Category: Blog

The Guntersville Dam Armadillo

November 25, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

My Little Armored One

I couldn’t begin to count how many dead armadillos we have seen on the roads across America. They are usually small ones too.

Every once in a while, Rich will holler “armadillo” as we are driving 70 miles per hour down a highway. I always tell him to stop or turn around and go back to no avail.

I had never seen a live armadillo in the wild before and it is one of those stupid bucket list things – until today.

Today we drove to the Guntersville Dam on Guntersville Lake in Alabama. I wanted to see the Locks and spend a little time at the scenic overlook.

It was a gorgeous sunny day and the view was amazing. I packed us a picnic lunch and off we went.

According to the encyclopedia — The Guntersville dam generates 140,400 kilowatts of electricity with four hydraulic turbines and four generators. It stands 94 feet high and 3,979 feet wide. Water below the dam averages 20 to 30 feet deep.

After relaxing for a while, eating lunch, and watching the boats and birds, we got in the car to leave the dam and drive to the next scenic spot.

I spotted an animal in the yard on the side of the road to the left and hollered “Stop! That’s an armadillo!”

I think I opened my car door before the vehicle was completely stopped and jumped out. It was not just an armadillo; it was a huge armadillo.

The nine-banded armadillo is the only species found in the United States. These armadillos can be found in the southeastern United States, including Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida.

I took a lot of pictures and videos. I can now add armadillo to the list of animals I have seen alive in the wild and cross it off the bucket list. It was fun to watch it root around in the ground for bugs and insects. You can even count the nine bands in the photo above.

Did you know that I wrote a children’s book about armadillos? Specifically about one named Amelia.

Have you ever seen a live nine-banded armadillo in the wild?

Thanks for reading.

*all photos are taken by me unless otherwise noted.

 

Learning to Trust the GPS

November 23, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

I remember when there was no such thing as GPS or cell phones. We traveled with an atlas book in the car. We got lost a lot more often back then, but we get lost sometimes now too.

GPS was invented in 1973. The Global Positioning System, formally known as the Navstar Global Positioning System, was initiated as a joint civil/military technical program in 1973. It didn’t become available to the public until 1983 and that was only for air travel. President Ronald Reagan authorized the use of GPS by civilian commercial airlines in an attempt to improve navigation and safety for air travel.

The first production car with a built-in GPS navigation system hit the roads in 1990. By that time we were married with two young children. And there was no way we could afford one of those expensive cars with a GPS system in it.

So how accurate is the GPS system nowadays?

According to gps.gov, it depends.

GPS satellites broadcast their signals in space with a certain accuracy, but what you receive depends on additional factors, including satellite geometry, signal blockage, atmospheric conditions, and receiver design features/quality.

As we travel around the country in areas we are not familiar with, we cause ourselves to be dependent on it to get us to where we want to go. More often than not, we wonder why it takes us down a certain back road instead of keeping us on the highway. Sometimes it will bring us to the back door of a business where the shipments are received instead of to the front door where customers are allowed to walk in.

Sometimes we tell the GPS to take us the fastest route, and sometimes we tell it to take us the shortest distance. But it never fails that occasionally we will look at each other and laugh about the road it turns us on.

I have told Rich more than once to just trust the GPS and no matter where it makes us turn, we will always get to the final destination, or at least close enough to figure it out. The journey is the best part, and if we just trust the GPS we will see something we wouldn’t have normally seen if we had chosen to stay on the highway.

What else do we have to do anyway? We have all the time in the world and getting lost once in a while is the best part of the journey.

By the way, we do still keep an atlas in the RV, just in case.

Thanks for stopping by.

I Haven’t Been Everywhere, But It’s On My List

November 22, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

Seeing America one place at a time

The journey is as important as the destination.

I’ve been fortunate enough to explore many of America’s iconic landmarks, national parks, and beautiful beaches, but I’m constantly reminded that there’s so much more still to see and discover. There are so many countless destinations beckoning me to explore them, and I have such a desire to embark on new adventures. The vastness, diversity, and rich history of America have always intrigued me.

This is a country of immigrants. People from all over the world have come to America in search of a better life.

I love visiting historical sites and learning about the people and events of the past that have shaped this country.

My bucket list for exploring America is overflowing with unvisited places, each promising its own unique experience. And the allure of these destinations fuels my wanderlust, urging me to explore the uncharted territories of this extraordinary land I call home.

All who wander are not lost

I’m not lost, I’m just retired.

Exploring America is not merely about ticking off destinations; it’s about embracing the journey and connecting with the people who call America home. It’s about venturing off the beaten path and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

America is home to some of the most stunning natural scenery in the world. From the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the lush rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, there is something for everyone to enjoy. I’ve been lucky enough to visit many of these beautiful places, and I’m always amazed by the beauty of the natural world.

As I embark on my journey through the United States, I carry with me the anticipation of new experiences and the excitement of the unknown. I’m eager to uncover the hidden gems that lie within this vast and diverse country, to connect with its people and their stories, and to create memories that will forever be etched in my heart.

A never-ending adventure

I know that I will never be able to see everything that America has to offer, but it’s on my list and I’m excited to continue my journey of exploration.

America is a country of endless possibilities and I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore this amazing country. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Thanks for reading.

 

Welcome To Our Campsite

November 22, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

It always feels more like home when we set up our stuff outside and put the yard flags up.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of pulling into a new campground, unhitching the car from the RV, and setting up our new home for the next month.

The excitement builds as we pull into a new place. The anticipation of exploring new surroundings, the excitement of creating new memories, and the satisfaction of transforming an empty lot space into a haven of comfort and relaxation — it’s truly a unique experience.

For us, setting up our RV has become more than just a practical task; it’s an act of love and a way of making each new place feel like our own. It’s a testament to our adventurous spirit and our deep appreciation for the simple joys of life.

RV camping is more than just a way to see the world; it’s a way of life for us, a philosophy that embraces change, celebrates diversity, and cherishes moments of connection with both nature and new friends. It’s a reminder that home is not a place, but a feeling, a sense of belonging that we carry within us, ready to bloom wherever we lay our heads.

Thanks for coming along with us on the journey

 

A Drive Through the Talladega Mountains

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.

 

We Found a Fun Roadside Attraction

November 11, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

Driving down a back road in rural Alabama, we came upon a bunch of huge rocks built and painted like zoo animals. I love finding street art in the middle of nowhere.

I told Rich to stop and back up and looked it up on Google Maps. Yep, it is there. It’s called “Rock Zoo.”

The website https://alabamarockzoo.com/ says that Leonard Dawson, the original zoo keeper, started the rock zoo in the 1970s when roadcrews left two huge boulders behind.

The animals are made of stone and painted with love! They have cemented some rocks together to form a shape. What a fun idea. This is something I would love to do as a creative person.

I’m not sure what some of the animals are but I do see a penguin in the photo above.

See if you can tell what some of them are. I see a rooster, a bull, cows, a turtle, a shark, a frog, and a giraffe.

If climate change keeps up and more animal species become extinct, this might become the only kind of zoo left in existence.

Since the 1970s, the zoo has grown to include turtles, a bear, a flag, a cross, a watermelon, a deer, a giraffe, an elephant, sea creatures, and many more!

If you have rocks that look like animals, you are welcome to paint them and bring them to the Rock Zoo where they will have a home for many years to come.

Drive way out into the country, pull off to the side of the two-lane county road, and walk this 100 yards of painted rocks! There is no parking area or any kind of facilities.

I can tell what the turtle and frog are. The green color helps. If you have read many of our travel articles, you know I am going to be the first one to make Rich go to all these crazy, weird attractions.

We see a lot of cows everywhere we go. Even rock cows.

All are welcome to pull off the road during daylight hours and explore these cute painted creatures.

If you are ever in northern Alabama, be sure to look up this Rock Zoo roadside attraction and take the time to drive by it. Be prepared though because it is down backroads in the middle of nowhere.

Thanks for coming along with us on our crazy adventures as we travel across America.

Russell Cave National Monument

November 10, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

A prehistoric cave in northern Alabama

Today we drove north to the Russell Cave National Monument in Bridgeport, Alabama.

The Visitor Center is being renovated so there is a temporary one off to the side. The worker inside was friendly and helpful.

He shared a lot of information about the prehistoric cave shelter and some of the long spears they used as weapons thousands of years ago.

The walkway to the huge prehistoric cave in the woods is in great condition and accessible for wheelchairs all the way. It was an easy short walk.

The walk through the woods was beautiful. We saw several squirrels digging around in the leaves. We were warned to stay on the path due to venomous snakes in the area. 😮

We gasped in amazement as soon as we saw the cave. It was cool to see.

The first cave dwellers who lived here were from about 11,000 years ago. According to NPS.gov —

“Russell Cave is an archeological site with one of the most complete records of prehistoric cultures in the Southeast.”

Animal bones, primitive tools, and broken pottery found in the cave date back to at least 9,000 years ago.

The boardwalk goes clear inside the cave.

The monument was established on May 11, 1961, when 310 acres of land were donated by the National Geographic Society to the American people. -Wikipedia

What a beautiful view from the inside of the cave looking out.

I’m so glad we took the time to drive to this national park in Alabama.

We thoroughly enjoy walking through the woods to find places like this.

Thanks for coming along. I hope you enjoyed seeing Russell Cave National Monument in northern Alabama.

 

 

When in Nature Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

November 9, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

You might miss something

Do you see it?

Since I have hurt my feet, legs, and knees so much, I pay attention to every step I take so I don’t trip on something or step in a hole.

Looking down allows me to see what I might otherwise miss.

Like in the photo above.

Now do you see it?

I believe this is a brown anole. But I can’t be certain.

Take time to be still and listen when exploring outside. You never know what you might miss otherwise.

 

Traveling the Covered Bridge Trail

November 8, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

A photo story of four covered bridges in Alabama

There are currently eleven historic covered bridges remaining in the state of Alabama. Of those, six remain at their original locations. We found four of them today.

Clarkson Covered Bridge

The Clarkson Covered Bridge was constructed in 1904 and was used by farmers and travelers to cross Crooked Creek. Today it is closed to vehicle traffic.

It was destroyed by a flood in 1921 and rebuilt the next year. It is located in Cullman, Alabama. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Horton Mill Covered Bridge

The Horton Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1934. It is 220 feet long and spans the Little Warrior River. It is also closed to vehicle traffic.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

You can walk across the bridge, or drive the road around to the backside.

I’m so glad we found these bridges while we were out exploring.

The Horton Mill Covered Bridge is located in Oneonta, Alabama.

Easley Covered Bridge

The Easley Covered Bridge was built in 1927. It is a wood and metal combination-style covered bridge that spans the Dub Branch of the Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River in Blount County, Alabama.

After being closed for repairs in 2009, it was reopened to single-lane traffic in 2012. We drove across it to continue on to the last bridge on the list. It creaked a little, but we made it safe and sound.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Swann Covered Bridge

The Swann Covered Bridge was built in 1933 over a scenic gorge of the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River.

It is 324 feet long making it the longest covered bridge existing in Alabama.

The Swann Covered Bridge is currently closed to vehicle traffic. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

The metal bridge structures built today do not need protection from the elements, so they no longer need to be covered. Wooden covered bridges became obsolete because most were single-lane, had low width and height clearances, and could not support the heavy loads of modern traffic.

Old wooden covered bridges are a thing of the past.

You Gotta Get Outta the RV

November 7, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, especially when I’m working from the RV. Most people go to work, come home, and then stay in all night. Especially in the wintertime when it gets dark before 5:00 p.m. For me, I get up and walk out to the recliner and sit and write all day. It’s comfortable, but it’s not good for me. It’s important to make time to get out of the house and do stuff, even if it’s just for a short walk or to run errands.

It’s good for our physical health.

Getting out of the house means moving our body, which is essential for good health. Even a little bit of exercise can make a big difference, so don’t be afraid to get creative. If you don’t like going to the gym, try walking, biking, swimming, or playing sports. Of course, I can’t do hardly any of those things. For me, spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels. We go for drives to see places, get out of the car, and walk around a bit. Even just sitting in a park or taking a short walk in the woods can make a big difference.

It’s good for our mental health.

Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. It improves our mood and boosts our creativity. If you can’t get outside, even sitting by a window and looking at nature can be beneficial. Open those curtains and blinds, especially in the wintertime. Living in the RV, I am surrounded by nature. The view out my window constantly changes and puts me in a good mood.

It’s good for our social health.

Getting out of the house and interacting with other people is important for our mental and emotional well-being. We like to walk around the campgrounds and meet new people. It helps us feel more connected to our RVing community and helps us make new friends. You can try joining a club or group, taking a class, or volunteering. We need other people in our lives.

It’s good for our overall well-being.

In today’s world, it’s easier than ever to stay home and avoid the outside world. We can work from home, order groceries online, and even watch movies and TV shows without having to leave our living rooms. But while it’s tempting to stay home and cocoon, it’s important to get out of the house and do stuff on a regular basis.

Getting out of the house and doing stuff helps us relax, have fun, and learn new things. It helps us break out of our comfort zone and try new things. Getting out of the house leads to a more fulfilling and well-rounded life.

I am a homebody and I have to constantly remind myself to get up and get outta the RV on the days that we don’t go sightseeing.

So the next time you’re feeling stuck in a rut, make a plan to get out of the house (or the RV) and do something fun. It’s good for you!