Alabama

[Fireman]

Where've you been Bucky?

We have a little meeting once a month, so happens it is this Saturday. 3 days away. We meet at Ken's breakfast house at8:00 am. If you would like to attend take I 65 north to Foultondale, get off on exit 266 and head north on Hwy 31, Kens is about a mile up on the right. I can't make it due to work, but there should be someone there. It is a small group and we are trying to find other TDR members all of the time. Come if you can



Fireman

 

[Bucky205]

Appreciate the invite Fireman. I will definitely get up with you guys. We got hit by the flood and Ive been busy trying to rebuild the downstairs. Ive been hit and miss on the boards. Home computer was downstairs in my office. I hit the TDR at work when I can, but usually only get on for a few. Let me know when you meet again.

 

[NManduke]

Hi All! My family and I are planning a trip to Mobile the first week of November. Anything going on down your way during that time? Hopefully I'll see some of you down there. We will be staying at a campground off of I-65. Any suggestions of things to do with a wife and three boys (14, 9, & 2) would be appreciated.



JR

 

[ronco]

JR, Welcome to Alabama! There is a battleship near Mobile named after our state. You should see signs on the interstate in Mobile with directions. If you get time, you can go South to Fort Gaines on the mouth of the Mobile Bay. Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan protected the bay during the Civil War and alot of history is present. If the ferry is running at that time of year, you can cross the bay to Fort Morgan and ride over to Gulf Shores. We only have 55 miles of shoreline in Alabama, but the beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world! My parents have property about 10 miles from Fort Morgan and I have spent a little time in that area. Bring your fishing gear and fish in the surf or go to the state pier in Gulf Shores for deeper catch. You can also catch crab off the pier with a basket. If you like to play golf, you will love Gulf Shores.



I-65 ends in Mobile and connects with I-10 that runs from Jacksonville, FL to southern CA. About 45 minutes West of Mobile on I-10 in MS is a shipyard (formerly Ingalls Shipyard) where the military has new ships built and repairs made to older ships. I don't know how close in you can drive, but you might see some very large ships in dock.



Because Mobile was built near water, you should find alot of older settlements and history for Alabama. Bellingrath Gardens should score some points with your wife. Bayou LaBatre is well known for it's fishing fleet as well as bringing in oysters. South Alabama has some year 'round wet spots. Be mindful of alligators.



I hope you have a great trip. I travel all over the state on business and might get into town one day. I have exchanged messages with fishjack1 before. He lives on the MS coast near the shipyard I mentioned. You might PM him and see if he has any ideas for you and your gang to spend some time. Take care and be careful



Ronco

 

[NManduke]

Hey, thanks for the info Ronco! I will definately check your suggestions out!

JR

 

[Paul Somers]

Premium tag for towing

With our state in bad financial state, all departments are looking for money. The highway department has discovered there is a law for towing weight. If total weight is over 8000 pounds you need a X prefix tag. 12,000 to 18,000 a X1 tag is needed. !8,000 to 24,000 a X2 tag is needed. X is $105, X1 is $170 and X2 is $235 that is for one year and is in addition to regular price. Campers leaving Wind Creek and also Gulf Shores have been stopped and the ticket is $300. Don't know if this is isolated and wont happen again or not. Just letting you Alabama campers know what our state is doing.

 

[BKilbury]

Paul, I'm from SC and just visited Gulf Shores for spring break w/ my family. (rv camping) Nice area we had a great time, hope other manicupalities do not follow this lead. Nothing like hitting families trying to get out and have a good time spending money in the area. Alabama is going to scare all its home rv'ers out of state.

Bryan

 

[Skydiver]

Paul thanks for the tip.

Will be camping at Wind Creek this Thursday - Sunday. I love fishing at Lake Martin.

Was it the DOT or the state troopers?

Tim

 

[Paul Somers]

Well I see I didn't post in the Alabama section. Moderator, could you move this thread to Alabama since this only applies to us in Alabama.

Not sure which department gave the citations. Think highway patrol. Will find out.

 

[clem]

Paul I saw the write-up in the Decatur paper about the X tags. We were in Mobile and Gulf Shores during this time. Maybe I am lucky,but i did not see any of this. Not till we returned. The Bad part there is a "R" tag,but is only for Motor Homes. The State is trying to make us pay the same $$ as the people who tow for a living. This is not a new thing it's been around for years no one has pushed it. The Big Deal is anyone towing a trailer has to have a X tag if there Combined weight is higher then the tag like the 1/2 ton towing a large boat or the Mini van towing a Golf cart. They can Ticket anyone. Maybe the Honda Motor Cycle towing with 2 up think about it

 

[Skydiver]

Back from my tent camping trip at Wind creek state park.

No I did not get a ticket but the gentleman camping next to our space got one a couple of months back right at the park gate.

He was pulling a 23 foot camper with an early 80's chevy 3500.

First thing he did was go and get the truck weighed by it self(5700 lbs) why I don't know but he won in court. The gentleman said there were no scales being used by the troopers,just ink pens. And the Judge made some remark to the trooper stating he was tired of him pulling over campers.



The way I see it "just easy money for the state and no one has to worry about pulling a car over and getting shot at"

Tim

 

[Timbeaux38]

Time For an Alabama Resurection- Where is everybody at?

 

[RVnwithRAM]

Breakfast 1st. Sat.

Oo. Oo. Hey Ya'll. Good to see ya on here. Ken's Barbecue burned down or badly damaged,Closed down for now. Ron and I have been meeting at Shoney's in Gardendale every first Sat. morning at eight. Would love to see every one. They have a great Breakfast Bar and plenty of room. Take 65 north out of B'ham. exit on Fieldstown Road bear right maybe a quarter of mile or so ,you can't miss it on right at corner of Mt. Olive Rd.

Arlon

 

[Fireman]

Hey Arlon,



I hate to hear about Ken's, I wonder what my buddy Roy is going to do, he ate there every day. I didn't know y'all were still meeting, I've been so busy I don't know if I'm coming or going any more. No I didn't fall off the edge of the earth ! Been meaning to call and see what y'all were up to. Since today is the 8th I guess y'all met last Sat. (I was working anyway). I talked to Tim yesterday, and we're going to try to get out there in May.



Fireman

 

[Timbeaux38]

I would love to meet up with you guys in may, but that is the weekend of the TS performance DHRA race in Bowling green- I also think that is mother's day weekend as well- Any chance we could move it up or back a week?

 

[Bill Stockard]

TX TDR Member in AL

I saw a TDR member’s truck (TDR Grille Badge) parked next to a travel trailer in the Eagle's Roost Area, Prairie Creek Campground, US Army Corps of Engineer Park on the Alabama River on March 29, 2005. We spent the night in the same park in our Lance slide-in camper in site number 30 on our way to Macon, GA and Vero Beach, FL.



Bill

 

[Fireman]

Dang Bill ! That would have been me ! You should have come on over (if you could have without drowning) I honestly don't remember a CTD with a slide in there, but it should have been good to meet ya. Hope you had (or are still having) a good trip.



Fireman

 

[Bill Stockard]

Fireman, sorry I missed you too!



Yep, the Alabama River was up quite a bit. Did they close the park after the rains over the April 2-3rd weekend because of high water?



I'm a little hesitant to walk up and knock on someone's door in an RV park if I don't see anyone outside. That was a very nice park where you were parked. Did the house boat with the generator running most of night bother y'all?



We're back home now after a good trip. The cherry blossoms in Macon, GA were beautiful and my wife enjoyed seeing them. Our timing was perfect!



We spent the weekend of April 2nd & 3rd with my sister in Vero Beach, FL. We returned home just in time for the Big D Dallas Dodge Diesel Club breakfast meeting on April 9th.



Bill

 

[Fireman]

I don't know if they closed the park or not, we left Friday afternoon. The river wasn't going to crest untill Sunday about noon, but if was going to get as high as predicted I'm glad we left. If the park wasn't flooded, highway 40 surely was. That is a really nice park, it's the first time we had been there. I understand about not knocking, but I had a TDR badge, man that's the same as a great big ol' welcome mat. If you'd knocked and said "i'm Bill Stockard" I'd have recognized the name from the boards.

The houseboat didn't bother us as much that night, probably because we have a well insulated unit and thermalpane windows. It is much quieter inside than any other rig we've owned before. However, they anchored about 50' from our sight that morning and ran that blasted generator untill about 2:30 in the afternoon, and the wind kept th houseboat swung around so the generater was pointing right at us most of the day. I'd have given almost anything for a 30-06 and a couple of rounds of armor piercing amunition by lunch time that day . Other than that we had a restful stay. Good to hear y'all had a good trip, and a safe one. Next time you're planning a trip through AL give me a call, my number is in my member profile.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Thanks...



I'll give you a shout the next time we come through AL.



Bill