Alabama – Page 2 – Julia A. Keirns – Author, Blogger, Writer

Finding Bamahenge

December 8, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

A partial Stonehenge replica in southern Alabama

Stonehenge is a complex prehistoric stone structure located in Wiltshire, England. It was constructed between the years of 2000 and 3000 BCE. I have never been there but would love to see it in person someday. For now, I will have to be content with visiting a partial fiberglass replica in Alabama.

Today we drove through the town of Elberta and found the tourist attraction known as Bamahenge. Bamahenge is not a complete replica, but only a partial one. It has the same astrological alignment as the original in England, which means that on the first day of summer, one can stand in the center of the circle, looking easterly through the entrance, and see the sunrise.

There are no road signs, only a pull-off area on the side of the road and a trail back to the site. You will easily miss it if you are not looking for it. It might be made of fiberglass but it gives you a sense of what it would be like to see the original stone structure in England.

According to Wikipedia — Bamahenge is a full-scale fiberglass replica of England’s prehistoric Stonehenge monument, located on the grounds of Barber Marina near Josephine, Alabama. It was designed and built by artist Mark Cline, at the request of marina owner George W. Barber.

This is definitely one tourist attraction off the beaten path worth taking the time to visit.

Thanks for coming along with us on our sightseeing adventures.

A White Sand Christmas in Alabama

December 5, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

It’s going to be a beachy holiday!

The soft, powdery white sand of the beaches of Alabama is the same color and texture as snow. Both are light and fluffy, and they create a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. This visual similarity evokes feelings of winter holidays when snow blankets the ground and brings a sense of cozy warmth.

White sand and snow are both bright, gleaming whites that resemble purity and serenity. When you look at a white sandy beach, it can be hard to distinguish it from a snowy landscape, especially when the sun is shining and reflecting off the surface.

The pristine whiteness of the sand, untouched by the hustle and bustle of everyday life brings to mind the look of untouched freshly fallen snow of the northern states. It’s beautiful to experience.

Both snow and white sand are associated with festive seasons. Snow is a common sight during the winter holidays, while white sand is often associated with summer vacations and beach getaways. These similarities remind us of happy times spent with loved ones.

The gentle lapping of the waves against the shore creates a rhythmic sound like the wind blowing and snowflakes falling, further enhancing the connection between the beach and the snow at Christmastime. The warm yet chilly, salty air reminds us of the crisp, cold air that often accompanies snowfall.

The overall ambiance of a white sandy beach, with its relaxed atmosphere, and seagulls soaring overhead, creates a sense of holiday nostalgia similar to the cozy atmosphere of a winter cabin surrounded by snowdrifts.

White snow is not a common sight in Alabama, but the white sand of its beaches conjures up similar feelings of holiday cheer and warmth, reminding us of the beauty and tranquility of winter landscapes.

The contrast between the white sand and the turquoise waters creates a picturesque scene that is refreshing and inviting, making it a fitting place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and embrace the spirit of the holidays.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from the white sandy beaches of southern Alabama.

Severe Thunderstorms Welcomed Us To Southern Alabama

December 2, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

As well as some pretty severe lightning.

We drove five hours south to Alabama Coast Campground just 8 miles north of Orange Beach and settled in for another month (or two).

We were smart enough to arrive here one day early because of the storms coming in. We got ourselves all settled in and decorated for Christmas before the rain came.

We are loving this campground. The facilities are simple but nice. And the people have been so welcoming. I love the feeling of community.

We had one nice day and a relaxing evening with just a few light rains before the big storms hit today.

The lightning hit so close this morning that I jumped and spilled my coffee.

I am content to sit here with the windows and door open enjoying the warmth while drinking my morning coffee and listening to the storms.

Stay tuned for the adventures.

Thanks for reading.

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.

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.

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.

Where Has All the Water Gone?

November 6, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

Noccalula Falls

Today we headed south to see beautiful Noccalula Falls. We have been told by several people that this area has not had rain for over four months. Needless to say, the water coming down the falls was nothing more than a trickle.

The stream below that bridge is usually full and flowing. You can see the rocky river bed and easily walk across it.

We were hoping to see several waterfalls in Alabama. None of the ones we have driven to have any water flowing.

The grass is brown and dead, the stream beds and small river beds are basically dry, and we saw our second brush fire today.

A fire truck showed up just as we were passing by this fire. Makes you wonder how these get started. All I can think of is that some stupid inconsiderate person threw a lit cigarette out the window.

Pray for rain in Alabama, and thanks for coming along with us on our adventures and travels.

Cotton Fields: A Snapshot of Rural Alabama

November 4, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

I have never seen cotton fields before, especially so many with the cotton balls opened and ready for harvest. The cotton balls open in the fall.

The state of Alabama ranks ninth in the nation for producing cotton, and cotton is the primary row crop now grown in Alabama. Cotton is what made Alabama. Cotton is grown in 59 of the 67 counties in Alabama.

I wondered if people still pick cotton in Alabama. I discovered that cotton is picked by machines called cotton pickers. These machines can cover six to eight rows at a time and can harvest up to 190,000 pounds of cottonseed per day.