Since Talladega and Barber were not in the race plans for 2014 for the first part of the year, I was wondering if/when I might get any vacation days away from the (Home) Office this year, until the fall. My friends request to use my camper in Demopolis gave me an out this past week, as I set it up a few days before he wanted and got to hang out in their lovely river town in West Alabama. My next scheduled camping trip is Labor Day in Atlanta, so why not loan it out?  The drive across Alabama on Wednesday was not the best, with rain, thunder and lightning for most of the trip, but the payoff on Thursday, Friday and Saturday was worth the drive. Well, add to the drive that I took the wrong road and had to double back to find Demopolis, didnât help, but heck I was out of the office for a few days, so what the heck. And really, I, the techy geek I am didnât use Google Maps or anything, until I got lost! Whatâs With That?
The Campground is owned by Janis & George Peppenhorst, who have called this home for the past 20 years. The bought the 1,200 feet of River Front Property in a Government Auction then and have taken a lot of time to groom and care for the property. Up until the past few years, they lived on the property, but moved across town a few years ago. They are just some very nice down home folks you would expect to find in Alabama. The location, along the Tombigbee River/Waterway is just below where the Tombigbee and Warrior Rivers join. Â Donât be surprised if you find me here for several months each year at some point in the future. There are several folks that call this permanent residence for now. There is a little Bar and Restaurant (New Orleans Bar & Restaurant) owned by a gentleman named Moe, and I became somewhat of a regular in those few day. He also owns the Motel by the river, if you want to enjoy the adventure, but donât own a camper.
Based on the time of the year, personal watercraft traffic on the river can be brisk. Snowbirds coming south in the winter and going back north in the summer is the general rule. I met some folks taking watercraft to Chicago (from Miami) and another from Mobile to Tennessee. Â Barge traffic is the most interesting with Push Tugs stopping for Fuel in Demopolis before moving north or south along the river. They tie their barges upstream, come get fuel and then grab them for the trip along the river. This weekend, a Guys and Gals Bass Tournament was going on, with that group hitting the river early hoping to score the big prize.
I guess I may be a River Rat (I made that name up) for the most part. As I thought about it the past few days, I would love to watch the Tugboats in the Savannah River push the big ships up to port. To cruse the intercostal waterways or the back creeks in a bass boat was just great fun. And then there was that time doing Destroyer Duty in the USN. Then that early Fall Adventure in a Sailboat with friend Jimmy from Tampa to Panama City several years ago! I think I need to be near the water. Â Anyway, deep breath, itâs back to the real world now, but I am thankful for the chance to enjoy some River Downtime! Itâs the Very Best!
From the Archives — originally published on the Opelika Daily News on May 18, 2014. View the original page.
