Oct 08

Back in Bessemer – Urban Hiking one of Alabama’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities!

Join me for another Urban Hiking micro adventure as I go back to the Beautiful Southern city of Bessemer!

In this micro adventure I travel back to Bessemer, Alabama to go Urban Hiking. Bessemer ranks 3rd in the top ten most dangerous cities in Alabama according to https://usaestaonline.com/most-dangerous-cities-in-alabama. I’m calling it Back in Bessemer – Urban Hiking one of Alabama’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities!

Here’s what that website has to say:

“3. Bessemer

This is a southwestern region of Birmingham with a population of 26,856. Bessemer is quite known for its economic strength. With the coal, iron ore, and limestone deposits in the core, it settled as the center of steel making all through the 20th century.

However, the compilation by 247 put Bessemer in sixth place for the Worst Places to Live in Alabama. It moved from the 84th ranking in 2012, to 16th in 2013, and now 6th in 2018. Although major crimes in Bessemer seem to have dropped by 25% in the past three years, overall, the crime rate is still high.

The total crime is an estimated 4,491 for every 100,000 residents, with violent crime 721, and property crime, 3,371. Petty crimes are scarcely reported, and this makes public transit relatively free of cash thefts. It is good to note that the patrolling officers on this side of town have not decreased.

There are fewer sketchy neighborhoods around alleys so night movements are still permitted. Though not far into the nights. Female travelers are advised to be accompanied if passing through at night. Walking or biking during the day is ideal.”

In this micro adventure where I travel to Bessemer, the 3rd most dangerous city in Alabama, I’ll find a lot of old homes and building including an old United Methodist Church. Are the vacant? Are they abandoned? You be the judge.

This will be the 3ed time I’ve gone Urban Hiking in Bessemer, one of the top 10 most dangerous cities in Alabama but I’ve never felt threatened at all. In fact i find Bessemer a great place to go Urban Hiking. People in Bessemer have never been anything but nice to me when they see me shooting my short films there.

While Bessemer, Alabama may rank as the 3rd most dangerous city in Alabama, I highly recommend anyone wanting to see this historic Birmingham city to do so.

So I hope you enjoy my latest short film – Back in Bessemer – Urban Hiking one of Alabama’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities!

Oct 08

Have I Lost My Mind? My Goofy Training Methods for 12 Hour Endurance Race! Ep – 2

Join me for Ep-2 of my 12 hour Endurance Run series – this one is all about my goofy, unorthodox training methods!

In my latest physical micro adventure, Have I Lost My Mind? My Goofy Training Methods for 12 Hour Endurance Race! Ep – 2, I talk about my unorthodox training methods!

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

So I hope you like the latest in my physical micro adventure series – Have I Lost My Mind? My Goofy Training Methods for 12 Hour Endurance Race! Ep – 2!

Oct 08

190 MPH Superbike Race – Behind the Scenes like You’ve Never Seen!

Click here and join me on another micro adventure to Barber Motorsports park to watch a Superbike Race – bonus – I go into the Paddock area or what you might know as the Pits.

In today’s micro-adventure I travel to Barber Motorsports MotoAmerica Superbike race in Leeds, Alabama, outside of Birmingham! I’m calling it, “190 MPH Superbike Race – Behind the Scenes like You’ve Never Seen!” At the Barber Motorsports MotoAmerica Superbike race you’ll see motorcycles going close to 198 MPH! The exciting part of the Barber Motorsports MotoAmerica Superbike Race is that there is an ope paddock area. You can actually visit the pits and see the superbike mechanics wrenching on the bikes! This is how it’s described on the MotoAmerica website: MotoAmerica Superbikes at Barber Motorsports Park – September 23-25, 2022 With one of the most beautiful tracks and racing facilities in the nation, Barber Motorsports Park promises to be an incredible end to the season. Immerse yourself with Friday qualifying and two full weekend days of racing while being near the motorcycles and racers themselves with our open race paddock. Bring the family and enjoy food, stunt shows, and racing! Take advantage of multiple ticket options – choose the Boss Audio Systems Parade Lap option and ride your own motorcycle on the track itself! Finally, visit Barber Motorsports Museum, one of the top motorcycle museums in the world. Join us, fellow fans and over 120 riders competing in seven classes and experience some of the best competition found in any sport! So I hope you enjoy my latest short film – 190 MPH Superbike Race – Behind the Scenes like You’ve Never Seen! Correction: Bikes advertised as 190 MPH on MotoAmerica site for Barber but I couldn’t change the thumbnail as this was already published.

Oct 08

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

Click here and join me on another physical micro adventure as I begin training for a 12 hour endurance race!

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!

Oct 08

CREEPY GRIST MILL found while hiking in Tuscaloosa, County Alabama!

Click here and join me on another Solo Hiking micro adventure as I discover this Creep Grist Mill!

@allthingstonyj was out on another micro adventure in Tuscaloosa, County Alabama and came up on this CREEPY GRIST MILL.

I have made short films of other Grist Mills but none as CREEPY as this one.

Alabama has quite a few Grist Mills and as denoted by al.com:

Alabama’s grist mills were community hubs
At the earliest mills, local farmers would bring grains they had grown and have it ground into meal or flour, giving a small percentage to the miller as payment. The mills were important parts of the community because bread was a dietary staple.

So sit back as I go on another micro adventure that I’m calling, CREEPY GRIST MILL found while hiking in Tuscaloosa, County Alabama!

Sep 11

Stop Sitting at Home – Go Urban Hiking – I did in Fairhope, AL. 543 Miles Round Trip Same Day!

Click here and join me on another micro adventure to the beautiful southern city of Fairhope, Alabama!

In this micro adventure – Stop Sitting at Home and Go Urban Hiking – I did in Fairhope, AL. 543 Miles Round Trip Same Day! we travel to Fairhope, Alabama. 543.0 miles in one day and back!

Urban Hiking the in the dog friendly town of Fairhope, Alabama was amazing. Great restaurants, shops and quaint boutiques were everywhere in Fairhope, Alabama.

Fairhope, Alabama also has an incredible municipal pier that we visited as well. Southern Living says that if you love the Gulf Coast you’ll fall in love with Fairhope, Alabama. Doesn’t take long to see that’s a true statement!

Hope you enjoy my latest micro adventure – Stop Sitting at Home – Go Urban Hiking – I did in Fairhope, AL. 543 Miles Round Trip Same Day!

Aug 19

Urban Hiking – Ep – 32 – Birmingham Oddities – Better than Ripley’s Believe It or Not?

Click here and join me on another Urban Hiking adventure – Urban Hiking – Ep – 32 – Birmingham Oddities – Better than Ripley’s Believe It or Not?

In this micro adventure, Urban Hiking – Ep – 32 – Birmingham Oddities – Better than Ripley’s Believe It or Not?, I find myself deep in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, on another Urban Hiking Adventure!

So, I’m Urban Hiking as I’m prone to do, when a store sign catches my eye – Birmingham Oddities. So what Urban Hike would be complete without further investigating Birmingham Oddities during this micro adventure.

Now this adventure is different than most I do and will probably never do one like this again, but it reminded me of my childhood. When I was younger I visited the Alabama Natural History Museum and the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Birmingham Oddities reminded me of those places. Thought you might like seeing it…

This micro adventure in Birmingham, Alabama’s, Birmingham Oddities did not disappoint! In fact Birmingham Oddities is a must see destination when in Birmingham, Alabama. Birmingham Oddities is full of those one of a kind gifts! Especially the cool art by Burx! A really talented artist known throughout the Birmingham, Alabama art scene.

The owner/operators of Birmingham Oddities were great people and would love for you to visit their shop when in Birmingham, Alabama!

So I hope you enjoy, Urban Hiking Ep-32 – Birmingham Oddities – The Strangest Store You’ll Ever Visit!

Aug 02

Mountain Brook – Jemison Park – Dogs, Butterflies and a Grist Mill? What?

Click here and join me on another micro adventure as I become an Eyewitness to 2 Worlds Colliding!

In this micro adventure, Mountain Brook – Jemison Park – Dogs, Butterflies and a Grist Mill? What?, I discover 2 worlds colliding!

Jemison Park is located in Mountain Brook, a suburb of Birmingham. Alabama. It’s almost like a Central Park for Mountain Brook with tons of hiking trails in the middle of a neighborhood!

Mtnbrook.org has this to say about Jemison Park: This 54-acre linear park designed for preservation as a green way, is used for walking, jogging, reading, bird watching, and enjoying a picnic. Visitors are able to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature while strolling along Shades Creek. Owls, hawks, raccoons, and fox are among the animals residing in the area, along with abundant native plant species. The natural beauty of the area makes Jemison Park one of the most popular walking attractions in Mountain Brook. The one mile concrete trail connects with the Nature Trail and the Watkins Trace Trail. Because it is tied in with the City’s sidewalk system, it is easily accessible to residents. There are also several parking spaces along Mountain Brook Parkway for parking.

Jemison Park is very dog friendly and has everything nature has to offer in the middle of the city where 2 worlds have collided!

One of the highlights of this micro adventure was an old grist mill. While privately owned it’s a beautiful sight in the middle of the Mountain Brook area. Here’ what the hikingproject.com had to say about the old mill: This is a historic mill built by Robert Jemison Jr. who was also known as the “Father of Birmingham”. The mill is nearly 90 years old and once functioned as a tea room where people came to enjoy tea and soak up the scenery along the banks of Shades Creek. The mill is a picturesque spot, and when the leaves are green and the creek is running high, it makes a great spot for photos.

So I hope you like my latest micro adventure – Mountain Brook – Jemison Park – Dogs, Butterflies and a Grist Mill? What?

Jul 26

Urban Hiking Ep-31 – Bama’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities – Revisited! Bessemer, AL! New Footage!

Click here to join me on another Urban Hiking micro adventure to one of Alabama’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities – Bessemer, Alabama – Revisited with all new footage…

Urban Hiking Ep-31 – Bama’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities – Revisited! Bessemer, AL! New Footage! In this Urban Hiking micro adventure I have new footage of one of Alabama’s top 10 most dangerous cities!

On this micro adventure I find myself urban hiking in Bessemer, Alabama, known as the Marvel City. According to onlyinyourstate.com Bessemer, Alabama is one of Alabama’s most dangerous cities!

In this Urban Hiking micro adventure to Bessemer, Alabama I will walk a lot of miles solo down main streets and back alleys and I always felt safe! In fact Bessemer, Alabama was a very interesting town for urban hiking and offers a lot of history! From and old train depot to a historical courthouse!

So I hope you like my latest micro adventure to Bessemer, Alabama known as the Marvel City -Urban Hiking Ep-31 – Bama’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities – Revisited! Bessemer, AL! New Footage!

Jul 19

Urban Hiking Ep-30 – Bessemer, AL – One of Alabama’s Most Dangerous Cities? What?

Click here and join me as I go Urban Hiking in one of Alabama’s most DANGEROUS cities – Bessemer, Alabama!

It’s time for another Urban Hiking micro-adventure – Urban Hiking Ep-30 – Bessemer, AL – One of Alabama’s most dangerous cities? What?

On this micro adventure I find myself urban hiking in Bessemer, Alabama, known as the Marvel City. According to onlyinyourstate.com Bessemer, Alabama is one of Alabama’s most dangerous cities!

In this Urban Hiking micro adventure to Bessemer, Alabama I will walk a lot of miles solo down main streets and back alleys and I always felt safe! In fact Bessemer, Alabama was a very interesting town for urban hiking and offers a lot of history! From and old train depot to a historical courthouse!

So I hope you like my latest micro adventure to Bessemer, Alabama known as the Marvel City – Urban Hiking Ep-30 – Bessemer, AL – One of Alabama’s most dangerous cities? What?