Catfish Cabin - Albertville AL - USA

That's right folks - Alabama USA!

I have taken to the Air and landed in North Alabama where DD & I have been treated to some "Southern Hospitality", and a special treat was to be taken to Catfish Cabin.

I could easily become a fan of the delicate flavour of this fish, and the accompanying Hush Puppies (Cornbread balls) which are so moorish that our hosts ordered a second helping.

With a side of 'hand-cut' coleslaw and French Fries it was a perfect meal to round off a very long and adventure filled day.

Hush Puppys & Coleslaw

What a Day in Alabama USA -

I am sitting in the quiet on the back porch of my Hosts home, watching the gentle rain just drop out of the sky, only broken by the leaves on the trees of the Oak 'Forrest' that is in front of me.  It is very peaceful, but I am afraid it has put a dampener on a lot of folks 4th July plans.
BUT - yesterday was a different story.  It was a cool day for the middle of Summer and we set off to go down a few 'rabbit holes' - Just like Alice, we found so many wonderful things that left us in awe, and gave our cameras a good work out.

First stop was Noccalula Falls, where it is said an Indian Princess threw herself over the edge rather than being forced to marry someone she didn't love. It was a pretty place to stop and stretch our legs before driving the Little River Canyon Ridge Road, where we stopped at all the lookouts for more photos.

One of the things I like to do when out and about is collect interesting signs.  So I snapped this one.  Expecting it only to warn us of a traffic Island, we were stunned to round the bend to be confronted by these massive rocks that would have been very comfortable guarding the entrance to Middle Earth or perhaps they were Trolls caught out in the rising sun?

Either way they would make a fantastic movie set!
I couldn't quite work out where thay had fallen from, so decided that as they were indeed  ancient, and quite possibly had just had the surrounding soil errode away over the passage of time.








I wonder what interesting things I will see today - if the rain lets up?

And to all my American readers - Happy 4th of July!

Cathedral Cavern - Alabama USA

I don't like being underground, but I will put that fear to one side when I have the opportunity to see inside a Cave.
Not your 'garden variety hole in the cliff' type cave - I mean the one's with the most spectacular formations made over millennia by the constant trickle of water through Limestone.

North Alabama USA is said to have the one of the highest densities of these caves in the world. Whilst we were visiting, we were fortunate to be taken to Cathedral Cavern.

Entrance from Inside the Cavern

To say it was HUGE is putting it mildly - not the largest cave in the area - but the largest we have been in. With 1.3 miles (round trip) of paved walkway to a point in the cavern where they just could not go any more - and still there were formations and tunnels ahead.

It is very difficult to get a decent photograph in these conditions and keep up with the tour group but I managed these few to share.

This formation was used in the filming of the 1995 Disney movie "Tom & Huck".

The Cavern is also home to what is said to be the largest Column in the world "Goliath" measuring 14m tall x 74m in circumference.
(that's big and very, VERY old).

We got here!

Hi everyone and greetings from Huntsville Alabama!

What can I say?  The trip was VERY long and we were VERY tired by the time we got here.
Arriving in Nashville airport was a treat - It has got to be the most beautiful and comfortable airport we had passed through to date. (Although Auckland was pretty spiffy too!)

Huntsville is a very pretty town with the most beautiful streetscaping.  The sight of sweeping lawns and Crepe Myrtle in full bloom down every street and in every carpark is just breathtaking.

Our Hosts have spoilt us with sights of Chipmunks and Squirrels and Fireflies... and that was without leaving their house!

I have missed my promised Photo a day, as I have had issues with my small tablet not wanting to talk to my Camera, so unfortunately I will have to post without photos for the moment.
(I'll come back and put them in later when the issues have been sorted.... PROMISE!)

.... and I do have some wonderful photos to share.

* * * * * *

Promise kept. . .

 It has taken me a while but here is the promised photo - Red Crepe Myrtles in the streets.

Our Bags are packed ...

We're ready to go.


I am hoping to be able to post a photo a day
So, check back occasionally
and join me in my first trip to the USA !

Lena's Cafe One - Reservoir

2017 UPDATE:
This Cafe is permanently closed and looks like it will be part of a re-development of the corner property.

* * * * * *

2016 UPDATE:
Arthur and Lena have sold their Cafe to new owners and I am yet to go see what they have on offer.
With the recent building of the new Reservoir Library next door, parking is still available but not accessed through the lane-way (now a pedestrian mall).

* * * * * *

I have been resisting writing up this lovely new Cafe for a while, as I am not sure  if I wanted to "Share it" with everyone just yet!  <VBG> But it is just too good to keep to myself.

When Lena's opened almost a year ago on the corner of Edwards Street and Spring Street,  I wondered how it was going to survive but I have discovered that it is ideally situated.

Just across the road from the Reservoir Train Station and with a Bus stop outside the door, it has plenty of passing traffic.  The Reservoir Civic Centre and Police Station with their huge off street car park is just next door.

The owners, (Husband and Wife team Arthur and Lena) are vibrant people who love their work and it shows in their food.

The cabinets are always stocked with the most delicious assortment of Focaccia, Pizza, Quiche, Croissants and Salad to make into healthy sandwiches.  Or browse the menu board for something HOT. My favourite is the Warm Lamb Salad.

If that is not what you are looking for,
then there is the fresh made Juice option
or Yoghurt
or Ice-cream
or just Coffee and Cake.

Well worth a visit.




Lena's Cafe One
1 Edwards Street
Reservoir Vic 3073
Ph: 9090 7002

Now THAT wasn't on the Calender

Regular visitors (to my Aussie Kilted Quilter Blog) will be aware that I have a LOT on my calendar this year. Things were settling into a plan (of sorts) and I was thinking 'Yes I CAN do this'.  And then DD came home and said....

"Mum - I need to go to a Conference - Will you come with me?"

To many of my readers it is a common occurrence to pack bags "Jump on a 'plane" and end up somewhere else - BUT....

believe it or not ...

I have never flown ...

anywhere ...

before ...

You may well guess by the photo that this is NOT a 'local' conference.

Now, I love going on adventures and this is going to be one BIG adventure.

I have worked out that by the time I get back home 

I will have flown 35,000 km  

on 9 different types of Aircraft, 

cooling my heels in 7 different airports, 

over the space of 17 days.

And I have been reliably informed that I will be travelling through ...
a Gazillion timezones!

I realise that it would be daft to go all that way, just to go to a conference. Without seeing anything - other than the insides of airports and the conference venue (albeit a very NICE conference venue). Therefore, I have planned a little side trip to visit an Internet Friend on the way. 

So folks .. in a little over Three Weeks DD and I will be on our way to Alabama then on to Michigan!

AND - If anyone has any hints on what to do in an airport for 8 hours - your comments will be appreciated!!!