Chewacla State Park - Alabama

It started raining about 3 a.m. Thunder/Lightning – rain on the roof. It was great sleeping. Woke up to a dark day – pouring rain. I did laundry with my washing machine which consists of a bucket and a plunger along with a spin machine. I felt almost pioneer like. I got this setup because I hate public laundromats so much. They are generally dirty and creepy. I had planned to get my life in order but I started watching a Bewitched extravaganza on tv. Then it was nap time. So much for chores.

Update on the football thing: Wind Creek State Park on the west side of Alabama had tons of red – go Crimson Tide go. This park on the east side of Alabama is all blue and orange. Auburn – evidently this is a huge rivalry between the two schools. I am now in Auburn territory.

I have new next door neighbors. Travel trailer and a van and EIGHT kids ranging in age from probably around 10 to baby size. Actually, they are fairly quiet which is a change.

Around 3:30 it stopped raining and Miko and I headed out to do the trails. They have a CCC built waterfall here. It talked to one fellow camper here who said that yesterday it was a mere trickle. Today it was downright violent because of all of the rain. Trails were a little muddy not too bad.

I'm all packed up and ready to hit the road tomorrow. I will be a little sorry to leave Chewacla – it is a lovely state park. I'll have to put it on the list of places to return to.

Campsite:

Waterfall

Miko blending In

Muscogee Creek and Chewacla State Park

This lake (Lake Martin) is a fishing lake – so there were lots of the campers' boats parked right behind my rig. All the fisher people decided to go fishing at 5 in the morning. I decided that it was time to move on. Luckily the office said that they would refund my money for the second night.

Today was a special day. I went to the Horseshoe Bend National Historic Site. This is a place where Andrew Jackson had a battle with the Creek Nation. It was the most Indians ever killed in a single battle – over 800. Because of this battle, the Creek Nation gave the United States 23 million acres of land which became Alabama and Georgia. The date of this battle was March 27, 1814, exactly 200 years ago today.

Several busloads of Muscogee Creek Indians came from Oklahoma and there was a huge ceremony and speeches. I listened to the Creek speeches and singing. They were there to pay homage to their ancestors. It was not a celebration. They talked about how they have survived and it was very moving.

After an hour or two of these speeches, then it was time for the Congress people to talk – the senators and representatives. I left, grabbed Miko out of the bus and did the three mile nature walk to all the major sites of the battle. It was a beautiful day out – seventies, light breeze and sunny. Perfect day to walk and a perfect day to reflect on one nation invading another nation's land.

Drove for an hour to the Chewacla State Park. This state park is much more to my liking. Trees, quiet – campers aren't on top of one another.

Started chatting with Paul and Ruth who are camped next door to me. Found out we have mutual acquaintances. Small world. They are from Texas and are starting their meander back.

I think I will stay here another day – there are a few trails to hike that might be fun to check out.