Wednesday, April 30 – Thursday May 1, 2025 - Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Days 19-20)
A noon departure from Roosevelt State Park put us on the road to Tuscaloosa to visit our new 4-month old great niece Farley Sheehan-Braun and her parents Summer and James. Farley is the first grandchild among the Braun siblings and we’re thrilled to meet her at such a young age! What a sweet baby with a perfect temperament! Susan and I both enjoyed holding her and Susan proudly rocked her to sleep in her arms.
We were fortunate to have the previous day’s trailer backing experience, because this one was the full 90-degree back-into their driveway from their street, followed by 100-feet straight backwards to reach electric service at their garage. While welcome in their home, Ginger doesn’t play well with other kitties so she got a 2-day vacation from us as she stayed in the trailer and we enjoyed the comforts and spaciousness of Summer and James’ home. They gave us a great tour of their lovely waterfront home and their extensive fruit tree-plantings in the front yard. Most trees aren’t mature enough to start producing fruit yet, so a return trip is certainly in order! James fixed a delicious curry dinner and we shared stories well into the evening.
Thursday was touring and adventuring day. Summer is a psychology research professor and James is a Chemical Engineering research professor both at the University of Alabama. We enjoyed visiting their offices and James’ research laboratory. His research involves chemical modification of paper packaging products. Interestingly, my grandfather, Summer’s great grandfather, Dale S. Davis, was a Chemical Engineering professor at the University of Alabama and paper engineer for International Paper Company in the 1960’s. Our tour of the University included a visit to the Engineering Library to sign the technical nomography book my grandfather authored.
For a football fan, no tour of the University of Alabama would be complete without a visit to Saban Field at the Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Walk of Champions was impressive with recognition of their many national championships and bronze statues of the head coaches including Nick Saban, Gene Stallings, Paul “Bear” Bryant, and Wallace Wade. In support of Sarah’s Clemson Tigers, Susan and I did have to poke a bit of fun at the Tide. I will admit, the campus is very pretty and I look forward to attending a game there in the future.
Back at the Braun-Sheehan house, James and I enjoyed an outdoor adventure with their kayaks on Tuscaloosa Lake and up one of its tributaries. How fun to have your own dock and boats on a lake! Susan happily entertained Farley while Summer prepared an excellent lasagna dinner!
Thank you to Summer, James and Farley for hosting a great stay in a short window between their own travel adventures! We look forward to a return trip!
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