MMAP Shocco Springs, Talladega, AL; Surrounding areas!

Our last week, we really worked hard.  The camp decided to have us paint the trim on Twin Lodge where they had been replacing the floor.  Out of  34 windows, we painted the trim on 26, trim on three doors, all 215 feet of facia, and railings on four porches, totaling about 90 feet.  

 As the painting of the facia was being completed our last day, new gutters were being installed!  

The building had a fresh new look..... ready for quilters to come for the weekend!

We had another great crew to work with!

The first Sunday, all of us usually try to go to the same church.  It is  a good time to get the “official” picture of the group!

For relaxation, we were able to use the onsite miniature golf course....

Had the traditional hot dog and smores supper around the campfire, 

with a slightly formal flair!

And even played cards one night!

During our weekends, we explored Talladega’s surrounding areas:

BIRMINGHAM

We needed to find an Apple store, and the closest one was in Birmingham.  So that was the city we visited first.  

I did not know the steel manufacturing history of Birmingham, but learned about it at the museum at Vulcan Park. 

The statue of Vulcan is 56- foot high and is the largest cast iron statue in the world

The statue was made for the 1903 World’s Fair in St. Louis then moved back to Birmingham.  The floor and walls of the ground level of the towers are of Sylacauga marble.

TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST/CHEAHA STATE PARK

One weekend, Nate and Chris were returning from a vacation in Florida and stopped to spend the night,

It is always fun to have the grandkids in the RV!!

We played a round of miniature golf with them, 

 and DJ enjoyed the slide!

They also joined the group for lunch at the Cheaha State Park Restaurant.

After lunch, they took off for home; and we went searching for waterfalls in the Talladega National Forest which surrounds the state park, with one of the MMAP couples, the Grants.

Devil’s Den from afar,

Very little water flowing, but there was a great pond for swimming!

Cheaha Falls had very little water flow as well.

At High Falls, there was a warning about bear encounters, and how to deal with  an encounter.  It was a little eerie, cause I felt like someone/thing was watching us...maybe a bear!  (And another couple that visited the area later that day said they felt the same way).

after walking a while, we came to steps and a trickle water fall into a small pond

Then more steps.... but no water or falls at the top!

But, in spite of the fact that there was very little water due to the ongoing drought, we had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed our hikes!

SYLACAUGA

As a group we also went to Sylacauga, known for the white marble found in the area.  There is a 32 mile long vein which has the strongest and purest white found in the world.  Many statues are found in the town,

including the falling star, 

and one that was just unveiled the day before we were there to honor the miners.

We visited the Blue Bell creamery, 

and had ice cream for our 10:00 break,

We went through the Comer Museum, 

which had a room to honor their favorite son, Jim Nabors!

as well as some other interesting displays!

and stopped by the library to see more of the marble statues displayed.

After some effort (with directions like, turn where the dealer used to be and follow the road to somewhere.....) we found the observation deck to view one of the quarries.....

CHILDERSBURG

Just outside Childersburg, a town close to Sylacauga, (claims to be the oldest city in America...since 1540) is the  Kymulga Grist Mill 

and covered bridge, 

are still standing; however, we could not go into the mill due to concerns about the stability.  This is one of the support beams!

They are in the midst of fundraising to stabilize it.

Now on to Maryland, to Child Evangelism Fellowship headquarters.   But we have a week to get there, so we are going to check out the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, on the way..... yes, I know.....we probably won’t get to see all of it in 4 days!