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We had a respectable turnout for April’s 2nd Sat R2E at the Bright Star, century-old restaurant in Bessemer. The food was plentiful and delicious; some folks even had room for large desserts! I’m now accepting RSVPs for May’s R2E to Cooter Brown’s Rib Shack in Jacksonville, AL. Hope my HSV gaggle will arrive just after 1100. If you appreciate BBQ ribs, you won’t want to miss this chance for exceptional ribs (big & beefy I’d say)! Then a dozen MOAL members participated in the Alabama Ramble, 15-17 April.
We also just successfully concluded the springtime Alabama Ramble club ride with a dozen repeat participants. I believe I can speak for the group that the roads, the weather, the accommodations, and the chosen eateries were all very worthy of our MOAL Epicurean traditions as carefully chosen by Vance & Mari. Be sure to check out Pam’s post to the MOAL’s Facebook presentation; Good Work Pam!
We enjoyed some good vittles at Local Joe’s for starters on Tuesday. We then took a circuitous ride over to the very respectable “Berman Museum” in Anniston where we wandered through two floors of “unique” items collected by Mr Farley & Mrs Germaine Berman after their WWII service in both the U.S. OSS and the French Underground.
Shortly thereafter we settled into the Comfort Inn in Oxford before walking over to the Mellow Mushroom at 6PM which met all of our individual needs for sustenance (even if the waiter was totally frazzled).
Wednesday morning had the group headed south toward Eufaula with a lunch stop in Dadeville at a refurbished hotel, Miller’s on Broadnax. Once again, Nobody left that splendid restaurant unsatisfied! From there we wandered further south along AL-49 & 80 toward Eufaula with an “interesting” visit to the “One-of-a-Kind” Museum of Wonder conceived by Butch Anthony. Worth the price of admission [Free] should you have a few minutes to spare; near junction of AL-169 & US-431. From there it was a modest jaunt to the Lodge at Lakepoint Alabama State Park. Because they’re between seasons, the restaurant was not yet fully functioning, so Vance ordered Kay & Vernon’s shuttle-service to drive the whole contingent into Eufaula for a fabulous supper at the Cajun Corner on East Broad St. Amazingly, Vance stumbled upon club associate Brian Hinton eating an appetizer at a table out on the sidewalk! And we were also joined by former MOAL associates & global explorers Greg & Melanie whom Vance invited. Good food and good conversation was had before we returned to our bivouac along Cowikee Creek.
On Thursday morning, we awoke to a chilly start where the group picnicked on the lakeshore patio on savory pastries Mari obtained in Dadeville {thank you MOAL social club}. It was a casual start to our last extensive day. We departed north at 0830 along the roads we had taken from Tuskegee. We arrived about 0945 and spent two hours touring the two old hangers at Tuskegee Airmen’s National Monument. An informative stop on a beautiful day; accompanied by two bus loads of high school students. Our last stop was another delicious lunch on the back porch of the Kowaliga Marina Restaurant. Here we were joined by recent Alabama transplants Steve & Lisa Farley from Montgomery. After a pleasant lunch, it was everyone headed home for their Easter weekend preparations. Karen arrived back in HSV just in time for bell choir practice after a significant delay on 231 north of Pell City due to yet another “Rebuilding Alabama” paving project.
We’re going to work on another Alabama Ramble in the Oct timeframe with some of the historical sites in the Muscle Shoals neck of the Alabama woods. We might take the time to stroll through the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia ($12-Sr/$10 w/group rate) and FAME Studios. Phil & Mari will coordinate on our agenda as was discussed at the December planning meeting.
Some folks will be visiting Fontana Dam next weekend with the MOA; then the first weekend in May is always the GA Mountain BMW Rally in Hiawassee. June will have BMW Riders from everywhere converging in Lebanon, TN for the National MOA Rally. Hope y’all will stop by; it’s certainly convenient for Alabama residents!
Keep up to date on Rides by checking on the MOAL’s Calendar of Events for current & future months.
Ciao, Phil & Karen
We also just successfully concluded the springtime Alabama Ramble club ride with a dozen repeat participants. I believe I can speak for the group that the roads, the weather, the accommodations, and the chosen eateries were all very worthy of our MOAL Epicurean traditions as carefully chosen by Vance & Mari. Be sure to check out Pam’s post to the MOAL’s Facebook presentation; Good Work Pam!
We enjoyed some good vittles at Local Joe’s for starters on Tuesday. We then took a circuitous ride over to the very respectable “Berman Museum” in Anniston where we wandered through two floors of “unique” items collected by Mr Farley & Mrs Germaine Berman after their WWII service in both the U.S. OSS and the French Underground.
Shortly thereafter we settled into the Comfort Inn in Oxford before walking over to the Mellow Mushroom at 6PM which met all of our individual needs for sustenance (even if the waiter was totally frazzled).
Wednesday morning had the group headed south toward Eufaula with a lunch stop in Dadeville at a refurbished hotel, Miller’s on Broadnax. Once again, Nobody left that splendid restaurant unsatisfied! From there we wandered further south along AL-49 & 80 toward Eufaula with an “interesting” visit to the “One-of-a-Kind” Museum of Wonder conceived by Butch Anthony. Worth the price of admission [Free] should you have a few minutes to spare; near junction of AL-169 & US-431. From there it was a modest jaunt to the Lodge at Lakepoint Alabama State Park. Because they’re between seasons, the restaurant was not yet fully functioning, so Vance ordered Kay & Vernon’s shuttle-service to drive the whole contingent into Eufaula for a fabulous supper at the Cajun Corner on East Broad St. Amazingly, Vance stumbled upon club associate Brian Hinton eating an appetizer at a table out on the sidewalk! And we were also joined by former MOAL associates & global explorers Greg & Melanie whom Vance invited. Good food and good conversation was had before we returned to our bivouac along Cowikee Creek.
On Thursday morning, we awoke to a chilly start where the group picnicked on the lakeshore patio on savory pastries Mari obtained in Dadeville {thank you MOAL social club}. It was a casual start to our last extensive day. We departed north at 0830 along the roads we had taken from Tuskegee. We arrived about 0945 and spent two hours touring the two old hangers at Tuskegee Airmen’s National Monument. An informative stop on a beautiful day; accompanied by two bus loads of high school students. Our last stop was another delicious lunch on the back porch of the Kowaliga Marina Restaurant. Here we were joined by recent Alabama transplants Steve & Lisa Farley from Montgomery. After a pleasant lunch, it was everyone headed home for their Easter weekend preparations. Karen arrived back in HSV just in time for bell choir practice after a significant delay on 231 north of Pell City due to yet another “Rebuilding Alabama” paving project.
We’re going to work on another Alabama Ramble in the Oct timeframe with some of the historical sites in the Muscle Shoals neck of the Alabama woods. We might take the time to stroll through the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia ($12-Sr/$10 w/group rate) and FAME Studios. Phil & Mari will coordinate on our agenda as was discussed at the December planning meeting.
Some folks will be visiting Fontana Dam next weekend with the MOA; then the first weekend in May is always the GA Mountain BMW Rally in Hiawassee. June will have BMW Riders from everywhere converging in Lebanon, TN for the National MOA Rally. Hope y’all will stop by; it’s certainly convenient for Alabama residents!
Keep up to date on Rides by checking on the MOAL’s Calendar of Events for current & future months.
Ciao, Phil & Karen