The Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail is the central Alabama version of the popular birding trails like the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail and the North Alabama Birding Trail.

What is a birding trail?

A birding trail is a collection of locations where bird lovers and other folks can go to observe some of Alabama’s renowned diversity of bird species.  The Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail is organized into three “loops.”

The Lake Martin Loop, obviously, is the part of the trail that will be closest to Lake Martin. Some of the observation points are directly on the water of the lake, such as the DARE Park and the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail head.  Others will take you off the water, but to nonetheless interesting spots like Horseshoe Bend National Military Park.

The new trail has already earned some attention.  Deborah Storey covered it in this Hunstville Times article.

For what it is worth, I think this is an outstanding idea and brilliant marketing on the part of the various Chambers of Commerce that worked together to get this done.  I congratulate the Alexander City Chamber for taking the lead on it.  Even if you are not a “birder” – you should realize that birding related tourism is a really big business, and Alabama is a mecca.

Furthermore, it offers yet another thing to do off of the water for people who love Lake Martin.  Fall is the time of year that I think gives you the best chance to hike, bike, and explore the area around the lake.

Speaking of things to do, how many of you have never been to Horseshoe Bend National Military Park?  Why not? It is only about 10 miles off of highway 280 between Dadeville and Alex City.  The dedication ceremony gave me a perfect excuse to tour through it again. When I was growing up, we had oodles of school trips out there.  As a child, I never appreciated the sheer beauty of that park, nor did I grasp the historical significance of a battle that shaped the destinies of millions of acres of land, entire nations of native Americans, and at least one President.  (Hint: check a $5 bill).

After my tour the other day, I was really getting my nature, my history, and my local pride groove on.  I went wild in the Park’s gift shop, buying several (my wife rolled her eyes) books about The Battle, this area’s history, and nature.  My fellow nerds will please note I added them to my Lake Martin Voice Library.  Check them out, they are excellent reads.

To see my other pictures of the opening of the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail, and Horseshoe Bend Park in general, please see:

Flickr Photo Set by Lake Martin Voice

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Their stated purpose is: “building a better Alabama and preparing for future disasters.”

They want to hear feedback from people in the Lake Martin area who were affected by the April 2011 tornado.

For more information about this meeting, please contact the TRAC directly through their website: TRACalabama.org

Here is their flyer:

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(I’m reposting my intro to the piece, too.)

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(2008) Lake Magazine has a section called “My Lake Martin” where (apparently) they allow just about anybody to submit an article about the lake. They were kind enough to print one I submitted.

I was inspired to write an ode about a window unit air conditioner that we used to have in our cabin. Judging by its girth and sound, it had to have been made in the 1940s. Its brand name was “Kelvinator.” That’s what we called it, as in “it’s hot in here, turn on the Kelvinator.” When things are around that long, they deserve individual respect.

It’s kind of like how we refer to one of the couches as “The Herculon” as in q: “where is mainsail?” a: “stuffed behind The Herculon” or q: “why are you sweating so bad?” a:”it’s The Herculon – laying on it makes me sweat.”

Anyway,I digress.

Lake Martin cabins and window units are inseparable in my mind.

Here it is

An Ode In Praise of the Window Unit

My Lake Martin is a realm ruled by the window unit air conditioner.

Like polyester, it is a reminder of that which once was a point of pride, and is now no longer en vogue.

Oh, woe, and lastima to those who have nay slept below your frigid roar, o humble window unit!! While now your presence draws scorn from some and mockery from the rest, I weep in melancholy for the children of centralized systems who will never know your utility and hypnotic effects.

When the lake melted the zinc oxide from our noses and allowed sunrays to redden our skin, it was you, dear window unit that blew icicles to ease our suffering. You erased our memory such that we were burned the next day and the next.

When our parents were tired of hearing our noise, they declared it “nap time” – and shoved all us kids into one room. You alone watched over us with your rhythmic rumbling machinations. If we didn’t fall asleep, like a favorite uncle you made more noise than we so that the parents never noticed.

We feared you, mighty window unit – where once you were asbestosly insulated, through service your wiring became loose, exposed, menacingly copper, always one mere spark from setting the cabin in irreversible deathly flames, yet we needed you to survive a scorching August.

Lest you take an undignified backwards fall out of your perch and into the yard, we propped you up with an old board wedged into the ground, yet you never complained. Simpering Whines were foreign to you whose hazardous lead innards percolated and spewed pre-war freon. To you, brave window unit, fretting over the ozone layer was for sissies, you had kids to keep cool.

Just as God and Alabama Power mysteriously raised the lake as azaleas are reborn, so too, you were a mystery, our beloved window unit. Each spring when we first plugged you into that Tesla coil of a socket , we wondered if you could breathe once again. Not as lovely as the dogwood, yet as reliable, you awakened decade after decade despite our lack of routine maintenance. You always shook off the leaves and dead lizards to toe the line one more time.

Window unit – Thy name was Kelvinator.

Forgive us for tossing thy corpse into the woods sans pomp or due praise.

You deserved better.

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The tornado, now rated as an EF-4, traveled northeast from Children’s Harbor, crossed the Kowaliga Bay section of Lake Martin, and ripped through Bard’s Lane and the entrance to the Ridge before hitting Windermere, especially the Windjammer point section.

I recently sold a home on Windjammer, so I had some “before” photos and video in inventory to contrast against the tornadic destruction. Here’s a video that I made:

Click here to view the embedded video.

My friend and fellow Lake Martin realtor Mimi Rush was blessed to have survived the tornado in Windermere while crouching in the closet with her 5 year old and her husband.  Here’s a link to a good video by the Montgomery Advertiser of her explaining the ordeal.

How to Help Victims of the Lake Martin Tornadoes

Not all of the victims of the Lake Martin tornadoes were those with comfortable second homes on the waterfront with plenty of insurance. In fact, the most affected areas are the blue collar communities surrounding Lake Martin.

Click here to help Lake Martin Tornado Help.com

More Lake Martin Tornado Photos, Video, and Other Coverage

Video Update On Lake Martin Tornado Damage

Tornado Damage & A Survival Story on County Road 34

Lake Martin Voice Photos on Flickr

Kenneth Boone Photos

Lake Martin Dock Company Photos

Montgomery Advertiser Photo Gallery

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Click here to view the embedded video.

Then we got in the boat, took shots of the Cocktail Slough, then went around to Windermere.  Windjammer Road, etc. seemed to be hit the hardest.  Oddly enough, there were 2 water patrol guys in that slough, one of which pulled us over and said they were watching for looting, and asked our business in the slough.

Next we went over into Blue Creek.  I heard on WSFA that Stillwaters was hit,  but it looked almost unscathed from the water.  The tornado really went north of there, where Rush Road and Sims Road turn off of Impy Road off of 34.  Mind blowing.

For everyone who has called asking about our cabin, it’s fine – thanks for asking.  Three of my fellow Lake Martin Realtors have lost their homes, but they are ok. There were fatalities in the greater Lake Martin area, and our prayers go out to those who have lost property, but even more importantly, lives.

For more images of the tornado’s aftermath at Lake Martin:

Lake Martin Voice Photos on Flickr

Kenneth Boone Photos

Lake Martin Dock Company Photos

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The new owners of Hotel Talisi have apparently lost everything, and are in need of our help.  A donation fund has been set up by one of the members of lakemartin.com forum.

If you would like to help out, please send any donation to:

Bodenburg/Shores Fund
c/o Banktrust
P.O. Box 780607
Tallassee, AL 36078
(334) 283-7000

Any donation will help.  According to this post on the forum, “It is a total loss…..Some really great local folks put a lot of work into refurbishing it. It caught fire from a building behind which caught fire. A wonderful couple who moved from Minnesota were living in and managing the hotel. They got out with their lives Thank GOD, however, they have lost everything including their jobs and insurance.”

Thanks!

Coverage of the fire in the Montgomery Advertiser:

1. Tallassee plans meeting on downtown area Thursday Thu Dec 10, 2009

   Tallassee will hold a town hall meeting Thursday evening to discuss the future of the city’s downtown. A fire destroyed the Hotel Talisi on Nov. 30. The landmark was considered the anchor of downto… more…

2. Juvenile in custody, charged in Tallassee blaze Wed Dec 9, 2009

   A 17-year-old male remains in custody for his involvement in last week’s early morning blaze that swept through the city’s downtown area and eventually destroyed Hotel Talisi, one of Tallassee’s ma… more…

3. Juvenile may be charged as adult in Hotel Talisi fire Wed Dec 2, 2009

   The Elmore County district attorney’s office wants to charge as an adult a juvenile accused of starting the fire that destroyed the historic Hotel Talisi. If the juvenile is tried as an adult, the … more…

4. Blaze destroys Tallassee icon Wed Dec 2, 2009

   One of Tallasee’s most historic landmarks was destroyed by an early-morning blaze that swept through the city’s downtown area on Monday. An effort by more than 100 firefighters from nine different … more…

5. Investigators: Hotel Talisi fire began to cover up burglary Tue Dec 1, 2009

   TALLASSEE – Investigators believe a fire that destroyed a landmark hotel in east Alabama was started to hide a burglary in a nearby business. A spokesman with the state fire marshal’s office, Ragan… more…

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A couple of months ago, I got on a kick to read a bunch of history related books about Lake Martin.  I even went so far as to create Lake Martin Voice Library.  There are quite a few good ones out there that go into much rich detail about the land before the lake, the Indians, the settlers, and the people that developed it after the dam.

Sandwiched in between those readings, I returned again and again to a privately published collection – Growing Up by Bailey Jones.

I had heard of him before. I used to look forward to reading his column every month in Lake Martin Living. To me, it was a highlight of the magazine.  So you can imagine my pleasure to secure a copy of this book, a collection of some of his more popular columns.  At first I figured his quick reads would supply a brief palette cleanse in between chapters of history.  Yet I found myself sneaking more reading time on Bailey’s book instead of doing my homework.

I have been writing this blog for a couple of years now, and some of my more complimentary friends joke that I am the Garrison Keillor of Lake Martin.  Hogwash.   My writing stinks in comparison.

I say Bailey Jones is the Garrison Keillor of Lake Martin, except without the nose whistle and constant references to Scandinavian superiority.  Plus, I doubt Keiller has any real skilz like catching frogs and running from responsibility, getting stuck and unstuck in red clay mud.  Has Keillor known both the impotent feeling when the outboard won’t crank, and the Ragnar the Viking like thrill when it roars to life, when you have to hang on to the jon boat with one hand and steer with the other?

I think it’s relatively easy to spin fictional fables about the frozen north.  Give me a writer who can catch ring necks, get out of yard work, conquer wasps, scare weaklings in the dark, and take a good nap.

That’s why it doesn’t matter where you like to go on Lake Martin, you will see yourself in Bailey’s childhood memories. His book isn’t filled with location specific stories.  In fact, I only figured out where his cabin was by reading a (now timely) piece about the original Catherine’s.

It doesn’t really matter that you currently own or rent a place on the lake. If you read this book, and have taken it personally when you don’t catch fish, or have known the pride of a decent TV antenna giving you clear reception in otherwise bandless lands, then you will smile and nod as you read.

His dedication to boredom, to doing absolutely nothing, is chief among his wise advice. That’s what I loved the most about going to the lake when I was young, was the nothing.  I guess now “experts” would call it time for creativity.  Whatever.  But Jones gets the fact that the most fun, the richest experiences are gained when nothing is going on.  Do you want a total immersion experience? Why travel to France when it’s available in Elmore County?

When I was growing up, especially in my post teenage years, we Coleys tested each of my new girlfriends (such as they were) and my sisters’ boyfriends by one simple rule – do they love the lake? If we sensed any sort of hesitation about swimming in the lake, they were out.  If they did not absolutely swear that the Blounts put on the best fireworks show, they were traitors.  If they so much as raised an eyebrow at The Herculon and Kelvinator, well, they never got a second chance. Sure, it was an extreme standard.  But Jones gets it, and I hope he would approve.

I could go on and on, but I guess I would risk over-hype.  I will say this – buy the book.  Go to Bailey Jones’ website here and order it.  When I scrape together some more advertising dollars, I will be buying 10 more copies.  In all the Lake Martin homes I tour, I have never seen this one sitting on the coffee table.  I’d like to think that those who are in the know, and own the book, have it sitting, well read and well loved, on their bedside table.

Just don’t buy the book if you want to know about the number of miles of shoreline on Lake Martin, or who won the Miss Wind Creek contest in 1954.  He doesn’t tell you.

What he does tell you, is the why of Lake Martin.  To me, that’s all you need to know.

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Every story I have ever read or watched about Scrushy inevitably mentions his “Lake Martin mansion.” Don’t get me wrong, it is a mansion all right.  By almost anyone’s standards.

I don’t know if it is the biggest home on Lake Martin. I know of one that may be larger by square feet. But it is up there. His home is located inside the gates of Willow Point, one of Lake Martin’s most exclusive communities.

That home wasn’t his only dealings on Lake Martin. Scrushy also developed a neighborhood called Marina Marin (apparently his middle name is Marin) – off of Highway 50 on the south side of the lake. While not as upscale as Willow Point, it is pretty nice itself; former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville owns a home there.

I can see why CEO types such as Scrushy enjoy Lake Martin.  You have relative anonymity, unless you rip around in a loud speedboat like he used to do.  Plus, coming from Atlanta and Nashville, executives see a relative bargain in the homes, where $500,000 gets you a very nice home and $1 million is close to the top of the market.

Would you like to browse around Lake Martin homes for sale? Click here for my home search, it includes all realtors and brokerages that participate in the Lake Martin MLS.  For my exclusive listings, go here.  If you see anything you like, give me a shout.

Related Posts:

For everything I have written on Scrushy, see Scrushy Category

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If you are ever riding around in that section of Blue Creek, off of Tallapoosa County Road 34, you might find it interesting that there is an old cemetery off of, you guessed it, Old Cemetery Road.

I snapped these pics:

Here are some closeups:

And one last one:

If you do happen by there, BE CAREFUL.  Proceed at your own risk.

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The Cherokee Ridge Trail is also maintained by the (duh) Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association.  Its trailhead is on the Scenic Overlook, on Overlook Drive off of Highway 50, just east of Martin Dam.  It’s kind of near Ghost Hollow and Whiskey Ridge if you know where they are.

The Scenic Overlook offers stupendous views of Lake Martin, looking west, all the way to Kowaliga Bridge, with a little bit of a vision to the south (Martin Dam) and the northeast towards Chimney Rock. If you ever want to get a sense of the VASTness of Lake Martin, head here.  Take a picnic, there are lots of little tables and lots of paved parking.  From there you can drive down to Martin Dam (if the road is open) and check out the Dam close up.

The Cherokee Ridge Trail is actually a system of trails. There are 3 that can be accessed here, The Cherokee Ridge Alpine Loop, The Chimney Rock, and the Kowaliga Bay Trails.  Depending on how you hike it, you can take a 1 mile up to 7 mile hike.

The trailhead is similar to the one on Deadening Alpine Trail in that you have a little sign in box and can borrow a staff if desired. Be sure to sign in so that they have an accurate count of visitors.

As on all trails, please be careful and proceed at your own risk. This particular trail gives spectacular views, especially in the winter and fall when the leaves are changing colors or have no leaves so you can really see the water.

Related Post:

Deadening Alpine Trail

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