so much road, so little time…

As we traveled from Michigan to our next camping reservation, we had one overnight to explore the road. We don’t usually boondock because our generator is finicky. Sometimes it works well, other times it won’t stay running. For some time now, we have considered it an issue with being level. I’m not sure why, but it seemed to make a difference. Earlier in the trip, I had changed the fuel filter. That was a bad experience with gas splashing on my face and in my ears. It was quite painful. We’ve since discovered the issue was not the filter at all. I’ll tell you about that another time in a blog about upgrades and repairs. We hoped the generator would work for a while, so we got off the highway and went shopping.

We headed for Scottsboro, in the middle of Alabama, to the Unclaimed Baggage Store. You can learn more about this store at: https://www.unclaimedbaggage.com . Apparently, the airlines auction off the right to buy all the unclaimed baggage left at the terminal. I don’t know all the legal details, but after some time they can get rid of the baggage left behind. This store claims to be the only outlet in the nation that gets the luggage. They check it out, clean and wash everything, then sell it. It’s a super big, clean, thrift store basically; except everything is in good shape. Everything is priced right too. We spent a little more money than expected but got some good deals. We arrived the night before and did the overnight in the store parking lot. Our generator worked, and we were the first customers in the morning.

Our next stop was like a trip back in time. A long time ago, my mother took the family on a vacation. There were many firsts on that trip. It was my first airplane ride. The pilot allowed me to step into the cockpit. It was that long ago and they allowed it in those days. It was my first trip out of state too. We visited St Louis and we went to the top of the gateway arch. I remember the shaky elevator. My brother kept telling me it was going to fall! Good memories filled the trip, but one of them stands out above the rest. My best memory of that trip was a visit to Elephant Rock Park.

The park name is actually Johnson’s shut-ins State Park. You can find details on line at: https://mostateparks.com/park/johnsons-shut-ins-state-park . I remember this park well. There is an elephant rock park nearby, but I’m not sure we visited that when I was young. The shut-in is a river gorge. A slow-moving river runs between steep ledges and wooded banks. Large elephant rocks, gray boulders, cover the river’s bottom. Millions of years of running water have carved them smooth. Now, the water trails its way between and over the smooth boulders creating pools and streams to swim, as well as natural slides. Before and after the rocky zone you can find calm secluded swimming pools with pebble bottoms along the river. The park has a wooded and shady walkway to the swimming area, but it is a ten-minute walk, and a stairway will take you down to the river. Make sure you have swimming shoes or some other good footwear. Trekking over the scene can be hazardous. Flip-flops and loose sandals will do more harm than good, making the trip harder to walk.

The campground for the park is about a mile from the swimming area, but there is a paved bike trail wide enough for golf carts. The campground has a special area for camping with horses, as well as tents, and primitive areas. Trails and paths cross the wooded areas, so hiking in the park is wonderful. Fire-rings and picnic tables are at every concrete padded site. The pads were level too. That was good because we had to drive the RV to the swimming area and back. It made the move much easier. There is no wifi except in the camp store. Our experience in the campground was great. It was clean, quiet, and comfortable. The evening bugs were not terrible, and the stargazing was spectacular! You truly are in the middle of nowhere. If you want to get away from everything, it is the place to go. I recommend it.