Mystery of Goat Island

Since I have moved to the area, I have been intrigued by the giant Island in the North East corner of Smith Lake. Every one calls this place "Goat Island". It comes by it's name honestly because of a rogue band of goats that live on the island.

On occasion, when we feel like trespassing, we like to point the old Julie B in that direction and check it out. I don't really know how big the Island is, but it is quite large, maybe 30 acres? Rock cliffs start high and submerge deep into the crystal clear water and are visible up to 15' below the surface before fading into the lakes abyss. The island is umbrellaed by a canopy of large trees that cast so much shade that there is almost no undergrowth.

Evidently this was a mountain top at some point that sat high above Ryan creek before Alabama power made the dam and flooded the valley which is now the lake bottom . It is said that the lake is 350' plus at some points.

The most interesting thing to me ,other than the goats, is the giant old wooden house. The old house has cedar siding and has obviously been standing much longer than the lake. It's tin roof is rusty and the windows have succumbed to vandals. Keeping the old house company is a 50's model truck with "Tucker house moving" hand painted on the door. Some have told me that although the house is older than the lake, the Tuckers continued to live on the island after the lake was complete and had a barge to take the truck to the main land. I can just see an old timer wearing boots with no laces and grasping a shotgun on the front porch ,refusing to leave, as the lake makes a steady rise. Straight out of an "Waltons episode" huh?

Anyway, it's a peaceful place with killer views from any direction. It would be cool to see it made into a wildlife refuge or a managed boaters campground someday. Until then, I guess it will just remain a playground for goats, raccoons, vandals and little explorers.

Saturday

First real climb this year

Those who know, know

Enough said

Comfort food in "The Front Porch Capital of the South"

I am always surprised that there isn't more blogs and ect. found in a google search on the old beach route Alabama hwy 331. I have driven the famous "Route 66" and believe that this stretch rivals it pretty well. The road has a wealth of decaying icons paying tributes to the past glory days of the great American two lane. There are several one level motels, mostly abandon or turned into flea markets, multiple dead gas stations and a hand full of towns that have fallen victim to interstates and out sourcing. They're crumbling facades, rusty junk cars, sleepy old timers propped against brick walls (like out of the movies) make for interesting travel. A few of the many are Luverne, Opp, Florala and my favorite, Brantley "The front porch capital of the South".

If you drive down 331 main street, you will see exactly why it has this name. Every beautiful 1900 era house has a front porch that literally encroaches on the highway. Some of these houses are really nice and some are in disrepair. http://www.townofbrantley.com/

On our last return from Grayton Beach, after passing through Brantley for years and not stopping, I decided to stop into the Southern Foods Restaurant and smell the roses. Instead, we smelled home cooked squash, sweet potato, green beans, rutabaga and a big corn fritter.

The restaurant is on a corner in a cool turn of the century ( the last century,not this one) brick building. The ceilings are 18' white washed tongue and groove pine, tarnished with water stains from the past. The wall s are covered in black and white photos of everything from the BHS 1956 band, to photos of flag draped coffins at the train station which were returning from WWII. The Cullman connection in me made me note one photo showing what might have been the largest event in the past 70 years. Big Jim Folsom comes to Brantley March 12, 1954.

There is nothing particularly special about the place or the food, but it is definitely the place where the locals go. It was us, 4 bankers and 25 saw mill workers. I was able to find a photo of the same restaurant in the 60's. I suppose they have been cooking this same Southern sole food for a very long time. So, if you find yourself going South and don't mind being stared at, Stop in, drink a sweet tea and see whats on the menu.

Skinny for a day......Tires that is.

I have rarely been on the road bike in the past several months. I like to think of myself like the illusive Bobby Fisher and randomly appear for a big nasty mountain ride and then disappear back into obscurity. If I were just a legend, like the master, this would be so much more romantic.

Anyway, I got a wild hair on Sunday and decided to take a sultry tour with some local legends. All of which have had they're share of miles across the big pond on the twisty half lane roads of Europe. No Europe today, but I guess Cullman Co. is about as close as you can get in North Alabama. The master chose Bethesda as our target with a small diversion up a small but very scenic climb in the Grandview community. Of course B and I interrupted the master's route with one token dirt road.

My companions seemed to have a few miles under they're belts, but I found most of the ride to be a slight struggle. A relaxed pace and good conversation allowed me to hang on and enjoy the ride. Large fluffy clouds towering miles above us, casting pleasant shade and a nice cool head wind coming home topped it off as an excellent tour.

The highlights of the ride were flushing a flock of quail, An old grand paw in a 50's Chevy truck driving down the center line and of course a little motivation up the grand finale. Chigger Ridge.

How to get a girl.......By Evan

First, move in close. Try to act distracted to avoid spooking the target.

Next, make eye contact using your deadly ice blue eyes as a weapon.

Time to move quickly. No turning back at this point

Score!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Water into wine

The one thing that I never really thought about when I planted a vineyard was what to do with all of the grapes. The problem is that they are all ripening at the same time. We eat a bunch but still have a surplus. Although it is highly against my better judgement. I am considering trying recreate the first miracle and using my dad's recipe to attempt to make wine. I'll let you know if that ever happens.











These are a mix or Concord and Fredonia grapes. I promise that my next blog will be something more interesting than agriculture.

Attack of the giant worms

Today I came home and noticed that most of the leaves were missing off of my tomatoes. I was perplexed as to where the leaves had gone. There were no leaves on the ground. I just asked myself, "who would have done this to my tomatoes?"

I was only seconds from blaming the kid next door when I noticed some well camouflaged visitors. Maybe some of you are familiar with these giant worms, but I ,for one, have never seen anything like it. They had eaten until they were lethargic and immobile.

After getting E to check them out, I pulled them off one by one and took them to the neighbors garden.........just kidding, I took them to the empty field and let them have they're way with a young sweet gum tree. I guess that organic gardening is much more difficult than I thought.