Aishling the Airstream Update No. 75

 Joe Wheeler State Park 

Rogersville, Alabama 

Up, Up, and Away Rally

 

Our first time to camp in the 

newer areas since they rebuilt them after the tornado a few years back... We've always loved the Joe Wheeler Campground - 

From the internets:  "Whether you arrive by land or water, there’s no mistaking the beauty and serenity of this 2,550-acre resort park. On the shores of Wheeler Lake, the resort features a stunning, waterfront lodge with restaurant and convention facilities, a championship 18-hole golf course and clubhouse, full-service marina with permanent and overnight docking slips, modern and primitive camping, lakeside cottages, cozy cabins, and a rustic group lodge.

 

The park is divided by the Tennessee River, which forms the 69,700-acre Wheeler Lake. Bass, bream, and catfish are plentiful in the sparkling waters where sailboats and yachts cruise side by side. Each fall, Joe Wheeler Resort State Park hosts the Fall Rendezvous of boaters traveling the Great Loop--the continuous waterway that circumnavigates the eastern portion of North America, along the Atlantic Seaboard, across the Great Lakes, through inland rivers, and around the Gulf of Mexico. As many as 250 vessels dock at Joe Wheeler’s marina and attend the conference in the resort lodge, coordinated by the park’s professional meeting planners. In addition to easy access to the Tennessee River, Joe Wheeler Resort State Park offers hiking and mountain biking trails that let you reconnect with nature and take in some of the best scenery north Alabama has to offer.

 

In addition to the resort lodge, Joe Wheeler features lakeside cottages and cabins. Joe Wheeler State Park's campground has 116 campsites, 110 of which have full hookups with water, electricity, and sewer. There are bathhouses located in each section. Most sites can accommodate any size camping unit. Tents are also welcome. Picnic tables, pedestals, or fire grills are located at each site."

 It was our go-to campground back in the day - and we spent many a weekend

 with the boys there in our little rustic pop-up camper... 

In fact - it was Matt's FIRST camping trip [when he was three months old] - 

{{we've always been crazy}}

This is our friends' son putting Matt's pacie back in his mouth... lol... 

[We had a fun little camping group!]

 

This trip was planned for friends in our Alabama Airstream Club to enjoy the park and also the hot air balloons over at Pt. Mallard -

[and YES - there IS a campground at Pt. Mallard, 

but it's impossible to get just a few days during jubilee.]

 

Rain was forecast, so a few dropped out, but,  

despite the drizzle, we had a good group and great time!

 

Craig and Peter cooked pancakes and sausage one morning... yum.

We had room for both clams to be in up in the back of our site - 

with those and our awning, I think we mostly stayed dry..

And the the temps were wonderful! 

One evening we all gathered for a meal at Lash's in the Lodge...

 It was nice to have two couples who had never camped with us before. 

 

The rallies we host are pretty laid back with suggested activities 

and lots of time to just do your own thing... 

Some of the group enjoyed a byo-picnic lunch at the Jubilee field, 

 

and we were able to walk amongst the balloons and see a few inflate. 

[Cloud cover was too low for a flight -] 

 

The next morning, Craig and I got up early [as we do each year] 

 in hopes that the Key Grab event would happen ...

 

We found that it was canceled, but we did see a couple of 'free flights' 

as we were driving into town... always cool...

 So we headed back to the campground...

Love our Alabama State Parks!

 

The clams kept us nice and dry -

We enjoyed a bit of a craft time with flag photo frames... 

- and a little team building with our favorite brain game - 

Rummikub!

Always fun!

 

One of the highlights of the [long] weekend 

was our campfire at 'the old chimney!' 

- Just a beautiful setting with a chimney that survived the tornadoes in 2019. 

[From a pavilion, I think?] 

 

All in all, a very good weekend. 

Celebrating Memorial Day and sharing Jubilee with others was so fun!

Balloons are weather dependent and so unpredictable... but we just had a great time hanging out in the clam and being together - 

So - Joe Wheeler Campground

I LOVE the updated area... not sure I'd enjoy a full sun site, but there are some with shade.  Mostly level and easy to get in and out 

[the rustic side has some pretty uneven sites -] 

Clean bath houses - 

Good internet / cell service.