Glen and Debbie's Fantastic Summer Voyage: Selma Alabama, F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Pine Mt. GA

September 27, 28, 29
Travel to Alabama brought more rain, so much so that I missed the Welcome to Alabama sign:( So, the Welcome to Selma sign it is. Fitting, since Selma is the reason be stopped.

We stopped at the Downtowner for Breakfast but it was 10:01am and breakfast is only served till 10:00a.m. Haha, had I not gone to the ladies room before we tried to order, we would have made it. No worries, we went to Mr. Waffle. It looked exactly like a Waffle House but was not. The waffles were good in spite of the 'butter spread' and the service friendly.

We had listened to a NPR radio program before we got to town to refresh our memories about this historic March from Selma to Montgomery, or should we say 3 marches, it took two impeded tries before they were successful. Bloody Sunday happened on the first try. Martin Luther King was there for the second try but, they were turned back peacefully this time at the bridge. For the third try they had the protection of the National Guard. They needed protection from the Sheriff officers and locals. Some 600 set out for that last march but at the conclusion there were 25,000 in Montgomery.

Did you know the bridge's name sake, Edmond Pettus, was a confederate officer, two term US Senator and Grand Wizard of the Klu Klux Klan? I love it that the bridge is now the best known icon for the Civil Rights Movement.

The march was 54 miles, they marched 12 miles a day and camped in fields each night. There are plaques along Highway 80 showing where the camps were. It took four days. President Johnson signed the Voter's Rights Act 5 months later.

Glen allowed me to walk across the bridge as he drove. It was a memorable experience.

After taking some time on the other side of the bridge checking out Memorials placed there, we headed onward.

Georgia met us with rain as well but it let up later in the day after we settled into the FD Roosevelt State Park. As you can see, it is another beautiful State Park and a fitting place to spend our last 3 days away. We are hiking, reading, and enjoying the scenery.