By Staff
Members of a local car club enjoyed a four-day, three-night tour traveling about 500 miles. Participants gathered at the home of Wayne and Julia Thompson in Appleton on Monday, Nov. 17.
Traveling back roads, they enjoyed lunch in Belleville at Miss Linda's Tea Room. After lunch, they proceeded to Rikard's Mill where they were treated to a guided tour. From there they went to Camden visiting The Black Belt Treasures before checking into the motel. Dinner was at GainesRidge, an 1820s antebellum home and one of the oldest structures still standing in this area. Descendent and owner, Betty Gaines Kennedy, has been providing delicious food, good service and gracious atmosphere since 1985.
Tuesday, everyone drove to the Gee's Bend Ferry and crossed the river. The first stop was at the Gee's Bend Quilter's Collective. Afterwards, a guided tour of Old Cahaba left everyone wishing to learn more. Driving on into Selma for a barbecue lunch and back down different roads toward Camden, they visited a private cemetery at Cook Hill Plantation. Tour participant, Betty Ward of Brewton, told how her grandfather came to be at the plantation and why he was buried there. It was a most interesting story.
Wednesday, the tour proceeded to Thomaston, Linden, Myrtlewood, Naheola, Pennington, Lavaca, Butler, Toxey, and on into Gilbertown. There they were met by another old car enthusiast, Marvin Merritt and his wife, Betty. The Merritts treated everyone to lunch, a tour of his collection, a tour of their home which used to be an early historic hotel owned by his family, and arranged for the town's museum to open for our enjoyment. Traveling through Coffeeville , the group spent the night in Grove Hill.
Thursday, everyone started the trip toward home.
The first stop was in Perdue Hill where good-byes were said to Walt and Martha Fuller of Mobile, Dick and Gerry Fischlien of Foley, Mae Chastang of Loxley, Rae Miller of Fairhope, Carl Bailey of Robertsdale, and Cecil and Dovie of Atmore. They were taking highways 21 and 59 toward their homes.
Al and Janice Warmack of Pensacola, Fla., James and Betty Ward of Brewton, along with the Thompsons continued on 84 toward their homes.