Road to Red Bay

In hopes of being home by Easter, we left Gulf Shores, Alabama, Monday morning and got on the "Road to Red Bay", Alabama, location of Tiffin Motor Homes, where "The Bus" was built. Our windshields are coming out on both sides so we need the windshields replaced or reset. I'm told this is not too unusual in motor homes the size of ours and we decided the people who built "The Bus" were the most qualified to repair it. Besides, they have new windshields in stock.


As we headed North through the Southern Pine forests of Western Alabama, the sun was bright and the temperature was warm. The land was fairly flat as we traveled North on Highway US43 where we passed through mature Southern Pine, logged out areas, newly replanted forests, and young forests. As tall and as straight as these trees grow, they look like a field of electric poles-to-be . . . mile after mile.

We spotted an out-of-the-way RV Park near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and pulled in for the night. It was just an overnight stay as we were back on the "Road to Red Bay" by 9:00 AM.




North of Tuscaloosa, we picked up Alabama Highway 19 and began driving through more hilly country. We also saw fewer Southern Pine forests and more deciduous trees, which are just beginning to leaf out.

The dogwoods were in full bloom . . . a tree obviously native to Northern Alabama as the woods and hillsides were interspersed with hundreds of white dogwoods in full flower. It is a beautiful drive this time of year. Although most of the dogwoods in the countryside are white, we did see a few pink ones in the small towns along the way.


















We also saw a few Magnolia trees in bloom plus a lot of what I believe is Wisteria, small lavender flowers bunched together like grapes growing on vines climbing up trees and hanging from limbs like Spanish Moss as in the photo on the right. Mother Nature sure is beautiful . . . especially in the Spring.

Most of the homes and landscaped areas in this part of the country have bushes, shrubs, hedges, and flower beds in full bloom this time of year, which provides a very wide spectrum of beautiful colors!

We pulled into town mid-day Tuesday and went straight to the Allegro Campground, which is owned and operated by Tiffin Motor Homes, for their customers, Allegro Motor Home owners, most of whom are here for factory repairs to their unit . . . not visiting because Red Bay is a tourist attraction . . . but the "Road to Red Bay" is a pretty drive in the Spring.

Having spent the Winter in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, we are accustomed to seeing flowers in bloom all Winter, but there is something about the freshness of Spring colors that is more eye-catching and appealing than the continuous colors of a Tropical Winter landscape.