FJRBandit
Well-known member
Day Ride To Natural Bridge, AL
This "Day Ride" really began two nights ago when my wife and I were sitting around the house, both hung over from the night before when we sat up playing a new drinking game we came up with while watching the GOP debate. Every time the Trumpster said "We're going to be great!" or something to that effect we each had to take a drink. You can only imagine the results of that game!
So it's Friday night, our favorite local band is playing at our favorite bar that serves our favorite cheeseburger... and we're too hung over and too tired to go. Plus, we had a big work day planned at the "farm" the next day so we decided to just stay home and order pizza. We ordered way more than we needed and had leftovers. We decided we would just take the leftovers with us to the farm. Well, the next day when lunchtime arrived we realized we had forgot to bring the pizza with us. So we ran to the store and bought Subway sandwiches. Again, we had leftovers. By this time we had decided we were going to ride the next day so we figured we'd just have a picnic of leftovers.
Saturday night came and we were headed to see Melissa Etheridge in concert. For dinner we went to a local BBQ joint called Dreamland BBQ since it was near the concert venue. While they are famous for their sauce and ribs over the years I've started getting their BBQ sandwich made from boston butt meat as my go to. But last night I was in the mood for ribs, because, well as they say, there "Ain't nothing like 'em nowhere". Trust me, this stuff is out of this world! Dreamland Sauce You guessed it, we had more leftovers to add to the upcoming ride lunch.
With bellies full we took the short ride over to the UAB campus for the concert. I had long wanted to see her in concert and she didn't disappoint. The show was outstanding!
So finally today came. We loaded up the bike with all of our leftovers for our picnic and hit the road a little before 11 a.m. The temp had risen to about 55 degrees before we headed out but we were properly layered and both very comfortable. It was a gorgeous day, despite the wind blowing fairly strong at times from the west. It made for a little bit of a tough ride running up the interstate at 80++ on the V-strom with the Kenda Big Block's.
It had warmed up into the low 60's by the time we made it to Nauvoo, AL where we stopped to check on some property we own there.
Mrs. Bandit and my beloved V-strom!
We took a little hike through the woods behind her there. We are having the timber cut so we were checking to see if the property has dried out some from all of the rain we've had lately. It hasn't, so I'll leave my timber guy alone for a few more weeks.
So we climbed back on the bike and passed through the metropolis of Nauvoo, AL where apparently you can get a room with a view.
.
And pick up parts next door if you have something you need to work on.
For the upcoming Nauvoo Car Show.
While it's an interesting little ghost town I don't think we'll be having SFO in Nauvoo, AL anytime soon... so we moved on, to our primary destination for the day.
I have to say, this was a beautiful place! I have always wanted to go there but for some reason it has taken me 52 years to finally make it. If you've never been just follow along. Not only was the natural bridge very impressive, but the various rock formations and natural etchings done by the combination of father time and water working their magic was a sight to behold. This report will be very picture laden from this point forward.....
Some fossils from the grounds.
Do you see the Indian face?
Some of the largest pines outside of California I have ever seen!!! This one had to be pushing 150 feet and at it's base was like a small redwood (oxymoron?)- not near as large in circumference, but clearly much larger than your average pine.
After a short 100 yard walk we rounded the corner and there it was. The natural bridge I had always heard about but had never seen. According to Wikipedia it is 60 feet high and 148 feet long. The word is it is the longest natural span east of the Rockies. If someone can dispute that then please correct me. Anyway, as usual, the pictures just don't do it justice.
The trail continues underneath the natural bridge.
Then we found these really cool rock formations. Many times the colors and natural etchings looked like nature had been busy with a paint brush. But it was actually etchings in the rocks made by water over the past several thousands and millions of years. I''l post close ups so you can see the detail and then many times I'll post a wide shot to put the scene it into context.
Then came this eerie looking formation that resembled a bunch of skulls in a pile.
and it's contextual shot....
..and it get's even eerier (if that's a word), just look at that skull!
Mrs. Bandit is like, "what are you doing"?
She just couldn't help herself, she just had to touch the "painting".
TBC.....
This "Day Ride" really began two nights ago when my wife and I were sitting around the house, both hung over from the night before when we sat up playing a new drinking game we came up with while watching the GOP debate. Every time the Trumpster said "We're going to be great!" or something to that effect we each had to take a drink. You can only imagine the results of that game!
So it's Friday night, our favorite local band is playing at our favorite bar that serves our favorite cheeseburger... and we're too hung over and too tired to go. Plus, we had a big work day planned at the "farm" the next day so we decided to just stay home and order pizza. We ordered way more than we needed and had leftovers. We decided we would just take the leftovers with us to the farm. Well, the next day when lunchtime arrived we realized we had forgot to bring the pizza with us. So we ran to the store and bought Subway sandwiches. Again, we had leftovers. By this time we had decided we were going to ride the next day so we figured we'd just have a picnic of leftovers.
Saturday night came and we were headed to see Melissa Etheridge in concert. For dinner we went to a local BBQ joint called Dreamland BBQ since it was near the concert venue. While they are famous for their sauce and ribs over the years I've started getting their BBQ sandwich made from boston butt meat as my go to. But last night I was in the mood for ribs, because, well as they say, there "Ain't nothing like 'em nowhere". Trust me, this stuff is out of this world! Dreamland Sauce You guessed it, we had more leftovers to add to the upcoming ride lunch.
So finally today came. We loaded up the bike with all of our leftovers for our picnic and hit the road a little before 11 a.m. The temp had risen to about 55 degrees before we headed out but we were properly layered and both very comfortable. It was a gorgeous day, despite the wind blowing fairly strong at times from the west. It made for a little bit of a tough ride running up the interstate at 80++ on the V-strom with the Kenda Big Block's.
It had warmed up into the low 60's by the time we made it to Nauvoo, AL where we stopped to check on some property we own there.
Mrs. Bandit and my beloved V-strom!
We took a little hike through the woods behind her there. We are having the timber cut so we were checking to see if the property has dried out some from all of the rain we've had lately. It hasn't, so I'll leave my timber guy alone for a few more weeks.
So we climbed back on the bike and passed through the metropolis of Nauvoo, AL where apparently you can get a room with a view.
And pick up parts next door if you have something you need to work on.
For the upcoming Nauvoo Car Show.
While it's an interesting little ghost town I don't think we'll be having SFO in Nauvoo, AL anytime soon... so we moved on, to our primary destination for the day.
I have to say, this was a beautiful place! I have always wanted to go there but for some reason it has taken me 52 years to finally make it. If you've never been just follow along. Not only was the natural bridge very impressive, but the various rock formations and natural etchings done by the combination of father time and water working their magic was a sight to behold. This report will be very picture laden from this point forward.....
Some fossils from the grounds.
Do you see the Indian face?
Some of the largest pines outside of California I have ever seen!!! This one had to be pushing 150 feet and at it's base was like a small redwood (oxymoron?)- not near as large in circumference, but clearly much larger than your average pine.
After a short 100 yard walk we rounded the corner and there it was. The natural bridge I had always heard about but had never seen. According to Wikipedia it is 60 feet high and 148 feet long. The word is it is the longest natural span east of the Rockies. If someone can dispute that then please correct me. Anyway, as usual, the pictures just don't do it justice.
The trail continues underneath the natural bridge.
Then we found these really cool rock formations. Many times the colors and natural etchings looked like nature had been busy with a paint brush. But it was actually etchings in the rocks made by water over the past several thousands and millions of years. I''l post close ups so you can see the detail and then many times I'll post a wide shot to put the scene it into context.
Then came this eerie looking formation that resembled a bunch of skulls in a pile.
and it's contextual shot....
..and it get's even eerier (if that's a word), just look at that skull!
Mrs. Bandit is like, "what are you doing"?
She just couldn't help herself, she just had to touch the "painting".
TBC.....
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