The Shoals Area of Alabama

From Nashville we drove south...we had scheduled appointments for some motor home inspections, maintenance and repairs in and around Red Bay, AL.  Campsites near Red Bay were filled, so McFarland Park near Florence, AL became home base.  McFarland Park was right on the Tennessee River not far from Wilson Dam; we could sit outside and watch tugboat guided barges coming and going on the river.

We had time to visit The Shoals "Quad Cities" of Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and Muscle Shoals. Music history was everywhere...the Shoals sound originated here, a blend of soul, gospel, country and rock, that found its way into many popular tunes.  W.C. Handy, "Father of the Blues" was born here; the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and Fame Recording Studio were close by.  We also saw Helen Keller's birthplace and Spring Park Waterfall in Tuscumbia.  In historic downtown Florence we saw Pope's Tavern site...once a country tavern, it became a hospital during the Civil War for both Confederate and Union soldiers...it is now a museum.