Alabama – February 19th – 20th 101 miles
We traveled through four states yesterday. We left Arkansas drove to Tennessee then to Mississippi and finally Alabama to ride the Chief Ladiga Trail. This trail travels from Anniston, AL to the Georgia state line where it connects to the Silver Comet Trail. The Silver Comet Trail goes all the way to Atlanta.
We spent our first night in Alabama at a Wal-Mart in Oxford. It was an interesting night, people asking for money and a women with 2 children wanting a tour of our motorhome. We had a quiet night once the townies with loud engines called it a night. Good Wi-Fi from nearby hotel.
After our long travel day yesterday we got a late start from the trail head in Anniston. We had a good ride through small towns and quiet countryside. Trail was not busy especially for a Sunday. We traveled out 15 miles which was about the half way mark of the trail. We arrived back at the motorhome about 5 PM and headed for Chief Ladiga Campground.
Getting to the Chief Ladiga Campground was a real adventure. It was dark, narrow roads, some dirt and a bridge out. Lenny had to turn the motorhome around on a very dark and narrow road. Lenny drove and I prayed. We finally found the correct road, still dark and narrow. When we arrived at the campground there was a narrow bridge crossing a stream which we would not have crossed if another camper had not told us it was safe. We found a fire pit and picnic table and leveled the motorhome for the night. Charlie, the owner, who seemed to be a real character stopped by with his dog, Sugar, to welcome us. The next morning we awoke to find ourselves in a beautiful valley surrounded by the southern Appalachians. Directly out our front window was Terrapin Creek. Flo loved this campground – she could run free with Sugar and swim in the creek.
We took a short ride in the morning to the Georgia state line. This end of the trail is much more scenic. We saw fields of flowers and a large beaver dam. The trail followed the mountains most of the way – sometimes wide valleys, other times narrow – farms, green meadows and areas of logging.
We returned to camp and had a relaxing afternoon – reading for me and napping for Lenny. A large flock of sandhill cranes landed in the field near our campsite. Lenny and Flo saw them take flight in the morning. Awesome site.
We visited Alabama in early January. Camped at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL- almost 500 campsites. There was a network of bike trails directly outside the campground. Very scenic trails, tall pines and bayou. Weather was cool but really comfortable for riding. It was 1 1/2 miles from our motorhome to end of campsite and start of bike trails.
We ended up leaving Alabama because of the weather and headed for New Orleans. We finished our Alabama 100 on the Chief Ladiga Trail.
- Backcountry Trail
- Cotton Bayou
- Rosemary Dunes
- Twin Bridges
- Coyote Crossing
- Fort Morgan Trail
- Chief Ladiga Trail