October 17, 2020  Alabama / Northwest Florida Section
    A drive to Dismal Canyon, Natural Bridge, and Lunch at the Rattle Snake Saloon
Jim Roberts leads this drive Last September the Members of our section drove to beautiful Forests and natural delights of Western Alabama. This year we will again drive to the Natural Bridge, Dismal Canyon, and Lunch at the unique Rattle Snake Saloon. We will gather at Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham, Irondale Campus at 7:30 am with departure by 8:30. A 70+ mile drive along beautiful undeveloped countryside of I-22 where we will exit the interstate and travel the Forested roadway to Natural Bridge, a short 30 minute stop, then to lunch at the Rattle Snake Saloon. Sitting under an ancient rock formation, makes this one of the most unique settings for any restaurant.

After lunch we stop at Dismals Canyon, a microecosystem left over from the last ice age  10,000-15,000 years ago with wild Hemlock, Fir, Sugar Maple and other flora from 1000 miles north of Alabama today mixed with our native poplar (largest in Alabama), Dogwood, etc.  The rock formations and clear brook running through it remind me of the Teutoburg Wald, Schsische Schweiz, or Schwbische Alb near my home in  Germany.

(note:  The canyon is named for a unique to this area glowworm called “Dismals Worms” )