I can't be right by New Orleans and not stop for at least a quick visit. I love to wander through the French Quarter, check out a couple of art galleries, and listen to some music as I wander. I had intended to have dinner at Commander's Palace, but after the food I ate in Biloxi I just wasn't hungry!
I enjoy some of the home improvement shows on HGTV, including Home Town (with Ben & Erin Napier). I had tentatively planned a trip to Talladega Nation Forest as my next adventure, and one of the pretty direct routes to get there was through Laurel (the Napier's home town), so I did that. I saw some of the places they had renovated, both residential and commercial, and had lunch at a place downtown that I had seen on the show. I also wandered around on foot for a while, seeing the good (and more run down) parts of Laurel. It's a pretty little city with a very nice feeling to it, but the weather in Mississippi makes it a place I will never settle!
I then headed to Oxford, AL for the night. In the morning, I drove out to what I thought was one of the trailheads in the Talladega National Forest. I somehow ended up on a road that quickly became dirt, and narrow, and gaining elevation quickly. At times, my GPS told me to turn onto what was a hiking path with fallen trees, or a washed-out stream bed descending the side of the mountain, or some other completely not navigable trail. There was nowhere to turn around, and the dirt road was kicking up so much dust! Ultimately, I covered about 10 or 12 miles of this, always just hoping that I wouldn't out of road. Finally I came to the beginning of civilization and saw a couple of houses.
After that, I chose to stick to the main road, which included the Cheaha Trail. That was my chance to get out, do a little walking/hiking, and take some pictures!
I also managed a few pictures as I drove out of Talladega, along the road.
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