Jan 02

Unexpected Find in Shelby County, Alabama? Train Graveyard/Museum? Rural Exploration Ep – 31!

Click here and join me on another micro adventure as I explore the Heart of Dixie train museum and so much more!

My latest rural exploration micro adventure has it all – beautiful countrysides, old barns, vacant, abandoned and uninhabited stuff – but you decide that! But then I come up on the unexpected train graveyard/museum! It’s the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum!

I’m calling this one Unexpected Find in Shelby County, Alabama? Train Graveyard/Museum? Rural Exploration Ep – 32!

This one has your usual suspects – old barns, beautiful countrysides, rural landscapes. You can decide if they are abandoned, uninhabited or just vacant or lived in!

But the unexpected find is the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum. It was waaay more than expected! The Heart of Dixie Railroad museum is located in Calera, Alabama in Shelby County just outside of Birmingham. The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum has a ton of old cars to see and photograph.

As per the Heart of Dixie railroad museum website:

As the official railroad museum of the state of Alabama our museum features operating standard gauge and narrow gauge trains, two restored depots, an indoor collection of railroad artifacts and memorabilia, and an outdoor collection of railroad cars, locomotives, and cabooses. Our exhibits, operating railroads, and educational programs function as both a unique means of tourism and recreation, and also a way to preserve the rich history of Alabama and our nation.

So I hope you like my latest Rural Exploration micro adventure that’s all about the usual suspects and this time the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum/Graveyard!

Dec 20

What I found on an Early Ride in Jefferson County – Rural Exploration Ep-30

Click here and join my on my latest micro adventure where we discover new places on an Early Morning ride in Jefferson County, Alabama!

Join me on an Early Ride in Jefferson County, Alabama in a short film I’m calling, What I found on an Early Ride in Jefferson County – Rural Exploration Ep-30!

Ever wonder where a road goes? That’s what we do! If we see a road and wonder where it goes – we go and find out. In doing so we often find incredible landscapes, rural landscapes and all that goes along with a ride in the country.

In this rural exploration video we’ll find some incredible stuff… Beautiful country homes, horses, old cars and trucks and a few barns! Abandoned? Vacant? Uninhabited? You decide on this micro adventure in Jefferson County, Alabama!

Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, located in the central portion of the state. As of the 2020 census, its population was 674,721. Its county seat is Birmingham. Wikipedia
Area: 1,124 mi²
Founded: December 13, 1819
Population: 667,820 (2021)
County seat: Birmingham
Colleges and Universities: University of Alabama at Birmingham, MORE

Dec 13

What I found at sunset in Jefferson County, AL. Missing person poster and more…

Click here to join me on another micro adventure at Sunset in Jefferson to see what I find with my Yellow Lab!

In my latest micro adventure I go rural exploring at sunset in Jefferson County, Alabama with my Yellow Lab once again!

I’m calling this one, What I found at sunset in Jefferson County, AL. Missing person poster and more…

In the middle of nowhere I find a missing person poster detailing Terry J Gilbert – https://www.wbrc.com/2021/09/10/tuscaloosa-county-deputies-search-man-missing-since-july/

At the time of this posting I can’t tell if he was ever found.

The rest of this rural exploration video we’ll find barns, old country homes and much more. Abandoned? Uninhabited? Vacant? You’ll have to decide.

This beautiful rural countryside is mostly located in Jefferson County, Alabama near Birmingham.

So I hope you like my latest micro adventure as I go rural exploring with my yellow lab in one I’m calling, What I found at sunset in Jefferson County, AL. Missing person poster and more…

Dec 06

Found in Jefferson County? Beautiful barns, homes and so much more! Rural Exploration Ep – 28!

Click here and join me on another rural micro adventure to see what I find in Jefferson County, Alabama!

Old barns! Rural landscapes! Beautiful homes! Abandoned homes! Vacant homes! Homes that are lived in daily! Horses! Tractors! This one has it all for those that love the country!

This series – Rural Exploration, was inspired by those long slow country rides my family would take on a Sunday afternoon. So I hope you like my latest ride in the country, a micro adventure that I’m calling – Found in Jefferson County? Beautiful barns, homes and so much more! Rural Exploration Ep – 28!

In this micro adventure I find beautiful rural barns, ma and pop grocery stores, old homes – some appear to be vacant homes, abandoned homes, vacated homes and some lived in daily!

All of this is was found in Jefferson County, Alabama, while exploring roads I’d never been on for the most part.

So I hope you enjoy my latest rural exploration short film with – Old barns! Rural landscapes! Beautiful homes! Abandoned homes! Vacant homes! Homes that are lived in daily! Horses! Tractors! That I’m calling – Found in Jefferson County? Beautiful barns, homes and so much more! Rural Exploration Ep – 28!

Nov 29

Lost in Bibb County, Alabama – But Saw Some Cool Scenery!

Click here and join me on another micro adventure as I get lost in rural Bibb County, Alabama with my yellow lab!

In my latest micro adventure I find myself eventually getting lost somewhere in Bibb County, Alabama – I’m calling it – Lost in Bibb County, Alabama – But Saw Some Cool Scenery!

On this micro adventure I decided to do a little rural exploration… Loaded up my Yellow Lab and eventually got lost in Bibb County, Alabama! But before the GPS helped find our way home we got to see a lot of cool scenery.

Some of the scenery on this micro adventure into Bibb County, Alabama was either vacant, abandoned, or uninhabited – you’ll need to decide for yourself.

This is another rural micro adventured inspired from my childhood a my family would often take long Sunday drives in the country.

The official Bibb County website has this to say:

Bibb County was created through an act of the Alabama Territorial Legislature on February 7, 1818, one year before Alabama was officially named and became part of the United States.Originally called Cahawba County, named after the river that runs through it, the county was renamed Bibb County in 1820 to honor Alabama’s first Governor, William Wyatt Bibb. Before settlers moved to the area, it was populated by the Creek Indians of the Upper Towns, who lived along the banks of the Cahaba and its tributaries.To the south, Bibb is bordered by many historical “black belt” counties, and is known for its recreational opportunities along the Cahaba River and within the Talladega National Forest, Oakmulgee District.

During the nineteenth century, Bibb County was a noted iron, coal, and lumber center. Lumber production boomed in the twentieth century and timber products remain a mainstay of today’s economy.Bibb County has a thriving health care community, consisting of a rural hospital, nursing home, attached retirement community, specialty medical clinics, and a physician training program attached to the University of Alabama Birmingham.

· Founding Date: February 7, 1818· Area: 626 square miles· Population: 22,572 (2016 Census estimate)· Major Waterways: Cahaba River, Little Cahaba River· Major Highways: U.S. 82· County Seat: Centreville· Largest City: Brent

So I hope you like my latest Rural Exploration micro adventure – Lost in Bibb County, Alabama – But Saw Some Cool Scenery!

Nov 22

Mysterious Tree Carvings of Orr Park? – Montevallo, Alabama

Click here and join me on another adventure as I discover the Mysterious Tree Carvings of Orr Park!

In my latest micro adventure that I’m calling, Mysterious Tree Carvings of Orr Park? – Montevallo, Alabama – I find these mysterious tree carvings in a small park.

While urban hiking I discovered this small park in Montevallo, Alabama with quite a few tree carvings.

While it’s probably not mysterious to those that lived there, I have no idea who did all these or why? But I did find some them to be creepy as well.

Overall it was a great day for urban hiking in Montevallo, Alabama and to find this park was just icing on the cake.

According to Wikipedia’s website:

The area where Montevallo is now was once controlled by the Creek Indians. After being acquired in 1814 Jesse Wilson claimed a small hill on the northern bank of Wilson’s Creek by the present Montevallo City Cemetery and created a homestead there, making it the oldest settlement in Shelby County. Wilson’s friends and family followed afterwards and also settled in the area, and a settlement known as Wilson’s Hill developed on the site. The settlement’s location at almost the exact center of Alabama meant it was considered one of the potential sites for the University of Alabama. In an attempt to encourage the university to choose the site the settlement changed its name to Montevallo, which is Italian for the hill in the valley.

Montevallo was used by local farmers as a market town where they could sell and package their produce. It was incorporated as a city in 1848. In 1853 a railway was built between Montevallo and Selma which allowed further economic growth to Montevallo and in 1856 a coal mine was created nearby leading to further growth.

During the American Civil War, Union troops under the command of James H. Wilson camped in Montevallo in the spring of 1865 and skirmished with Confederates near the railroad depot. After the war, commercial life and growth was dominated by the coal mine owned by Truman Aldrich who leased the mine and attempted to increase production in response to the growing iron industry in the region and the growing city of Birmingham. Starting in 1890, company owned worker housing was built in Montevallo to house miners.
Main Hall, Montevallo

In the early 1890s, residents of Montevallo entered the city in a competition to be selected for the site of the Alabama Girl’s Industrial School (later the University of Montevallo) a technical college for white women, raising funds to purchase land and antebellum buildings for the college they won and the college was founded in Montevallo in 1896. Commerce and economic growth increased in Montevallo after the establishment of the college, which was renamed Alabama College in 1919, started admitting men in 1956 and started admitting African Americans in 1968 and became the modern liberal arts University of Montevallo. The university became the main source of commerce in Montevallo and money generated by it was used by the municipal government to build schools. The university also allowed the community some stability during the Great Depression. It quickly took over the coal mine as the major employer in Montevallo, the coal mine closing in 1946.[4][5]

So I hope you like my latest micro adventure – Mysterious Tree Carvings of Orr Park? – Montevallo, Alabama.

Nov 11

Am I crazy? I Entered a 12 Hour Endurance Race! Ep – 1

Click here and join me on another Ultra Running micro adventure!

This is a micro adventure that I haven’t done in a while – a physical micro running adventure that I’m calling, Am I crazy? I Entered a 12 Hour Endurance Race! Ep – 1

Endurance racing has become a popular sport as of late. But especially the timed endurance events.

In this timed event I’ll introduce this style of ultra running for the average person like myself – I don’t consider myself a runner – I’m too big.

But as you’ll see throughout this Ultra Running – Endurance race series, the average person can be successful in endurance racing in the ultra running distance!

Nov 09

Urban Hiking the City of Murals – Artsy Montevallo, AL – Ep – 36

Click here and join me as I go Urban Hiking in the City of Murals!

In today’s micro adventure that I’m calling, Urban Hiking the City of Murals – Artsy Montevallo, AL – Ep – 36, I travel to the artsy city of Montevallo, AL.

Monevallo, Alabama is the city of murals as far as I’m concerned. In the midst of old and new buildings there are murals everywhere!

According to Wikipedia’s website:

The area where Montevallo is now was once controlled by the Creek Indians. After being acquired in 1814 Jesse Wilson claimed a small hill on the northern bank of Wilson’s Creek by the present Montevallo City Cemetery and created a homestead there, making it the oldest settlement in Shelby County. Wilson’s friends and family followed afterwards and also settled in the area, and a settlement known as Wilson’s Hill developed on the site. The settlement’s location at almost the exact center of Alabama meant it was considered one of the potential sites for the University of Alabama. In an attempt to encourage the university to choose the site the settlement changed its name to Montevallo, which is Italian for the hill in the valley.

Montevallo was used by local farmers as a market town where they could sell and package their produce. It was incorporated as a city in 1848. In 1853 a railway was built between Montevallo and Selma which allowed further economic growth to Montevallo and in 1856 a coal mine was created nearby leading to further growth.

During the American Civil War, Union troops under the command of James H. Wilson camped in Montevallo in the spring of 1865 and skirmished with Confederates near the railroad depot. After the war, commercial life and growth was dominated by the coal mine owned by Truman Aldrich who leased the mine and attempted to increase production in response to the growing iron industry in the region and the growing city of Birmingham. Starting in 1890, company owned worker housing was built in Montevallo to house miners.
Main Hall, Montevallo

In the early 1890s, residents of Montevallo entered the city in a competition to be selected for the site of the Alabama Girl’s Industrial School (later the University of Montevallo) a technical college for white women, raising funds to purchase land and antebellum buildings for the college they won and the college was founded in Montevallo in 1896. Commerce and economic growth increased in Montevallo after the establishment of the college, which was renamed Alabama College in 1919, started admitting men in 1956 and started admitting African Americans in 1968 and became the modern liberal arts University of Montevallo. The university became the main source of commerce in Montevallo and money generated by it was used by the municipal government to build schools. The university also allowed the community some stability during the Great Depression. It quickly took over the coal mine as the major employer in Montevallo, the coal mine closing in 1946.[4][5]

So I hope you enjoy my latest micro adventure as I go Urban Hiking in the beautiful southern city of Montevallo, Alabama, the city of murals in Urban Hiking the City of Murals – Artsy Montevallo, AL – Ep – 36!

Nov 03

Urban Hiking – Beautiful Coastal Town with an Alien Abduction History? Pascagoula, Ms.

Click here to join me on another micro adventure as I go to Pascagoula, Ms known for an alien abduction!

In my latest Urban Hiking micro adventure we travel to the beautiful coastal town of Pascagoula, Mississippi! I’m calling this one, Urban Hiking – Beautiful Coastal Town with an Extra Terrestrial History? Pascagoula, Ms.

This micro adventure has it all, old buildings, old houses, old downtown and even the historical site of an alien abduction involving Calvin Parker and Charles Hickson.

Interview link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjlzeYiGLzc

While Urban Hiking in the beautiful coastal town of Pascagoula, we’ll interview a home owner that has a wonderful history to tell, interview with Victoria the owner of the White Pelican a local downtown boutique, and we’ll eat at Off the Hook local restaurant where I’ll have the best trigger fish I’ve ever eaten, then we’ll visit the historical site of the alleged alien abduction of Calvin Parker and Charles Hickson.

Disclaimer – I don’t know if Calvin Parker and Charles Hickson were actually abducted or not! I don’t know anything about aliens either. I just decided to visit the site because it’s one of the things that Pascagoula is known for and I started hearing the story as a small child. So I thought I’d visit the site for anyone interested. So, I encourage you not to read into it anything other than that.

So I hope you like my latest micro adventure that I’m calling, Urban Hiking – Beautiful Coastal Town with an Alien Abduction History? Pascagoula, Ms.

If you ever have the chance to go Urban Hiking in the beautiful coastal town of Pascagoula, Mississippi, then I would jump at the chance. I’m now a big fan myself.

Nov 03

12 Hour Race Results – Did things go South? How did my Coros Pace 2 do? Ep-5

Click here and see the results of my 12 hour endurance race – did things go south?

In this short film I’m calling, 12 Hour Race Results – Did things go South? How did my Coros Pace 2 do? Ep-5, I’ll tell yo what went right and what went wrong!

Disclaimer – I’m not an Ultra running Superstar!

In case you haven’t heard I’ve registered for a 12 Hour Endurance Race! this series is all about documenting that event. So, I hope you enjoy my latest micro adventure – 12 Hour Race Results – Did things go South? How did my Coros Pace 2 do? Ep-5

This 12 Hour Endurance Race is just my latest race attempted with little training. Everyone has their own ideas when it comes to nutrition both during training and on race day.

This 12 Hour Endurance Race is just my latest race attempted with little training. Everyone has their own style of training for endurance racing but not like this!

In this episode – 12 Hour Race Results – Did things go South? How did my Coros Pace 2 do? Ep-5

In this series all related to my 12 hour Endurance Race, I’m hoping to motivate and inspire the average runner to dream big.