ALABAMA

Jules’ Journal: “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement”

By: Julianne Lillie, 11/30/22

Since I had a 10 a.m. work call, we decided to have a lazy morning & then leave the RV after my call. And that was a good idea since none of us really slept much last night. We had storms all night in our area (Montgomery, AL) toggling between Tornado Watch to Tornado Warning in the wee hours of the morning. Luckily no tornadoes touched down too close to us! So, needless to say, the sleeping in was much welcomed!

After my call, we got our rain boots on and waded through the muddy mess of our campsite to our truck and headed into Montgomery to explore the Rosa Parks Museum.

Our experience started with a “ride” back in time aboard the Cleveland Time Machine Bus where we learned all about the events that led up to Rosa Park’s refusal to stand. (i.e. Dred Scott decision, abolishing slavery, Jim Crowe laws, segregation, & how the Montgomery bus driver’s degraded colored people with their harsh treatment.) The Time Machine Bus was full of lights, sounds, screens, and movement piloted by a cute little robot.

It was a very creative way to learn! It certainly captured all of our attention and made it fun!

From there, we walked to another room where we were able to witness a re-enactment (from the view of a bystander on the street) of Mrs. Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus and then getting arrested. This was also very creatively portrayed… but unfortunately no photography was allowed in this room.

After that, we entered into a self-guided museum where were able to read about the next events that seemed to fall into place like a domino course. We learned the Montgomery Bus Boycott’s (success after more than a year) was the starting point to desegregation in the US. It was a really neat museum! An excellent and creative way to witness Mrs. Park’s story and all the historic events before and after.

After that, we ate a late lunch at Chick-fil-A! It had been several months since we’ve had the opportunity to eat there, so that was fun! And then Jason had some work to do. So, I worked on ordering some Christmas presents. And Jaycie & Jett each shopped for each other (on their mile long Amazon wishlists) and we got those ordered, too!

Overall, it was a very fun & educational day for us all!

Jaycie’s Bunny Hoppin’ News: “Majestic Caverns”

By: Jaycie Lillie, 12/2/22

We entered the cave entrance and it looked like a secret base!

I made a funny video afterwards… Ha!

The room was BIG! [You could fit a football field long ways and a 12-story building in height wise.]

Of course, like every cave, they turn the lights off so we could see how dark it was. We couldn’t see our hands! The tour guide said that there are only 3 places where you can experience total darkness! But I don’t know about that! I put my blanket over my face last night and it was just as dark!! But the 3 places she said were deep space, deep ocean, and a cave. There was also a waterfall inside the cave!

Unfortunately, no bats though. Some guy nicknamed “Old Popcorn” opened a bar inside the cave where he made and served his moonshine. Some shootouts happened and the bar’s name changed from Cavern Tavern to the Bloody Bucket. Well, you can imagine that caught the police’s attention! Everyone there was arrested but Old Popcorn – he escaped! He hid in the cave for 3 days where he planned to walk straight to Birmingham. And sure enough, that’s what he did!

Also, back in the Civil War times the soldiers made gun powder from bat poop! So they were all excited and tested the powder INSIDE the cave!!! Um… you can see how an idea like this could go very wrong! Cave formations fell from the ceiling!

I couldn’t help but imagination this scenario….

[my imagination]

“Watch out Billy Bob!”

“Ahhh! What’cha do somethin’ dumb like that!??”

“I’m sorry, Billy Bob.”

“Ugh!” said Billy Bob followed by an evil chuckle.

----KKAAAABBBOOOOMMMM!!!!!-----

“O dear!”

“Johnny O’Dan!! Why, you’re gonna get us killed! Bad Idea! RUN!!!!!”

“Sorry!”

“Use your brains next time!”

“Uh, I’ll have to borrow yours…. If there is a next time!”

[End of story.] [They did live… I think.] [Again, that wasn’t really what happened – just my imagination.] [I don’t know about the names.]

This cave was also a sacred place to the Native Americans long before things got blown up! After the cave tour, my Mom and I did a bunch of Christmas Crafts!

Jett’s Wild Flight: “Hidden Forever”

By: Jett Lillie, 12/2/22

We went right into the cave, but as we walk I’m going to tell you about a guy and HIS-story in the cave.

And we're inside the cave!

This random guy named I.W. Wright saw this cave (DeSoto Caverns) and thought he’d go in. He thought it would be a good idea to carve his name into the stone of the cave. But little did he know, he was actually carving his own gravestone! He took a nap and the Indians found him and saw what he had done to their sacred place, so they killed him right where he lay! Crazy!

We got to walk all around the cave. There were some cool features.

We learned other history about the cave that I’m sure my sister told you about. The last thing in the cave was a lazer light show about the reason for the season, which is JESUS!

When we got out of the cave, my dad and I did a basketball trick shot game...

and played putt-putt golf.

We also did Archery, a gyrosphere ride, panned for gold, and found lots of crystals and rocks!

In the words of our tour guide today, “And I just think that’s pretty cool!” (She said that… a lot!)