Foscue Creek (COE) 10/6/22 - 10/10/22 (#14) - Part 4

 

Left Hernando Point on Thursday, headed to Demopolis AL (SW Montgomery) / 4.5 hour drive. Foscue was our favorite on this trip. The site (#49) was right on the river, private, level, etc. We were asked if this was our first time at this CG (yes) & were escorted to our site. ALL the camp hosts we met were very personable. The park was immaculate! Gravel was raked & not a speck of trash anywhere.

Almost all sites are on water & FHU (1-13 not). Only four are directly on the river (Black Warrier/Tombigbee) / 49-52.

The big draw to being on the river was watching boats & barges go by. Just down from the CG, there is a lock & dam they go through. It drops them 40' to continue on their journey. I think I read that the river is 185 miles long & goes all the way to Mobile, AL. One day we watched a fleet (6 or 7) of large private vessels go down & enter the lock together. I suspect there is a charge & if a group go in, they split the costs. Spillway Falls-Lower Pool is where you go to watch them come out of the lock.

Going by our Site

Coming out the other side.

The Barges were HUGE.

Going by Campsite

Coming out the other side.

The one above took forever to go through. I had walked down from the viewing area to get this pic & Greg said he could hear it scraping as it came through. Think the wind got is going sideways & pilot had to maneuver it a bit.

Hauling rock, going into lock

I have lots more on file, there were on average 2-3 that came each day & 1 or 2 during the middle of the night.

We decided to be tourists the next day & visited the small town of Demopolis & ate at a Mexican restaurant (La Montanita).

Civil War Monument to all who served (not just 1 person in particular)

Fountain in the town square

We then went on a tour of the Historic Gaineswood Plantation. We met another couple that were also camping at Foscue (Trey & Kristi from AL) & had an excellent young tour guide - Elias Smith. The house started out at a 3 room cabin & was added on over many years. They did an excellent job with the additions & the family donated all the original furniture, clothing, etc. when it was added to the Historical Registry. A few pics:

Base is the same fountain from the town center

Ladies Parlor

Ladies Parlor

Mens Parlor

We then stopped at Bluff Hall, another historic house but didn't tour. We wanted to get a pics of the White Bluffs of Demopolis. Located along the shore of the river where the house sits.

Overall we enjoyed our visit here & agreed that if we ever head west, this would be another stop as it is an easy access from US Hwy 80. We both felt that Nelly would have liked this one the best, as well. Would have loved to see & hear her reaction to the barges....

We headed back to the farm on Monday the 10th (stopped at Sweet Creek Market outside of Montgomery for lunch). The drive home was an easy one (US Hwy 82) but LONG. It took us almost 7 hours to get home .... way too long. We agree that 5 hours is our max.

I'll end w/a few of the carvings spread throughout the park (mostly done w/Black Walnut & Chestnut):

Note: I did meet two pups on one of my morning walks ... Lilly a fat terrier that had escaped from her camper & was guarding the culdesac they were on. Also Rascal, Jack Russel/Bulldog mix, 17 years old.