"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime"-MARK TWAIN

Monday, April 20, 2015

Service COE Campground

 

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Have you ever driven past some place and thought, “I’m going to stop there one day”?  That sums up our many journeys across Southern Alabama on Highway 84. Always on the was to a destination.  This time was going to be different. 

We have never stayed anywhere on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.  The waterway was one of the last major “pork barrel” projects  of the last century.  Another story for another time, but basically it ties the port of Mobile to the Tennessee River.  This was done by channelizing the Tombigbee River,  and digging a ditch to connect the two rivers together.  Barges can now make their way from Mobile Northward, without having to go up the Mississippi River.

Service Park and Campground is located just off the highway, near Coffeeville, AL. A hidden jewel, so to speak.  Nothing nearby to attract crowds.

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Ten feet beyond that rail fence is the waterway.

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See the Casita?

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The river was running near flood stage, and apparently had awakened a few river monsters.

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Three of four barges a day.  Sally thought she did a great job running this one off.

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We’re here for a couple of days.  On our way to Auburn, AL for a music fest.

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Before leaving home, we met with some friends for a crawfish boil.  A good friend and his wife purchased an old farmhouse years ago, and had it moved to near their home.  They restored it and rent it out for celebrations of all kinds.  They named it the Gathering Place. 

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Lots of stuff decorate the yard, and plenty rockers cover the porch.

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The main course.

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Which it appears most everyone enjoyed.

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12 comments:

  1. Looks like you had the whole park to yourselves. Sweet!

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  2. Another great find of a CoE...very peaceful looking...my kind of place! Good History lesson...need to look that up...Your Friends place is a nice touch...looks like a good time was had by all...safe travels as the storms are traveling East...Horst sends

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  3. You 2 always find the best-looking spots. I won't reach home till Saturday (I think). Looks like I'll probably miss you by about 12 hours. Campus should be sufficiently calm that you can explore on Saturday or Sunday if you have time.

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  4. Looks like our kind of place. Already loaded it into Streets and Maps:)

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  5. The Gathering Place looks as inviting as the crawfish.

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  6. You gotta love those COE parks in the south!

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  7. Love that first picture! What a great place to watch the maritime world go by.

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  8. What a great campground!!! Enjoy your time in Auburn...we just left Chewacla State Park today!! Our elderly shih tzu (18 years old) couldn't take another day. We sure wish she could have since the weather was nearly perfect. :-) You guys enjoy!!

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  9. What a great campground!!! Enjoy your time in Auburn...we just left Chewacla State Park today!! Our elderly shih tzu (18 years old) couldn't take another day. We sure wish she could have since the weather was nearly perfect. :-) You guys enjoy!!

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  10. Almost stopped at that one once...we love to follow that waterway. Sure,we'll be by it again... Heard AL to close some state parks...sure hope not!! Lv the Gathering Place!!

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  11. Almost stopped at that one once...we love to follow that waterway. Sure,we'll be by it again... Heard AL to close some state parks...sure hope not!! Lv the Gathering Place!!

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  12. I saw tugs pushing barges for the first time at one of the Tombigbee COE's. Maybe Black Warrior?

    When we were there, the camp hosts got the tag numbers of both our trailer and truck. When I asked why, they said that in one of the hurricanes it flooded and it became very important to know which truck went with which rig and which people. Very sobering.

    Glad your high water only stirred up the river monsters. :)

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Thanks for looking, and comments are welcome.