DeSoto State Park, Alabama

November 5, 2023

As we left Tennessee and headed south, we were hoping the fall color would be extended a bit, but it turned out it was further past the peak in Alabama than it was in Tennessee. The weather also made a turn for the worse, and the drive was a little gloomy. 

Just outside of Chattanooga

Didn't spend too much time in Georgia this time around --we'll be back in the springtime

Our week at DeSoto State Park began unseasonably cool, with night temperatures dipping down in the mid 20s. Fortunately, we had electric service, so we were able to run both heaters throughout the night, keeping us nice and toasty. Even though the weather started out quite cool, at least the sun came out on Tuesday and stayed with us the entire stay.  

Most of the leaves have fallen here already

A little bit of lingering fall atop Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama

When we went to do laundry in town, we found the entire parking lot empty and the laundromat deserted--no sign even of an attendant. A mailman came in to use the bathroom, but that was about it. There were no chairs, so we dug our camp chairs out of the truck and made ourselves at home.

We didn't take a ton of pictures this week because we were busy with special guests over the weekend. Julie's sister Stephanie and her husband Eric came to visit from Atlanta, and we had a wonderful time visiting with them. As a bonus, the weather improved considerably. By the time they arrived on Friday, the weather was warming up, and by Sunday it was in the 70s. We spent a lot of time on the deck, did a little hiking, and generally just enjoyed their company.

Our walk at the beginning of the week

Azalea Cascade During wetter parts of the year, this is a creek with a little waterfall. Right now, not so much.

Little River, also quite dry

Caption, anyone?

As is the routine by now - Julie is amused by Rick climbing onto a rock for a photosphere . . . 

Little nature center with the obligatory stuffed animals

Cute little deer that visited our site a few times

Prior to Stephanie and Eric's arrival, we had procured some firewood and scavenged a few leftover pieces from empty campsites in anticipation of a nice campfire on Saturday evening. Unfortunately, the camp host delivered an unwelcome notice to our fire ring Saturday afternoon...

Burn ban is now in effect!

We were bummed that we couldn't have a campfire that night, but we compensated by hauling out the little tabletop alcohol "fireplace" that we had bought earlier this year and huddled around it on the deck while running an electric heater. Not quite the same, but it amused us.

We thought about packing up the wood to bring with us to Florida for Thanksgiving when we will meet up with Stephanie and Eric again along with our kids, but we discovered that it is against the law to bring firewood into Florida. Not wanting to be responsible for the deforestation of Florida due to some exotic Alabamian hitchhiker, we opted to "pay it forward" to the next occupants of our campsite.

Such nicely stacked wood --it will make a nice gift for the next camper

This photo of us is "as is" out of the camera phone. Does anyone else think it looks like we were pasted onto a fake background?

Our walk with Stephanie and Eric

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