Alabama 55, Auburn 44

Time passage on trips are unusual for me, seems once we hit a certain point the rest of the trip flies by. Happened on this one also Sunday… Monday… Tuesday… WednesdayThursdayFriday. Time to go home. No one regrets this more than Sydney who had a great time with Roscoe the dog who joined the household earlier this year.

We choose to return on Saturday versus Sunday to get ahead of the traveling crowd. A good decision, the crowds were light and rain was forecast for the San Francisco Bay Area on Sunday. Unfortunately this also meant we would not be in Alabama for the Iron Bowl, the yearly football game between the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn University Tigers that occurs on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This rivalry started as a battle in state politics for funding thru the passage of time and legislative maneuvers became a football rivalry. Passions for the two teams in our Alabama home fall on the side of Alabama. In the overall family there are also Auburn fans (which leads to some fun ribbing) a Texas A&M Aggies fan, Kim’s Dad, and a University of Houston Cougars fan, Kim’s Uncle Patrick. Whenever Patrick raises the the subject of the Cougars he gets the same response most non-Alabama teams get, “They play football there?” All for fun. The 2014 Iron Bowl started while we were in flight but we checked the score when we landed landed and Auburn was up in the 3rd quarter. Must be interesting times back in Alabama at this time, emotions run HIGH about this game. However fortunes changed and the Tide took control and won the game 55 to 44. Must have been quite the roller coaster ride Craig! This win helps keep the Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl series lead with 43 wins to Auburns 35 and one tie. Roll Tide!

The return journey took us via Houston and afforded us the time for a meal at one of Kim’s favorite’s, Whataburger. A chain across the southern United States (Closest to California is in Arizona) they make a good burger that was designed to make you say ‘What a burger!’ when you took a bite. And it does.

Home and back to reality. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving as well and Happy Holidays to all!

Sydney and her pal Roscoe going at it.

Looking down the Tennessee River towards Decatur after leaving HSV.

An Antonov 124 at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

One of Kim’s favorite stops when we make it to the south.

Some of the spoils of the trip.

Decatur, 35601

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After a long Thanksgiving day we were all pretty tired and had a relaxing morning. However me being me I got restless and had to get out and see something. Besides I was off on my picture taking, only took a couple of hundred so far… So out we went for a drive around town.

Decatur, Alabama was founded in 1810 and with its position on the Tennessee River made it an important transportation hub. This brought attention both bad and good. it was the sight of several encounters during the American Civil War and thus was destroyed. The access has also attracted industry with GE, Del Monte Foods and United Launch Alliance (ULA) amongst the companies having a major presence here. So if you bought a GE Refrigerator or Freezer, Meow Mix (Del Monte Foods) or a Delta IV launch vehicle (ULA) it came from Decatur.

The town is typical of what I have seen in other parts of the southern USA, beautiful downtown’s that tend to the quiet side. This is really too bad, these places have buildings with lots of personality and a feast for the eyes but have an empty feeling to them. Perhaps it is me with the problem, I am so used to being in large cities that when I go to small towns I get the vibe all wrong. I guess I will have to keep visiting until I figure it out…

After dragging Kim, Patrick and Syd around greater Decatur for several (cold) hours it was beer time and back to (Decatur) home for one last meat before going home. A.D. (Kim’s Dad) was smoking a turkey and I was asked to make garlic bread. The results should be interesting…

The Old State Bank Building in Decatur, AL.

Bank Street in Decatur, Alabama.

Picking up some Pecans.

Inside a local antique store. Like being in a museum.

Some Confederate currency.

Local industry.

Two Princesses meet.

Elvis ordered burgers from C.F. Penn.

Sunset view in Delano Park.

Captain William J. Hudson "Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridges spaning one of the widest sections of the Tennessee River.

Captain William J. Hudson “Steamboat Bill” Memorial Bridges spanning one of the widest sections of the Tennessee River.

A fisherman on the Tennessee River.

Caught one! But it went back, too small…

A view across the Tennessee to Decatur.

Sydney and her Grand Uncle Patrick.

Happy Thanksgiving To All

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Well we had a good meal and a wonderful time. We first met many of Debbie’s family nine years ago at Craig (Debbie’s son) and Rachel’s wedding and although we have been back to Alabama several times since had seen many of them since. So it was nice to catch up after all this time. Weather around these parts can be unpredictable this time of year so Debbie scheduled the meal early in case of inclement conditions but we were blessed with cloudy, cool (or cold) but no rain. Perfect weather for Kim and my post turkey Golf Cart ride around the neighborhood… Alas the cart’s battery is dead so we will have to live with the happy memories of past rides.

Off to enjoy my food coma and watch the Niner’s “play” the Seahawks… Game thoughts… Having the players say where they went to college in the player intro strikes me like they are stating their SATs… Santa Clara looks good, the Niners on the other hand… Do we really need another “Jurassic Park” style movie??

Happy Thanksgiving to all and our best to your families.