Awake: 6:23am Temp 48 sleep 6+26 sunny overnight @ Montgomery, Alabama.
This morning when I climbed up to inspect the slide tops & roof, I saw the cleanest topside of all; those periods of strong heavy rain did a better job than I could ever have done!
We left the Woods RV Park & Campground @ 10:59am following I-65 to I-459 to County Rd-52 to County Rd-93....arriving @ the Cherokee Campground in Helena, Alabama @ 12:45am.
Today's travel: 96 miles 2+06 time 17.3 fuel used 5.5 mpg 45 mph avg speed.
We no sooner got our coach parked & somewhat leveled when Katrina called en route to her condo. She told me about the (2) snow days they had with her school closed last week due to that spring snowstorm. She, of course, took advantage of that new snow & went up in the mountains with friends for (2) fun snowboarding days. She also brought me up-to-date on Karina & her condo activities; then it was Kathy's turn to talk.
With a good part of the afternoon still available for touring, we cruised downtown Birmingham (15) miles in our Suzuki, walked around the center of town which is Linn Park & soon discovered that the Birmingham Art Museum was nearby, open & free. (2.5) hrs later, we had thoroughly enjoyed most of the artwork & displays they had to offer.
Next, we found our way to Five Points South, which is one of the city's top entertainment districts. It is like a city within a city with tree-shaded streets, old mansions, top-notch dining & a Frank Fleming sculpture, featuring: "The Storyteller" at the fountain in the heart of the district.
Still daylight, & using our GPS, we motor up to Red Mountain & the famous statue of "Vulcan," the world's largest cast iron statue (56 ft tall, weighing in @ 120,000 lbs). When paying our admission fee, reduced because the museum was closed, the cashier told us, "if you need to use the restroom, the guard will let you in."
Not wanting to lose our picture taking daylight, we decided to first take the elevator up the (124) ft pedestal that Vulcan sits upon. When the elevator doors opened, we were greeted by his bare buttocks, remarked to be as wide as a greyhound bus is long! We didn't spend much time on the observation balcony, there was a cool stiff breeze & Kathy doesn't like heights, but oh what a great view of Birmingham. Now, Kathy decided she wanted to use that restroom in the museum. Bill, the night watchman, let us in & after a short conversation, turned the lights on & personally gave us a guided room by room tour. About an hour later Kathy actually did use the restroom. Good move, Kathy!
A little more about Vulcan: "Iron Man" was sculpted from iron ore from Red Mountain by Guiseppe Moretti for $6,000 in 1904 to be the Alabama exhibit at the St. Louis World's Fair; it won the exposition's grand prize. Vulcan is patterned after the mythical Roman god of fire & forge, a nod to the city's powerful position in the iron & steel industry at the time.
Dinner: Bass fish, brown rice pilaf, & a mixed salad.
Evening movie: "Platinum Blonde" with Jean Harlow, Loretta Young, Robert Williams, Louise Closser Hale, etc. Snappy comedy about wisecracking reporter who marries wealthy girl (Harlow) but can't stand confinement of life among high society. Despite engaging presence of Harlow & Young, it's Williams' show all the way. 1931. Another entertaining late night movie.
Lights out: 12:22am
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