery. I did not take any pictures there.
Next, we turned onto Shaw Road, and I told Hubby I wondered who the cemetery and road were named for, and that was when we saw a historic marker.
The Shaw Home Colbert
Baldy Shaw purchased this property from the state of Alabama in 1830. In 1844, he constructed this home. Over the years, various property owners made changes and additions to the Shaw Home and its outbuildings. The canning building is directly north of the home and allows for the canning of garden-raised food without affecting the temperature of the main house. Evidence of Fennell Road is directly behind the canning building on the north boundary line of the home. During the Civil War, Fennell Road provided constant access to and from the many skirmishes between the Northern and Southern armies. The Battle of Town Creek was one of those skirmishes. The Shaw Home is a working farm with 2 wells and 9 farm buildings and is an example of the tranquility of life in the south. The home also serves as a reminder of the past sadness of the Civil War, fought between brothers, families, and states.
 |
| The Shaw Home Colbert County |
Listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage Marker erected in 2013 by Drs. Gerald, and Patricia Miller Murray.
 |
| Bales of Cotton wrapped in pink |
We also saw hundreds of rolled cotton bales and fields still waiting to be harvested.
We road to the Wheeler Dam but had to detour because the bridge was on Highway 101.
At Wheeler Dam, we saw a few cormorants diving for fish, herons flying overhead, and terns sitting on light poles as we crossed the dam.
As we were leaving the dam, I heard several bird sounds. We rode to the park across the highway, where I walked around but heard no birds.
 |
| Joe Wheeler State Park on the Lawrence County side is covered in colorful fallen leaves. |
We came back across the highway and road to the overlook at the dam, where I heard many Common Grackles and European Starlings.
We rode up to Joe Wheeler State Park-Alabama near the entrance and stopped to listen to bird sounds.
 |
| A couple of Muscovy ducks swimming in Wheeler Lake looking for fish |
I walked down to the water's edge and saw several ducks on the other side of the almost dried-up lake. A couple of ducks were swimming nearby, and I saw a Gray heron in the distance.
I heard several red-bellied woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, American robins, Field sparrow song sparrows, Muscovy ducks, mallards, and many Kildeer.
 |
| Three females standing near Joe Wheeler Lodge |
We rode to the lodge, stopping near the wooded area, hoping to hear several birds, but we heard none. Then, as we started to leave, we saw a deer. I started taking pictures of it, and then I saw two more. I got out of the car and took several photos. They were not frightened at all, even posed for me.
The day started damp and gloomy, but the sun came out awhile. It clouded back up but never rained.
We did not plan the day's adventures but just let the day unfold. What fun we had!
