Rogersville, AL – September 30, 2008

We got our rental car this morning and drove to Huntsville. Our first stop was the Visitors Center. 2 very nice ladies were there and offered their suggestions. The major draws here, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the Botanical Gardens and Burritt on the Mountain, are what we will be seeing on our group tour the day after our Fall Rendezvous concludes, so they came up with other things to see.

Another of the attractions here is Harrison Brothers Hardware and we went there. Harrison Brothers Hardware is the oldest operating hardware store in Alabama. It was founded in 1879 and was moved to its present location in 1897. When ownership of the store passed from father to son, the store was maintained in turn-of-the century condition. In 1983 when the last son and owner died, the Huntsville Foundation purchased the property to preserve the store.

It is indeed a popular tourist attraction. The wood displays, tiny drawers, hand operated rope elevator, pot-bellied stove and cash register are among a few of the wonderful things to see. It has been re-stocked with many items to be purchased. We bought a Tiddledy Winks game (remember those) to have at home for the grandkids.

We then drove around the historic section of Huntsville. There were many old, beautiful homes with beautiful gardens and grounds. Most were very well maintained and some were in the process of being renovated.

It had been quite awhile since we had seen a movie, so our next stop was a theater. We decided to see a move entitled “Burn after Reading”. We didn’t know anything about it, but George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand and John Malkovich (big name stars) were in it. We nearly left during the movie, and afterwards we felt we should “Burn the Movie”. At the end credits we discovered it was directed by Ethan and Joel Coen. They have made some good movies but also a number of really “off the wall” films.

Part of Joe Wheeler Park is a habitat center. On the way back to the boat, we stopped for four fawns on the side of the road. They were quite unafraid of our car. Tomorrow, more sight seeing.