Emma and I took off on a day trip yesterday to check out the next COE campground we will be staying at next week. I normally wouldn’t bother with this since I already have reservations, but the folks at the entry gate here suggested I wouldn’t want to drive the rig there on the route I had planned. They said that Alabama Hwy 41’s pavement was good, but that it is very slow going with lots of curves and logger trucks barreling down it. Well, they were surely right about all the slow curves, but I didn’t run into too many logger trucks trying to run me down. It was a journey of 102 miles, and it took me two and a half hours in a car. That translates into quite a bit longer for me driving the rig.
On the way back I took their suggested route of US 80 to I-65 south and back to the campground. That route added a little over fifty miles to the journey, and thirty of that was also along curvy slow two lane roads. Since I’ll be driving it on a Sunday morning, I’m leaning towards my original route. 50 miles translates into over $25 in gas, and I’m not in a rush since it’s a relatively short distance.
While I was at the Prairie Creek COE Campground on R.E. “Bob” Woodruff Lake, I decided to check out the site I had reserved. (#15) It’s a very nice site, right on the water in the woods. As we drove around the rest of the campground, and enjoyed the picnic lunch I had packed, I decided that I was more comfortable with site #23 instead. It also has a lake view, is paved, longer, and an easier back in for me. I’ll have no neighbors on my patio side, the site is larger, and I’ll be able to set up my DISH. Since I’ll be there for a week, I decided to switch my reservation.
On my way back the long way to the rig, the rain began to fall. It then proceeded to rain for about 24 hours.
During a couple of hours respite this afternoon, the orchard orioles were blasting through the trees trying to establish their territories for the mating season. Their songs were echoing all around, and this brick red male had his hands full chasing off this young yellow male. I don’t think the females have quite arrived yet, so the testosterone was flowing freely in anticipation of their arrival.
As Emma and I sat outside, I noticed a pair of mockingbirds building a nest right above the roof of my bedroom. I snapped a picture of the pair at work. One has its tail sticking out in the back of the nest working on stick placement while its mate arrives with another curved twig.
After dropping off the twig, the bird flew off to find more building materials. This pair took full advantage of the few hours before the rains returned. Too bad I won’t be here long enough to watch all the goings on at the nest as the eggs are laid, brooded, hatched, and young ones raised. If I sit on the picnic table, I have a ‘bird’s-eye view’ of the activities.
THE END!!
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
