Embedded Files
2/4/22 We are at the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery Alabama and somehow, we’ve managed to visit on Rosa Parks birthday! They gave us treats and admission was free.
2/4/22 We are at the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery Alabama and somehow, we’ve managed to visit on Rosa Parks birthday! They gave us treats and admission was free.
Next stop is the Alabama Department of Archives & History (a.k.a. The Museum of Alabama).
Next stop is the Alabama Department of Archives & History (a.k.a. The Museum of Alabama).
Hey……wait a minute…..we saw the full-size version of this back in Vicksburg!
Hey……wait a minute…..we saw the full-size version of this back in Vicksburg!
Just a brief walk from The Museum of Alabama is the First Whitehouse of the Confederacy. I managed to get very few pictures from here, but it was a very worthwhile stop. Wonderfully restored and maintained place with some amazingly enthusiastic people working inside.
Just a brief walk from The Museum of Alabama is the First Whitehouse of the Confederacy. I managed to get very few pictures from here, but it was a very worthwhile stop. Wonderfully restored and maintained place with some amazingly enthusiastic people working inside.
2/5/2022 We are on our way to our next experience as I pass this, catch a glimpse of it from my peripheral view, literally stop in the middle of road as my brain registers what I just saw and back up to take this picture……this person has a jet engine in their yard like its “yard art”! I probably would have done something a tad more creative with this, but this is my kind of “yard art” for sure!
2/5/2022 We are on our way to our next experience as I pass this, catch a glimpse of it from my peripheral view, literally stop in the middle of road as my brain registers what I just saw and back up to take this picture……this person has a jet engine in their yard like its “yard art”! I probably would have done something a tad more creative with this, but this is my kind of “yard art” for sure!
Today’s experience (aside from jet engine yard art) is the Selma to Montgomery Trail. This 54 mile route was the site of 3 different attempts to March on the capitol (Montgomery) from Selma to protest the lack of equal rights for all citizens to vote, regardless of their race. Only the third attempt was successful and only because the National Guard was called in to protect them. Visually, one of the defining focal points of this march was the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Today’s experience (aside from jet engine yard art) is the Selma to Montgomery Trail. This 54 mile route was the site of 3 different attempts to March on the capitol (Montgomery) from Selma to protest the lack of equal rights for all citizens to vote, regardless of their race. Only the third attempt was successful and only because the National Guard was called in to protect them. Visually, one of the defining focal points of this march was the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Ironically, the bridge is named after Confederate General and Leader of the Alabama KKK.
Ironically, the bridge is named after Confederate General and Leader of the Alabama KKK.
Note the design of the roof in the Visitors Center….yep, the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Note the design of the roof in the Visitors Center….yep, the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Making a salad has never made me feel this happy before!
Making a salad has never made me feel this happy before!
2/9/22 The morning mist with the sun rising in the background sets a stunning scene for my morning walk with the dog.
2/9/22 The morning mist with the sun rising in the background sets a stunning scene for my morning walk with the dog.
2/10/22 Okay, have you seen the movie “Big Fish” by Tim Burton? Tim Burton has done some great films, but to me, this was always a standout star of his. A heartwarming story with a simple, important, very well told message about life. If you have not seen it, go watch it right now.
2/10/22 Okay, have you seen the movie “Big Fish” by Tim Burton? Tim Burton has done some great films, but to me, this was always a standout star of his. A heartwarming story with a simple, important, very well told message about life. If you have not seen it, go watch it right now.
In that movie, there is a town that is visited and re-visited by the main character and that is the fictitious town of “Spectre”. In the movie, it’s billed as a town so perfect, that you don’t even have to wear shoes because the streets are lined with perfect grass. In fact, anyone wearing shoes will have the removed and thrown up to hang on the cable at the entrance to the town. It looked like this in the movie.....
In that movie, there is a town that is visited and re-visited by the main character and that is the fictitious town of “Spectre”. In the movie, it’s billed as a town so perfect, that you don’t even have to wear shoes because the streets are lined with perfect grass. In fact, anyone wearing shoes will have the removed and thrown up to hang on the cable at the entrance to the town. It looked like this in the movie.....
Later in the movie, the main character would revisit the town to find it in a sad state of disrepair and most of the residents have left. It looked like this in the movie….
Later in the movie, the main character would revisit the town to find it in a sad state of disrepair and most of the residents have left. It looked like this in the movie….
Why do I tell you all this? Well, the town of Spectre was shot on location at a place called Jackson Lake Island in….yep, you guessed it, Alabama. It’s now a privately owned island that you can go visit for just a few dollars. Side note: they have RV camping on the island as well, but alas, they were full for the dates we needed.
Why do I tell you all this? Well, the town of Spectre was shot on location at a place called Jackson Lake Island in….yep, you guessed it, Alabama. It’s now a privately owned island that you can go visit for just a few dollars. Side note: they have RV camping on the island as well, but alas, they were full for the dates we needed.
It’s a great place to visit. It also gives you a good sense of just how fake movie sets are. Once you get past the facade of buildings, there really isn’t anything there. There are some ramps and platforms for the cast and crew to walk on, but beyond that, they really are just a “shell”.
It’s a great place to visit. It also gives you a good sense of just how fake movie sets are. Once you get past the facade of buildings, there really isn’t anything there. There are some ramps and platforms for the cast and crew to walk on, but beyond that, they really are just a “shell”.
……but, here comes the brutally honest part of the story; the star attraction at Jackson Lake Island is…….sigh……the goats they have roaming around. They are everywhere and have complete and total free reign of the island. By total dumb luck….errr, good fortune, we happened to have arrived at a time when they have VERY recently had babies.
……but, here comes the brutally honest part of the story; the star attraction at Jackson Lake Island is…….sigh……the goats they have roaming around. They are everywhere and have complete and total free reign of the island. By total dumb luck….errr, good fortune, we happened to have arrived at a time when they have VERY recently had babies.
Yes, I’ll concede that the babies are really, REALLY dang cute. I don’t want to sneak one off the island for myself like my children do, but they are cute.
Yes, I’ll concede that the babies are really, REALLY dang cute. I don’t want to sneak one off the island for myself like my children do, but they are cute.
And most of them are VERY comfortable with humans.
And most of them are VERY comfortable with humans.
These two were play battling for the better part of 10 minutes and it was REALLY funny.
These two were play battling for the better part of 10 minutes and it was REALLY funny.
They have some sheep as well, but they are less friendly. In fact, I’m not even sure why this one approached me because earlier in the day, they would all scatter as soon as I took one step in their direction.
They have some sheep as well, but they are less friendly. In fact, I’m not even sure why this one approached me because earlier in the day, they would all scatter as soon as I took one step in their direction.
2/11/22 Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. The in famous “Red Tails” and this is where is all began. Quite an interesting mix of US History, aviation history and civil right history all blended together in one place. A “not to miss” spot in my opinion.
2/11/22 Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. The in famous “Red Tails” and this is where is all began. Quite an interesting mix of US History, aviation history and civil right history all blended together in one place. A “not to miss” spot in my opinion.
The “Link Trainer”. This is where the Tuskegee Airmen spent the vast majority of their time training. It really set history in motion for how effective a flight simulator can be in terms of keeping a pilot trainee safe while also being effective.
The “Link Trainer”. This is where the Tuskegee Airmen spent the vast majority of their time training. It really set history in motion for how effective a flight simulator can be in terms of keeping a pilot trainee safe while also being effective.
Try folding a parachute up and fitting it inside its pack. Pfffft, yeah, Good luck with that.
Try folding a parachute up and fitting it inside its pack. Pfffft, yeah, Good luck with that.
For some reason, I found this artifact super interesting. These are scale models of allied ships and they are at the approximate size that a pilot would be seeing them from the air. The idea was for the pilot to study the intricate details of these on the ground so they would be able to identify friendly vessels from the air.
For some reason, I found this artifact super interesting. These are scale models of allied ships and they are at the approximate size that a pilot would be seeing them from the air. The idea was for the pilot to study the intricate details of these on the ground so they would be able to identify friendly vessels from the air.
I was saddened to learn that this was a replica that was constructed for the sole purpose of hanging here. It’s a good replica, don’t get me wrong, but it’s still just a 1:1 scale model.
I was saddened to learn that this was a replica that was constructed for the sole purpose of hanging here. It’s a good replica, don’t get me wrong, but it’s still just a 1:1 scale model.
They allow visitors in the tower too, which is a nice bonus.
They allow visitors in the tower too, which is a nice bonus.
And there are signs all over the place (before you even set foot on the stairs to go up) warning you that Wasps like to nest in the tower. Here’s visual evidence….
And there are signs all over the place (before you even set foot on the stairs to go up) warning you that Wasps like to nest in the tower. Here’s visual evidence….
The view out the tower on a clear day like today is worth the short climb for sure. Plus, the runway is still active today, so you’ll probably get to see some aircraft come and go.
The view out the tower on a clear day like today is worth the short climb for sure. Plus, the runway is still active today, so you’ll probably get to see some aircraft come and go.
Speaking of active runway, see this little dark spot? We watched this one come in for a landing while we were here and it was an Army helicopter. That'll be important in a minute, so hang on.
Speaking of active runway, see this little dark spot? We watched this one come in for a landing while we were here and it was an Army helicopter. That'll be important in a minute, so hang on.
Some uniformed army personnel showed up in the visitor center shortly after it landed and I put 2 and 2 together. While we were in the tower, I saw them walking back across the tarmac to their aircraft. Once we got down from the tower, I grabbed Grant and headed their direction. What I was hoping for was a closer view of them taking off. However, it’s a really, REALLY small airport, so walking out onto the tarmac is super easy and they were excited to have Grant as their guest while they did some preflight inspections.
Some uniformed army personnel showed up in the visitor center shortly after it landed and I put 2 and 2 together. While we were in the tower, I saw them walking back across the tarmac to their aircraft. Once we got down from the tower, I grabbed Grant and headed their direction. What I was hoping for was a closer view of them taking off. However, it’s a really, REALLY small airport, so walking out onto the tarmac is super easy and they were excited to have Grant as their guest while they did some preflight inspections.
2/12/22 …….after multiple requests and by “multiple”, I mean A LOT of requests, we head back to Jackson Lake Island to visit the baby goats again.
2/12/22 …….after multiple requests and by “multiple”, I mean A LOT of requests, we head back to Jackson Lake Island to visit the baby goats again.
I’m sorry, but baby goats are indeed cute as can be…..adult goats? Not so much.
I’m sorry, but baby goats are indeed cute as can be…..adult goats? Not so much.
Funny thing happened with these pictures: Standing here looking at the scene, it just looked like the fake tree that was built for the movie with sun coming down behind it. However, once photographed, it looked surprisingly like the tree/shadow combination from the movie poster.
Funny thing happened with these pictures: Standing here looking at the scene, it just looked like the fake tree that was built for the movie with sun coming down behind it. However, once photographed, it looked surprisingly like the tree/shadow combination from the movie poster.
Did I mention that there are baby goats EVERYWHERE!!!!
Did I mention that there are baby goats EVERYWHERE!!!!
2/14/22 Wright Brother’s Park. Most people associate the Wright Brothers and their flying with either A) Kill Devil Hill in NC (where their first flight was) or Dayton Ohio (where their workshop was). What I didn’t know was that after their success with their flying machines, they set up a flying school just outside of Montgomery Alabama. Selected for the fair-weather climate and abundance of flat land, they constructed a runway and a flight school here. They would also make another historic first here of being the location of the first ever night flight. It would later become the location of Maxwell Air Force Base which is still in operation today.
2/14/22 Wright Brother’s Park. Most people associate the Wright Brothers and their flying with either A) Kill Devil Hill in NC (where their first flight was) or Dayton Ohio (where their workshop was). What I didn’t know was that after their success with their flying machines, they set up a flying school just outside of Montgomery Alabama. Selected for the fair-weather climate and abundance of flat land, they constructed a runway and a flight school here. They would also make another historic first here of being the location of the first ever night flight. It would later become the location of Maxwell Air Force Base which is still in operation today.
It's really just a tiny little thing on the side of a city street, but I stopped and took pictures anyway.
It's really just a tiny little thing on the side of a city street, but I stopped and took pictures anyway.
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