FD Roosevelt (SP) & Desoto (SP) 10/10/21 - 10/18/21 (#8) - Part 1

This was our longest camping trip yet. We went to two State Parks - FD Roosevelt SP (FDR) in Pine Mountain, GA & Desoto SP in Fort Payne, AL. Weren't too sure about driving 7 hours in a day so we left on Sunday (10/10) & stayed one night in FDR before heading on to Desoto the next day.

We had a pull thru site (#203) at FDR & didn't even un-hook. Not the greatest site because the 'living area' was on the road side but it did face the lake & we just relaxed for the evening. One note: I was being buzzed by a couple of strange looking bees & stepped away when one followed me & stung me on my left arm. No big deal as I'm not allergic but it was swollen and itchy the whole trip.

We left fairly early the next day to head to Desoto which is on Lookout Mountain in NE AL. It was originally built by the CCC but the state now runs it.

Old Entrance

Desoto SP is a full hookup park. meaning all sites have water, electric & sewer which makes for dumping & cleaning the tanks a breeze since you don't have to wait on anyone or anyone wait on you when you check out. And, you don't have to conserve as much while you stay. We got set up in site #1 & realized it was going to be a bit busy with traffic coming & going in the gate not too far from the site. But it wasn't too bad. Nelly enjoyed having someone to bark at as the gate code didn't work for everyone (including us as some point).

We went hiking on a short trail the next day - Tamladge & then took a ride into Fort Payne which is the home of the country group Alabama. We decided not to tour the museum as we are not big fans of the group, but do enjoy their music.  

We went to Little River Canyon the next day which was beautiful & then drove the Lookout Mountain Scenic Byway. Kept seeing the same people at each overlook which reminded both of us of past family vacations in the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC. I had found a glass blowing company (Orbix) in the area that I wanted to set up contact with to buy ornaments for great niece who should arrive early Jan. 2022. We wanted to eat from a local BBQ spot in Fort Payne & asked for directions at Orbix. They sent us up a steep hill to get back to town. Steep is not even the word for it, it was extreme steep & quite scary but we made it to 'The Bar-B-Que Place' back in Fort Payne. Delicious & would definitely recommend the Jo Jo's to go w/your dinner. They are thin/almost thick sliced potatoes served w/a delicious sauce & the BBQ was great too.

This Hawk was only a few feet above us.

Got back to the CG & I decided to take a short hike. I left at 3:30 w/the intention to be back around 4:30. I went in search of the Silver Trail (1.7m) which should have been a moderate hike that looped back to the campground via a short connector (.3m). As I was hiking a very strenuous section I thought 'this can't be right'. I had been gone an hour at this time & hadn't seen the landmarks I should be passing. Checked the map & sure enough I was on the much more difficult White Trail (2m), well away from the CG. Got to an area that has a broken sign - <---- to head to the contact station (.8m), this I knew I could take the road back or ---> go on the bike Loop (2m). Propped the sign up & couldn't really tell which was which (felt like the guy in Jurassic Park trying to escape during the rainstorm). Headed in what I thought was the correct direction & after another 30 minutes realized I had taken the wrong turn. I had at least another 1.5m to go to be able to get out of the woods. It was around 5:30 at this point so I kept trekking as it was getting darker & darker. Finally made it to a ranger trail (used for rescue via 4 wheelers) & followed it out to the road, just about 1m down from the CG. Got back a little after 6;00. My short 2m hike had turned into about a 5m hike. I won't make that mistake again.

We went to nearby Desoto Falls the next day & then on to Mentone, AL to explore the town & their shops. Ate lunch at the Mentone Market & bought a couple of coffee cups & T-shirts. Very pretty area.

To be continued .....