Day 41 - Alabama

Day 41
Nov. 21
Fairhope, AL

Dearest Miss Smith,
    We have just left Fairhope and are on our way to the airport where we will bid farewell to Elizabeth and Susanna. They have been such wonderful companions that already Amy and I are looking forward to the next state that they will join us for.

    The day started out early, for Amy roused us all before the sun was up so that we might watch it rise over the gulf. As you know, I am not prone to early rising; however, this was well worth the effort of rising from my bed and facing the cool morning. The dogs were overjoyed at being taken out that early though they would no doubt have preferred to roam about on their own instead of being on a leash, but such was the requirement at the park.
    How does one describe the sunrise over a vast expanse of water; the almost magical change of colors in the sky and about one, the disappearing of all traces of darkness while the golden ball of fire glows ever brighter with each passing moment? It is an impossibility to even attempt to describe such a scene, Miss Smith, and it would be futile for me to try.

    Our breakfast was enjoyed on the beach after which we all wandered along and admired the white sands and the shells which had washed up during the early morning tide.

    At last it was time to depart. The drive to Fairhope wasn’t long and we soon reached our destination. Since we were to enjoy a ride on a schooner, and having had such a terrible mishap on my last boat tour, I was in doubt as to which hat I should wear. After much anxious discussion with all three of my traveling companions, it was decided that were I to wear my Cris-Cross-Polk-A-Dot hat, it would be fairly easy to secure it firmly to my head so that no chance wind could snatch it from me (as happened, alas, on the hot air balloon).

    We boarded the Joshua, a 72` wooden schooner, to cruise Mobile Bay. Our captain, Carol Bramlett, was wonderful. She invited us to take our turn at the helm and help with the sails. The crew was friendly, showing us how to hoist the sails, tie the ropes and frequently pointing out interesting historical sights along the shores. I am in doubt as to which of us enjoyed it the most.

Though not as wonderful as a train or the biplane of yesterday, it was still charming. The breeze was fresh and invigorating, the sound of the flags snapping in the wind was pleasant, and even Amy, who after her experience of last evening wasn’t too sure about today, didn’t feel the least sick. Perhaps it was the air, though she had plenty of air in the plane.
    We were all reluctant to depart when we at last docked, but it was time to leave, so we bade farewell to the captain and crew and settled ourselves in the RV once again.

    Elizabeth has seen the sign for the exit to the airport, so I must end.

Much love,

~Priscilla

P.S. The flight was delayed so I am sitting here in the airport with the girl’s carry-on luggage while the two of them and Amy take the dogs for a walk.

    I forgot to mention what I purchased for my 50-State hat here in Alabama. Susanna found a little train engine on a key chain and when Amy saw it, she called me over and told me they had found the perfect item for my hat. Amy has taken the key chain off and attached it to the hat now and the girls say it is just the thing. There is even a tiny red head light which will turn on with a switch.

    The girls also surprised me by presenting me with a pin in memory of our train ride at the Dixie RR Museum. I shall wear it proudly.
    The girls have returned and the first call for their flight has been announced.
PDS

Day 40 - Alabama

Day 40

Nov. 20

Gulf State Park, AL

Dear Miss Smith,

It was so much fun being able to go to the beach right after breakfast.

It was so beautiful with the white sand and all. It was the first time I remember looking out to the seeming endless ocean. Susanna and I went immediately to collecting shells. We found two conch shells almost exactly alike and we are going to make matching necklaces.

After spending a short time at the beach, we visited Historic Fort Gaines.

In 1821 construction of the fort on land began. But the Engineers sighted construction too close to Mobile Bay and at high tide, water would enter the works. So after fixing that problem (and many others) the fort wasn't completed until around 1861 after it had been named by Congress in 1853 for General Edmund Pendleton Gaines who won lasting fame for his defense of Fort Erie. After the outbreak of the Civil War, the Confederates finished the final touches.

After visiting Fort Gaines we took the ferry across Mobile Bay to Fort Morgan and then drove to Gulf State Park. Once we got settled we headed over to the "Bird of Paradise" biplane rides.

Oh, it was so much fun! We got to wear leather jackets, helmets and goggles.

Susanna and I loved it while Amy found better joy on ground. She got sick on the ride and says she'll never ride a biplane again! But Priscilla says it was almost as comforting as the train.

Well, I better go since everyone is tired. I hope you are having as much fun as us. See you soon.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

Day 39 - Alabama

Day 39

Nov. 19

Dauphin Island, AL

Dear Miss Smith,
We got up today and after breakfast first thing, Miss Priscilla said I could wear one of her hats. Priscilla has a bunch of hats so it was hard to choose from them all, but I finally choose Lady Diane.

We then drove to Mobile the city where the Conde-Charlotte Museum House (also known as the house of five flags) is.

Five flags have flown over this house- French, English, Spanish, American & Confederate

The house was very interesting it had French rooms,

French

English rooms,

British

and confederate rooms.

Confederate

We decided to take one of the 45 minute tours so we could learn as much as possible. Elizabeth’s and my favorite rooms were the confederate rooms because they were decorated with our favorite color pink.






We had a quick lunch and then drove to USS Alabama.

The USS Alabama was used during WW2. Did you know Miss Smith that the USS Alabama is 680 feet long? We walked on the decks. It was huge. We also saw the aircraft collection. They had tons of planes there. We saw the mess hall, and pavilion. My favorite thing that we did today was walking on the decks.

We then drove to the Dauphin House Bed & Breakfast

where we’re spending the night. I made Miss Priscilla the promised homemade bread today. It turned out pretty good. It’s getting late I guess I better get some sleep.      

Sincerely,

Susanna

Day 38 - Alabama

Day 38

November 18

Montgomery, AL

Dear Miss Smith,

  We made 3 stops today: the first was George Washington Carver’s house at the TuskegeeInstitute, followed by the Tuskegge Human and Civial Rights Multiculural Center. Both were very interesting but I think my favorite place was Priester’s Pecans. I love pecans, so being at that pecan farm was neat!  We got to walk over the farm and then went to the store where they sell all kinds of candy, pies and other gifts having to do with pecans. 

I’ve got quite a collection of candies that I’m sending home (so you folks back there can expect a package soon)… though I must admit, it didn’t all make it into the packages. We indulged ourselves just a bit on some of the stuff and it was delicious!

  I’m sorry this isn’t very long but it’s late and I’m rather more tired than usual, so I shall close this.

Sincerely,

 ~Amy~

P.S. I’m considering tying Priscilla’s hats on top of the RV. They are taking up quite too much space! There are hats everywhere!

Day 37 - Alabama

Day 37

Nov. 17

Tuskegee, Alabama

Dear Miss Smith,

This morning after we drove across Alabama to Cragford we went straight to the Alabama Gold Camp. Once we had parked and I got Priscilla's cowboy hat on (the one she got from Oklahoma), Susanna and I burst into the doors of the General 

General Store

store eager and excited to start panning for gold and other things because you can also find red garnets, fossils, Indian artifacts and citrine, a gold/yellow mineral also known as gold topaz. The General store has a wooden interior and its shelves are stocked with souvenirs.

Once we got settled and found our panning sight, we started panning for gold. After a while our efforts payed off. (And after a lot of hard work.) All together the gold we found weighed 1.7 ounces. We each found several very small red garnets and Susanna found a pea sized piece of citrine which was large compared to our red garnets. Oh, and Amy found the remnants of what we think is some sort of Indian pottery.

After we weighed in the gold, knowing that just one ounce of gold can be hammered out to be about 300 square feet, I sarcastically announced that now Priscilla could line the inside of her RV with gold. And at first she took me seriously! But I assured her I was only teasing.

Well, I better be going for we are pulling into the RV park in Tuskegee were we will spend the night and wake up to another adventure.

Very sincerely,

Elizabeth

Day 36 - Alabama

Day 36

Nov. 16

Calera, Alabama

My Dearest Miss Smith,
    Oh, what a day this has been! So much to tell you of and not nearly enough time to tell about it; however, I’ll do the best I can.
    It has been delightful to have Susanna and Elizabeth along with us for this state since we just had their little sisters for the last one. Susanna said that she had written to Miss Sarah and asked her to share the letter with you, so I do hope you have gotten to read about our first day here in Alabama.
    This morning started out early with breakfast with Josh and Anna. Their three adorable children were all still asleep when we left. Since our first adventure started before sunrise, we had to leave extra early. It was quite thoughtful of Josh and Anna to get up that early just to fix us breakfast. Amy drove to Birmingham where we headed for our hot air balloon ride!

    We were all much excited to be able to ride in a balloon over the Alabama countryside. Not one of us had ever ridden in a balloon before, so all were slightly nervous. We watched as the crew inflated the balloon and, as it began to gradually take shape instead of being just a colorful, flat fabric on the ground, our excitement grew. The dogs, not being allowed to join us for very good reasons, remained behind in the RV. As we all climbed aboard the basket, one of the crew looked at my hat and asked if it was secure. I assured him I had a hat pin in it, and he shrugged.

    Miss Smith, I cannot describe to you the thrill which ran through me as we began our assent. Susanna and Elizabeth were clinging together and practically shaking with excitement. I’m afraid Amy was the only calm one there besides the crew. Up we went, higher and higher. It was so quiet up there that we all felt like whispering. Oh, just to drift along with the breeze far above the land was a sensation I’ll remember forever.

The other thing I’m not likely to forget is the strong gust of wind which came along quite suddenly and unexpectedly.

Farewell Cream Creation

    I was wearing my Cream Creation hat and I had put in a hat pin, but in my excitement I must not have pushed the pin through my hair for alas, alas, when that wind came along, off sailed my hat through the air out of reach, and we could do nothing as we watched it fall, fall, fall, until it was out of sight. As you can imagine I was nearly devastated for I have had that hat for years and it was so quaint. Amy offered comfort for my loss by remarking, quite cheerfully, that perhaps it dropped on the head of a cow who wore it home and some little girl found it. Ah, perhaps that is so. I will at least hope so, for to think of that Cream Creation dangling from a tree branch to be soaked by rain, torn by waving branches, gnawed on by curious creatures and at last destroyed beyond repair by the ravages of the coming winter is a thought too dreadful to consider.
    The rest of the ride was just as enjoyable though I was still a trifle saddened by my loss. Many were the sighs as our balloon finally touched our basket to the earth once more.

    After bidding the crew goodbye and taking the dogs for a quick run, we again headed out for more adventure. I drove this time as we headed south to Calera to experience the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum.
    We were the only ones at the Museum and enjoyed a leisurely look around. It was fascinating to see the switchboard, telegraph, signal lights and other items used in railroading. Then the most exciting part of the day came for me. It even made up for my lost hat, though I shall miss it.

    As the four of us were walking out to the steam train to climb aboard and enjoy our ride, the engineer looked us over and said, “Would any of you like to learn to drive this train?”
    Miss Smith, I was perfectly speechless for several minutes while I stared at the engineer in blank astonishment. Could he really be talking to us and did he really mean it?
    Amy jerked her thumb in my direction and replied, “She would.”
    Somehow I managed to mumble, “Would I like to drive a train? You’re not joking?”
    “No, Ma’am. Since ya’ll are the only ones here, an’ different times through the year we give lessons in driving this engine, I thought one of you’d like ta try it.”
    “Would I ever!” I exclaimed, fairly bursting with excitement. Imagine, me, driving a train! “What do I do first?”
    The brakeman came over and after looking me over said, “You’ll need closed-toe shoes, long pants, a long sleeve shirt and a hat--” His gazed stopped at my hat for I was wearing my “white wings” hat.

"White Wings"

    Amy told me to borrow a pair of her overalls and she’d go buy me a train hat from the gift shop. So, as she, Susanna and Elizabeth hurried in one direction, I hurried in the other and we all soon returned. I do wish you could have seen me, Miss Smith. I was told I was a regular “Casey Jones.”

    Oh the delights of the gauges and gadgets, the levers and switches, the bells and whistles. I never knew there was so much to driving a steam train. I had to take on water and coal and then, oh joy! I drove the train! Of course the real engineer and brakeman were with me, but it was me, Priscilla De Silvosa, who drove #75 down the track! I thrill to my very toes when I recall those proud moments. It was a dream come true which I never thought in all my years would happen.

    There is nothing quite like the comfort and ease of traveling by train, Miss Smith. Even the glorious flight in a hot air balloon cannot equal a train. Amy disagrees with me and says that a large pickup truck is the best way of traveling. Imagine! Sometimes I almost despair of her ever learning the finer refinements of the past. As for Elizabeth and Susanna, they took neither side but seemed to enjoyed the train ride as they had the hot air balloon.
    After my wonderful, never to be forgotten trip was over, and I had slowly climbed down from the engine, and waved a final farewell to the engineer and brakeman, the four of us wandered about the gift shop a little longer.

    We all agreed to drive a little ways before supper, and since I was still rather giddy with the excitement of actually driving a train, Amy begged to drive, and I let her. The younger girls chattered almost non stop about the day as we drove. As our stomachs began to rumble with hunger, Amy turned into an RV park for the night.
    Susanna and Elizabeth made supper all by themselves while Amy rode her bike and gave Timber a chance to run and I walked Penelope at a slower pace. The meal was ready when we returned and quite delicious I might add. Susanna has promised to bake bread for us later on. Fresh bread, Miss Smith! What a treat that will be!
    And now I suppose I should join the others in the bedroom and get some sleep. Timber and Penelope are already asleep curled up beside each other near my feet.
    Good night, Miss Smith. I’m sure another adventure awaits us just beyond the next sunrise.

~Priscilla

Day 35 - Alabama

Day 35

November 15

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Dear Miss Sarah,

We spent most of the day at Helen Keller’s birthplace in Tuscambie, Alabama. Helen Keller was blind, deaf, and mute.

Helen & Anne

We first explored Ivy Green, the house. It was called Ivy Green because of all the English ivy that grew there. We saw the parlor, the dining room and two bedrooms downstairs. Upstairs were the trunk room, boy’s room, and last Anne and Helen’s room. 

We also saw the exhibits in the museum room. Outside we saw the cottage and boxwood circle where Helen used to play as a child. We had to see the very pump where Helen learned her first word. Then we looked at the memorial stone. Almost being time to go we hurried and saw the New Zealand gate. They also had lots of gardens.

My favorite part was seeing the water pump. This water pump opened up Helens mind to new things.

We left and headed to Josh and Anna’s house (Friends of Bekah's.) in Tuscaloosa for the night. They grilled for us. We all liked holding the baby so much that we had to take turns. I think Priscilla enjoyed it the most. After playing with the kids we played some games. Need to go, it’s getting late.

Sincerely,

Susanna

P.S. Please share this with Miss Smith since no one else can write her today.