Bankhead National Forest

I’m here! After 6 days on the road, I’ve arrived at Bankhead National Forest for my very first campground host volunteer job.

Driving here from Birmingham, I am reminded of West Virginia: gentle mountains, tall trees, turning leaves, 2 lane windy mountain roads – but these are all paved even tho there’s no shoulder.

Not densely populated at all but there are a lot more homes along the road then there were in West Virginia. Of course, I’m talking 44 years ago or so! But the houses here look old: small, mountain homes, affluent appearing, lots of yard and yard sales and I passed two flea markets scheduled on the weekend!

The campground itself is gorgeous also: deep in the woods with 40’ tall trees, so silent with nature sounds only – the wind, crinkly brown leaves stirring, insects buzzing and chirping, few birds this afternoon.

The sites are secluded and spaced out, no overcrowding here!

The asphalt loop circles round to buffer the lake at the western most tip! The lake looks calm, reflecting percisely on it’s glossy surface the fall trees that surround it. I see a boat ramp but not a beach or swimming area – tomorrow I will go exploring!

Few campers – but the ones that are here all seem to have huge rv’s with the prerequisite four door pick-up truck. Several have large u.s.a. flags strewn over their site and I noticed one with a picture of soldiers under the flag. Hmmmm

No one is here to show me where to go but I eventually find the “reserved camp host” sign at one of the sites, pull in, open up, and set up for the duration!

No cell, no internet so don’t know when this will get posted.