NEWKID

Well plans changed slightly, we stayed in Alabama and drove down to the gulf coast, stayed a night in Birmingham and spent some time in the civil rights museum, interesting place abd we were the only people in there, was a bit eerie tbh, in fact Birmingham was very quiet for a big city.. headed down to Bayou le Batre, was where Forest Gump on the shrimping boat was filmed, Waylon said it was the only place in Alabama any filming for the film was done, was exactly how we expected it to be, beautiful..but was disappointed with the seafood, shrimps weren't good and gumbo was OK... to be honest o

Was randomly listening to a radio show here as we were driving yesterday, it was a Christian station based in Memphis, was pretty funny to us as there views were,in our world, extreme abd they weren't afraid to say it. There were 4 presenters in a talk type show, obviously very pro Trump and pro the clamp down on illegal immigration.. all of them said the woman put herself in the situation and if she had acted accordingly to the law would still be alive, ie. Turn off rhe vehicle and obey command... im not condoning the killing of someone, as in our world that is extreme, but a lot if people ha

Got to say, you'd love some of the country our here mate, i know from our yaps that you'd love it. .huge, unspoilt land, with rivers and lakes that run clean ... plus proper people .. even down to the old couple yesterday who waited for us in each hide so we could use their binoculars, we yapped for nearly an hour in the end ..they loved we were Brits, i loved they were genuine

Thanks for the advice mate, we'll hopefully have enough time at the end of the trip to spend a bit of time there. Like i say, Alabama has slowed our progress, in a good way

He certainly is mate. Ill keep chucking pictures up as we go, hopefully be of interest to most of you.. Heading to Tupelo, Mississipi today, birthplace of Elvis, undecided on whether to carry on down into Mississipi or head back into Alabama, as we have loved this state... We're booking places to kip day to day so it is completely on the hop, a bit of google maps to get a plan, checkout interesting routes et. Then head off...its served us well so far

Do you need a hand carrying the kit mate? Lol Sounds ideal that, good luck

Thanks @Rickshaw swami for the recommendation We saw the Whooping cranes and as you said, thousands of sandhill cranes..plus a lot of geese, including snow geese and loads of pin tail ducks.. the hides were great, including a fully heated hide over the lakes.. We saw 6 Whooping crane, the video below is a group.of 4 that we're a little way out, only 800 left in the wild so great to see such a rare bird https://youtube.com/shorts/3Si30U1o1p8?si=UWzLkz9JPrO-r6FO

Thanks Paul.. well for any little things I may have done right, this trip has paid back in buckets... We've just booked another night in Huntsville, gonna go and see tjf migrating cranes on Waylons advice.. this ain't a place to be rushed

Don't think I ever doubted it mate, I come from a part of the UK with very similar values and a slower type of life. But we have been blown away by how good the people have been to us, we have a very open door at our house, my mother was the same, when people come you offer food as a minimum.. this place is like that but x10... my wife has cried more here than anywhere we've ever been, from happiness...

We met with @Rickshaw swamilast night, once again thank you mate for your time and generosity. We had an amazing dinner, talked for hours, hunting and fishing dominating the talk, but history, music and family as well, I think we spent about 3 hours together and it flew by, my wife loved it as well. We're going to stay another night in Alabama, maybe more, this place has reduced our speed to get across the states, its slowed us down, which has been great. Waylon is a top man, a proper hunting and fishing man who lives, possibly, in the best place to pursue those things.. the invite i

Oh and saw my first bald eagle today..stunning https://youtube.com/shorts/SRYJP4zzAyU?si=OcS3I4ew9SGA5m9K

Hopefully mate, we've covered some miles since Florida Keys and not really had a chance... there's so much to see and do, today's drive through Alabama was a shorter distance, we had more stops, and it blew our heads again! Meeting Rickshaw for a meal tonight, really looking forward to it.. Alabama is stunning!

Made it to Alabama last night... This was right on the Alabama/Georgia border... 3 fingered firework making lol

The Smokey Mountains were stunning, amazing views! Plus Elks and deer, but unfortunately didn't find a bear..

Meet you in Queens Vaults