We are still at Tiffin in Red Bay, Alabama in what is similar to the 1950’s suburbs portrayed in the Edward Scissor Hands movie. Everyone wakes up at 6 am,walk their dogs, eat breakfast and drive into the bays by 7:00 for service. Those left behind, wait for The phone call with anticipation, perhaps this afternoon……. Then promptly at 330 pm, all the coaches return to the lineup in the “campground/parking lot”. Meanwhile, the workers peel out of the shop heading for freedom. Jacks go down and a camp-wide melody of beeping resonates while the slides open, electricity and water are hooked up and cocktails are served. Often the men gather to “compare rig sizes and performance” while the women hustle inside the coach preparing the evening meal. How 1950’s is that?
The weather has been varied with a range of daily temperatures from 40-74 during the day. A fire warning was in place with the extreme dry conditions. Our hikes in the Tishomingo State Park have been great, crunching through piles of leaves and enjoying the colours. There are many creeks and ponds for Dixie to sip and dip in. After two days and nights of rain, the conditions changed. The paths in the woods were sodden and treacherously slippery. Some rocks had a thin film of “leaf slime” over them and with the stones and roots sitting every two feet along the pathways, I felt like I was walking on a newly waxed floor on which someone had randomly tossed a handful of marbles and wooden dowels. Three quarters of the leaves were down but the hangers-on shone brightly. We spotted some turtles lined up on a log sunning themselves. The smallest was 8 inches in diameter but the others were up to 14! With turtles’ great sense of hearing, they are almost impossible to photograph. By the time I realize what they are, they are sliding off the log into the river. Most berries and flowers are gone. A few glistening red seed pods remain. They look like they would make perfect hats for mice or perhaps a centrepiece for Thanksgiving dinner on a chipmunk’s dining room table. It was difficult to appreciate the scenery when my focus had to be on avoiding a fall. Dixie however, motored ahead, checking out the rock cliffs and enjoying short swims along the route. The streams were swollen and there were many mini water falls trickling over the mossy cliffs.
Dixie explores the caves. Below is proof that I am not exaggerating about the dubious, dangerous paths.
The Tiffin lot was filled with its own ponds and streams as water raced about. We discovered a great country-like walk down a back road beside the golf course in town. We dodged the raindrops and avoided the muddy fields plus, on a wet Sunday, there were no golfers about. We celebrated the end of the rains as everyone parked here hopes to be called into a work bay soon and get that special sticker on their windshield.
Another day, we drove to Tupelo Mississippi to restock groceries and alcohol. I’m not sure if I mentioned that the county of Franklin and thus, town of Red Bay is dry. We discovered that Tupelo is the town of Elvis’ humble beginnings. The small clapboard house that his Dad built is on the site as is his church (which was moved there) various plaques and a statue of Elvis playing his country-gospel tunes that began his fame. The town of Tupelo has many businesses linked to the Elvis name such as Johnnie’s Drive where young Elvis hung out, Tupelo Hardware Co. that supplied Elvis with his first Guitar and namesake businesses like Presley Eye Care, Love Me Do and Elvis Presley Heights Cleaners. There are colourful 8’ high guitar monuments along the sidewalks of Main Street celebrating “The King”.
Americans are preparing for Thanksgiving and the Holiday Season. Every grocery store has at least one aisle packed with green and red items! We picked up some Clementines whose smell signals the approach of Christmas. Reading the label while reaching for one of these little sweeties can only make you feel good!
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