Guntersville State Park & Wedding Prep Ride

As Yogi Berra would say, “it’s déjà vu all over again”.

 

We were running just a tad late when we pulled into the Shoney’s parking lot. The plan was to meet at 9:00, eat the buffet and head out. We would have been early but Chick was wishing she had her chaps about a mile out from the house. She told me not to but I turned back anyway. I wanted her to be comfortable and I thought we  were good on time.

 

Russell, Paris, David and Pam were standing out by the bikes. There was another bike and a Couple I didn’t recognize standing there with them.

“It’s all her fault!”, I yelled over the engine as I was backing into the spot next to them. “She just had to go back and get those chaps!”.

 

Karen jabbed me in the arm. “Don’t listen to him, he insisted we go back; said we had plenty of time!”.

 

The bike I didn’t recognize, as it turned out,  belonged to Eddy and Shelly. Shelly  is Pam’s cousin and  they decided they would come along for the ride. This first thing I hear as I’m getting off the bike; “Did you bring a camera, cause none of us did”. “Did I bring a camera? Does a fat baby poot? Of course I brought a camera.”

 

“No!, Looks like we’re just SOL I guess.”

By - Wendell Rogers - Aka: Rocketcitymadman, Photography by Pam Bodie and Wendell Rogers

Alabama the Beautiful!

New found friends, Eddy and Shelly

Click on any of the pictures to see more pictures from that day.

Back

Judging from the scoffs and the funny looks toward my direction, one might think they didn’t believe me. I opened the trunk. “I think I have us covered”, I said as I lifted up two still cameras and one video. I passed one of the stills to Pam and assigned the video to Karen. Once we got the camera assignments out of the way David made it clear he was hungry and we could stand out here if we

wanted, but he was getting something to eat. He wasn’t getting any argument from me. I’ve never met a buffet I couldn’t form a friendship with.

 

The idea for this ride got its start about week earlier when Karen and I met with Pam, her daughter, and the rest of her family at Bandito

Burrito to discuss the photography for her daughter’s wedding coming up in May. Since the wedding will take place at the Lodge at Lake Guntersville State Park, and since when I’m shooting a wedding at a place I’ve never shot before I like to take a quick look around the location to get the feel for the place and scout the ”good shot” locations,  what better way to get that done and enjoy  ourselves at the same time than to plan a ride! Pam and David wanted to see that homestead we visited when Kevin lead us on the ride after the February meeting so we just planned to repeat the whole thing plus add a trip up to the lodge. Some rides just get better every time you do it and this one was no exception. Thanks again Kevin, we enjoyed it this time as much as the last.

 

With a good breakfast under our belt we left Shoney’s a little after 10:00. David needed to top off his tank so we planned to stop in Gurley before heading up Keel Mountain. About half way out, as I’m making one of my normal glances in the rearview to make sure everyone's still in tow, I see David coming up fast on my left. I’m thinking something's wrong. I slow down and he pulls up beside me while Pam snaps a picture of me and Chick. “Well all right!” Looks like I assigned that camera to the right person! We’ll overlook the fact that the only shot she got during that little run up the line was of 

This is what it’s all about!

Cruising atop Keel Mountain!

Hidden Treasures!

Russell and Paris.  That’s ok, though. As you can tell by all the scenery pictures from the bike, she more than made up for it.

 

At the station in Gurley, while David’s topping off, I run in to get some batteries for the camera Pam’s using and in no time we’re taking a right up Keel Mountain Road and rounding the corner on the first 180. The V-Twins roared to life and never once flinched all the way up.

 

We crossed Keel Mountain at a leisurely pace taking in all the splendor of the gorgeous Spring day. Although not quite there, the

temps were climbing and I knew before long we would be shedding the leathers for some light weight gear.  We headed off the back side through the twists and shade of the overhanging trees, down onto the flats at the foot of the mountain, taking a left onto Cherry Tree Road and a right onto New Hope Cedar Point Road. For the next five or six miles we wound our way through the valley, passing through Nebo, Poplar Ridge and downtown New Hope. From New Hope we rode New Hope Hwy out to US-431, stopping at Kellers Tackle & grocery for a bathroom break and to grab something to drink. 

 

Just as  you get the first glimpse of Whitaker Lake coming through the community of

It’s much prettier in person!

You never know when the Woods might come callin’!

Cottonville, we took a left onto Cottonville Road leading us to a wonderful little place nestled up against the mountain. This is the place that Kevin took us to on the ride back in February. Complete with a natural bridge, a waterfall trickling down though the rock formations,  caves and beautiful flower garden, it reminds me of a scene from an artist’s painting. No matter how many times I come to this place I’ll never tire of just looking at it. The only thing better is seeing the faces of those who see it for the first time.

 

No one was in a hurry to leave. Paris made it clear she was ready to stay, but eventually we climbed CR-19 up the mountain through

Awwwhhhh! Nice!

Bucksnort, passing through Grant, and eventually back down the mountain to Scottsboro Hwy. AL-79 took us along side the lake, through Columbus City before dumping us out on 431 and across the bridge where we stopped at the Guntersville Welcome Center. From this point David took the lead the rest of the way to the Lodge. It had been a while since I’d been there and he knew the way.

 

Being a perfect Spring day brought out just about every motorcycle in North Alabama. There were only four bikes in our group but there were countless groups and at times we  all looked like one big string of V-Twin.

She loves him in spite of his VIOTORY Shirt!

L-R: Eddy, Shelly, Pam, David, Wendell, Karen, Paris and Russell

Huggin’ a curve near you!

You can go home if you want to, I’m staying right here!

see it. I guess we spent a good hour and a half looking around and enjoying each others company.

 

It was going on 4:00 and we were all getting hungry. The plan all along was to hit the Top O’ the River for dinner so we loaded up and headed back down the mountain, but not before making a swing around the park area. With a quick stop at the State Park Grocery so David could stock up on his pickled favorites, we left it all behind us heading for dinner. By the way the Hot Dill Pickles were good! The only thing was they weren’t dill. Must have been mislabeled. Let me tell you, the taste buds had a train wreck expecting dill and getting sweet!

 

We got to Top O’ the River about 4:00 and in no time we were enjoying turnip greens, fried pickles, pickled onions, coleslaw and good ole southern cornbread right from the cast iron skillet; and that was just the appetizers. We’ve been here two or three times and always look forward to coming back. With our belly’s full we loaded up and made our way back home. Sure the ride back was enjoyable but no where near as much as the ride out. Kind of funny that way isn’t it?  I know I said this at dinner but, guys,  I absolutely, thoroughly, enjoyed myself. When Karen and I bought the Kingpin we new we would enjoy ourselves but never dreamed we would be so lucky to find  such wonderful friends to share it with. Till next time, ride safe!

Other than the smell from the dog food plant the ride up to the lodge was pure enjoyment but was over all too soon. Before we knew it we were parked in a nice shady spot just outside the steps of the newly renovated lodge. I understand the renovation took quite a while to complete but judging from what we saw I would say it was well worth the wait.

 

While Pam and I went about looking over the facilities, discussing the photography possibilities and designing the layout of the reception area, the rest of the group explored the lodge and grounds but mostly lounged out on the upper terrace overlooking the lake. The view was magnificent and every bit worth the effort of making the drive, just  to