Mailbox Monday: En Espanol

Sort of.

It says on top: ‘ME CASA SU CASA”

Red Top Mountain State Park

On the way to my sister’s in Atlanta, we stopped and toured through Red Top Mountain State Park. It is just north of Atlanta, but we had never been there before. You enter by driving a long bridge over Lake Altoona, a manmade lake created by the Altoona Dam on the Chattahoochee River.

These pictures were taken while standing in campsites.

Not a bad view from any of them. The place was all but deserted on this chilly Thursday afternoon.

Sadly, the lodge has closed as a funding cutback. The cabins were closed for remodeling but are expected to reopen in April. The bathrooms need remodeling, but were functional.

It is such a lovely place though that we would like to come back and tent camp.

Some North Alabama Flora

Here is a sampling of the flowers on the trip to Alabama.

Flowering quince, full of bees that were much too busy to cooperate for pictures.

Some kind of wild violet that does not grow in our area.

Buckeye---patiently waiting for hummingbirds to arrive.

Because spring was just getting started up there, there were many bulbs blooming, as well as  crabapples, forsythia, redbud and the wisteria was simply out of control (in a beautiful way!)

Gorham’s Bluff, Alabama

While wandering Sand Mountain, we went to Gorham’s Bluff. Again as with High Falls, this place is remote! You have to be going intentionally ---and it sure helps to know how to get there, as signage is limited. But once you are there, you know why people make the effort: the view! As well as the cooler temperatures when it is much warmer at the lower elevations.

All of the ground below that is not covered in water, is covered in large trees. We are looking at the top of the canopy below.

High above the Tennessee River is a newish, planned community of houses, sitting compactly on the bluff. They are charming little places that resemble those found at Seaside along the Florida panhandle coast: pastel clapboard affairs with tin roofs and tidy gardens tucked behind picket fences. We saw only two people when we were there. Of course, it was misting rain, but still the place gave the appearance of vacancy.

This lovely inn is the focal point of the community.

There are only a few rooms to let, but there are cottages in the community available. They reportedly have a first class chef in the inn and serve fabulous meals. It is a popular wedding venue.

This charming little structure is perched on the very edge of the bluff.

This helps to give you a better sense of the proportions.

Again, the view is spectacular! (And we were there on an overcast day.)

So glad to have seen it!

The Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Town Creek separates two or more counties in Alabama and the place near the falls has long been a fording spot.

Apparently, as with most fording spots, it worked well when the water was low, and was quite dangerous when it swelled. So there were times when communities were cut off from one another. Hoping for an economic boost to the larger town, a bridge was built around 1923.

This sign is at the present bridge.

 

Here is the present pedestrian bridge.

High Falls, Alabama

Our brother-in-law knew just where to take us when we visited Huntsville: Sand Mountain. We had a wonderful day.

We first went to High Falls Park. Spring had not yet arrived and rain was threatening. It is remote and we were the only people there, until we left and one other car arrived.

According to a webpage, the falls are 35 feet and span to 300 feet during high water times.

It was a lot of water ----and loud---- when we were there. It was spectacular!

Here you can see the bluffs along the sides.

The rock curves around on the near side where a natural arch has formed, as the water eroded away the stone.

The above was the best shot I could get of the arch.

But our brother-in-law had taken this one from his canoe and generously agreed to let me use it here.

This is another of his shots from the canoe.

This I took above the falls. The top of the arch is on the right.

Sadly, they tell of people dying each year from falls and dives from the rocks, as it is a popular place in the warmer months.

We were careful to keep our feet only on the dry rocks and to stay within the fencing! It was definitely worth seeing. Thanks, D and D!

More Than Weeds Popping Up In the Garden

I found this nice chunk of chert spear point while weeding the garden. You can see on the right side of the picture where it was worked (to create the serrated edge.)