Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier
The Path Less Traveled Discovering Ancient Alabama
The path less traveled always seems to lead to greater discovery. My GPS suggests three roads to my destination, Moundville Archeological Park in West Alabama. I choose the scenic—and, as it turns out, most interesting drive through picturesque countryside, taking me through Selma, Uniontown, Newbern, and Greensboro. Sadly, the once pretty business districts of Selma and Uniontown are deteriorating. But I still prefer this route. Interstate 65 North to Birmingham then west to Tuscaloosa is boring. And Highway 82 straight-up-themiddle is busy and hazardous.
Studio; and, like, this was a late eighteen hundred’s bank building that they rebuilt and turned into the library. And then everybody donated books—way more books than we could even use.” I smile, and donate one more, a copy of my novel, Lawson’s Bluff. Then, as recommended, I ease down the street to Newbern Mercantile, established 1926, for a burger, fries and tea. On the way out, I grab a great looking Newbern Mercantile T-shirt.
About half way to Greensboro, I pass boys standing along the road in 90-degree heat, holding signs that invite My first serendipitous surprise in the me to stop for prayer. How refreshing. middle of nowhere is discovering What the heck. I turn around, go back Wayside and get in line. Two ladies and a nice Bakery. It’s a gentleman cover quarter mile me—and my Archeological Site off Alabama car—with prayer; Exhibit 61 just south and send me of Newbern. off with a gift of But I’m too hand sanitizer, the “Auburn late. They Lysol wipes, and Rural Studio” close at noon a small metal to create— on Saturdays. box containing from whatever Maybe next a pencil and materials they trip. Farther pad. The box is can salvage— along, my inscribed with structures like creative juices the words, “Give the fire station are stimulated it to God.” What across the street by the quaint a blessing! For from Newbern community of certain, I’m on Mercantile. Ancient Pottery Display Newbern with the path less Moundville Archeological Site I stop at the its charming traveled. But it’s public library and historic structures. In Newbern, I the right path! where I encounter a bevy of nice ladies explore “Baby Street” and photograph and introduce myself as a writer of beautiful old homes, then snap a photo I enter and peruse the town of books. They inform me about what to of what appear to be large snakes poking Greensboro, County Seat of Hale County. do and see in Newbern, and what they their heads up from the tall grass of a I’m drawn to the green water tower that like about the community. One pretty farmer’s field. But I discover they’re only features a menacing catfish leaping off its lady tells me, “I’ve been here about silly geese impersonating snakes. side with the message CATFISH CAPITOL fifteen years and the thing I love about OF ALABAMA. Greensboro looks like the little town is just the people who Newbern is famous for its connection a town I might like to explore further live here. They’ve kept it so well. And to the Auburn University School of someday. But I need to keep moving. all these old buildings have been kept Architecture. Students come here to up by the Auburn Architectural Rural
36 BOOM!
September 2021
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