November 12, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie
On the Talladega Scenic Byway in Central Alabama
Nearly everything we do and all the places we see are free. We park the RV in a cheap or reasonably priced campground for a month at a time and drive around and explore everything we can see for free in the area.
All it costs us is gas in the car. Most of the time we pack sandwiches, drinks, and snacks for the day. We rarely eat out, and if we do it is at a small-town diner.
We prefer picnicking by a lake like this one in the middle of the forest. Coleman Lake Day Use Recreation Area is in the Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area in the Talladega Forest.
Today was a 50-mile drive south to the Talladega Mountains and National Forest.
Then a long slow drive on the Skyway Mountainway Scenic Road. The speed limit is only 35 on this road.
The first half was a nice paved road through the southern part of the forest. Then we came back up north, crossed the main highway, and entered the northern part of the forest which is the Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area.
But the second half was a one-lane muddy trail. This part of Alabama has been in a severe drought and today it was cloudy and sprinkly. The tiniest bit of rain made the dirt road slippery.
We drove slowly and looked for wildlife right and left. We didn’t see anything except hunter tents and vehicles, and we didn’t hear anything except gunshots. I think it is hunting season in Alabama.
It was a peaceful day driving slowly through a magnificent landscape of mountains and forests and small hidden lakes. I just love it when I look over at Rich and catch him grinning at the view.
There were several scenic overlook views to pull into and stop at.
I may not have gotten any photos of wildlife but I got some great shots of nature.
I will always take the time to photograph yellow ferns, green mossy rocks and trees, and red leaves.
When we set out on an adventure, we never know what we will find but we are never disappointed.
Nature always amazes us and revitalizes us.
It started getting dark by 4:30, and I noticed darkness at 5:07 p.m.
Thank you so much for coming along on our adventures and reading about the places we see. I hope you enjoyed the trip.