Deep South

We are traveling through the deep south this weekend; stopping first in Spring City, Tennessee. Spring City is a small strip of a town in Rhea County, Tennessee which is a very pretty area. Miles of highways embraced by oaks, locust, sorgum, and evergreens. We took the scenic route through the hills and valleys and the leaves are just starting to turn. We past several picturesque rivers and many signs for camp grounds. We also saw many confederate flags and men with long beards. This morning we woke up to blue skies and crisp air. Dan took Ella to find our morning coffee. When he walked into the breakfast room Ella spied a man with a big beard and she started to cry. She hasn't experienced much stranger anxiety but it could be developing.

Late morning we headed down into Alabama passing signs for Montgomery and Birmingham. We were reminded of the civil rights battles fought in these areas and immortalized at the national level. There is also significant American Indian history in these mountains, We arrived in Tuscaloosa at about 3:00. The twins have done a great job riding in the car - seven hours yesterday and four today - it is hard to sit in one place even for an adult.

I am learning the mark of a good hotel room. Clean (goes without saying), firm bed, very few visible light sockets and no dangling light cords. If there are cords or sockets, Aidan and Ella will gravitate to them and stick there fingers in whatever holes they can find while craning thier necks with big grins to see if we are watching.

Tuscaloosa is a "dry" city on Sunday's. No liquor is sold or served even in the restaurants. That was frustrating because when we arrived I was ready for a drink. It was sort of a throw back and it made me wonder what else around here is archane. We did enjoy the sights in town including an Italianate Mansion at the center, a visit to the University of Alabama which is a beautiful campus dotted with live oaks and we briefly visited a little park on the edge of the Black Warrior river where the Bama Belle will take you for a tour.

Do you know the song by Leonard Skynard? Sweet Home Alabama. It's one of my favorites. "Sweet home Alabama, where the skies are so blue, sweet home Alabama; Lord I'm coming home to you."