We built a buffer into our schedule. That way, we figured, if plans went awry we’d still have an extra day to get down to the first race. As it happened everything unfolded beautifully on Day 2 so it was all about seeing as many roadside attractions as we could squeeze into daylight hours. An outstanding string of curiosities hugged both sides of the Alabama – Georgia border south of Columbus.
I concocted a wonderfully inefficient route with a completely unnecessary loop along the border. We probably stopped at more individual places than any other day because we didn’t have a race to worry about that morning. So prepare yourself for a lot of driving and a lot of photos.
Destination: Eufaula, Alabama
Theoretically we only had to make it as far as Eufaula, and the drive from Columbus shouldn’t even take an hour. I guess we could have slept in all morning, driven to Eufaula and fished on the Chattahoochee River the rest of the day like everyone else does. But no, we couldn’t make anything that easy. I would betray the spirit of Twelve Mile Circle if I did something like that.
Museum of Wonder
We arrived at our first destination maybe fifteen minutes outside of Columbus right along our direct route (map). We simply had to stop at the Museum of Wonder Drive Thru. It’s the creation of self-taught outsider artist Butch Anthony, and it included many of his own creations along with all sorts of oddball collectibles he’s gathered over the years.
Visitors drive slowly past shipping containers divided into exhibits and peer through windows along the path. I loved it! I’d do it again if I ever pass through. All this weirdness for a mere buck in the donation slot.
A Tree That Owns Itself
Then we arrived in Eufaula, stopping only briefly this initial time. I pulled over to recognize The Tree That Owns Itself (map). Back in 1936, the City of Eufaula granted a deed of land to the Walker Oak. Later the tree blew down so they replaced it with another tree in 1962. That’s what the little plaque on the cast iron fence said anyway.
I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to see it. I didn’t even turn off the car. Later on we’d experience an even more famous tree that owned itself over in Athens, Georgia. What’s happening down South with all those emancipated trees? I can’t even begin to imagine.
We could have ended this part of the trip right then if we wanted. Our hotel beckoned us by the side of the road as we exited Eufaula (I even pointed it out). But no, many more adventures awaited us that day.
Dothan
Then we arrived at the southernmost extreme of our journey; Dothan, Alabama. I noticed a surprising number of Florida license plates in town while we were there. A local title loan company even advertised its services to Florida drivers. Yes, we were so far south that we nearly hit the Florida border, but not the Florida many of us think of stereotypically. I’m not talking South Beach or mojitos here. It was the subtle tug of Floribama, the Redneck Riviera.
Smallest City Block
Dothan seemed pretty nondescript but it did have the “smallest city block in the world” (map). Well, that’s if you believe the Camellia Garden Club of Dothan that erected a marker on the plot. I’m not sure what made them the arbiter of city block lengths but I do concede that it was rather small. It extended a few paces between a yield sign and a stop sign, over by the police station.
Giant Peanut
But things got more exciting on the south side of town with the giant peanut (map). It marked the entrance to the grounds of the National Peanut Festival. Funny, I thought a peanut festival of such exalted stature might fit better in neighboring Georgia. Well no, Alabama grabbed the title.
Nothing said USA more than a giant roadside peanut! Because it literally had USA stenciled on its side in bold black letters.
Folklore Brewing
So I pondered that notion at nearby Folklore Brewing & Meadery (map). It was early on a Thursday afternoon with plenty of quiet space for contemplation. I could tell from its sheer size that hundreds of people could fit here, and that probably happened on the weekend. On some random mid-week afternoon I had no issues with social distancing though, as I prepared for a loop into Georgia.
Back into Georgia
Naturally I had to get those extra Georgia counties to add to my list. I still had an entire afternoon available to finish my journey too.
Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge
I didn’t realize covered bridges existed in the South but apparently some did. So of course I had to stop at the Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge when I discovered its existence (map). The structure dated to the latter part of the 19th Century but it’s no longer functional. I could only explore it from the outside. This might be the southernmost covered bridge in the United States (or perhaps only in Georgia) according to various Internet claims I never bothered to confirm.
Kolomoki Mounds
Then we wandered over to the Kolomoki Mounds State Historic Park (map). These Woodland period earthworks dated back to between the years 200 and 900. The most impressive structure was the Temple Mound which I posted in the photograph, above.
My wife wondered when the remnants of Paleo-Indian societies started becoming one of my counting things. It seems like we’ve visited a lot of similar sites in recent years, including last summer. Actually I’m not sure it has. We just happen to cross through areas where mound builders once lived. It was there so we might as well pull over and take a look.
Frontier Village
We rounded-out the Georgia leg at the Frontier Village in Fort Gaines (map). At one time there was an actual Fort Gaines near here. It protected early settlers of European descent from the Native American population sometime around 1816. So of course the Frontier Village included a replica of a log blockhouse from the old fort. It also featured several historic structures moved to the site from around the county.
We’d been on the road for awhile so this was a pretty brief stop. I liked the way it sat on a scenic bluff high above the Chattahoochee River.
Return to Eufaula
Then we completed the loop and returned to Eufaula. I had one more destination on my list; a quick one. We had to see the Leroy Brown marker. Leroy Brown was a fish. Undoubtedly the name came from the old Jim Croce song, “Bad Bad Leroy Brown,” which wasn’t about a fish. But I’m guessing the fish was still “meaner than a junkyard dog” and a worthy competitor. Anyway, the marker boldly proclaimed, “Most bass are just fish. But… Leroy Brown was something special.”
We sure crammed in a lot of activities into a single day. To celebrate we had a fine dinner of regional specialties including ribs, fried chicken, mac-and-cheese, rice and corn bread. I’m not sure it was the best choice for the race I had to run the next morning but it seemed fine at the time.
Articles in the Southern Hills Series
See Also: The Complete Photo Album on Flickr.
Leave a Reply