Shirley and Bob Visit Gillian, David and Ken and Rob and Louis Birmingham, Alabama July 27 - August 12, 2025 (and, of course, Sheriff and Clyde) [Draft Page]
Day 1, Sunday, July 27
Our neighborhood friend Judy drives us to Park & Ride, where a Groome bus picks us up and takes us to San Francisco International Airport. We then catch a bus to our motel for the night - the Holiday Inn Express. We walk along the shore and get views of San Francisco and the airport.
Day 2, Monday, July 28
We get an early flight to Birmingham with a stop over in Atlanta. Shortly after taking off from San Francisco we pass over Mono Lake, which Bob recognizes as a lake he and a friend Adele had visited years ago in 2013.
Day 3, Tuesday, July 29
Did grocery shopping at Walmart and Publix. The weather is very hot - 94 degrees with high humidity. David and Gillian join us for dinner - including delicious pan fries cooked by Shirley. We drive over and walked the blocks with Sheriff. We called the AIRBNB to coordinate the deliveries including new chairs. While walking we visited a little library and Shirley got a book.
Day 4, Wednesday, July 30
We visit the library in the morning and then another visit to Walmart for a hairdryer, etc. Weather is very stormy. The new chairs arrive. We go with David and Gillian to visit a possible new home. Thunder and pouring rain on the drive all the way back to David and Gillian's home. The electric even goes out, but comes back on shortly. Dinner at Shirley and Bob's, including wonderful potato salad. David and Gillian show us list of possible homes, as they would like to move. At their house we eat rum cake.
Day 5, Thursday, July 31
Shirley and Bob walked in the neighborhood, then went to Publix and ordered a cake for David's birthday. We then sat out the rain. For dinner we went to Slice Pizza - ordered vegetarian and spicy meat pizzas. Walked with Sheriff and listened to lots of cicadas.
Day 6, Friday, August 1
Shirley and Bob go to Publix and shop. We pick up David's birthday cake. Later, Bob and David walk in the Claremont neighborhood, including The Ledges of Altamont.
While taking a "break" during the walk, Bob takes off his glasses and leaves them on the ground. Later, Shirley, David and Bob drive back to the neighborhood - twice. On second search, success - glasses are found. Later, Gillian, David and Ken come over for dinner.
Day 7, Saturday, August 2
It's David's birthday! David, Gillian and Ken come over to Bob and Shirley's for cake and ice cream.
Day 8, Sunday, August 3
Bob, Gillian, David, Rob and Louis go hiking in the morning in Red Mountain Park along the Eureka Mines Trail.
Later for lunch we go to Ampsersand for sandwiches. In the afternoon all of us but Ken go to the Birmingham Art Museum. For dinner David, Shirley and Bob eat at rental house, then take food over to Ken, Gillian, Louis and Rob
Day 9, Monday, August 4
Day 10, Tuesday, August 5
We have cooler weather. In the morning we look out to the back porch and see a raccoon that somehow got stuck and killed on the picnic table. Later, Shirley pulls weeds in David/Gillian's backyard. David has a long day of work. Bob walks over and in the evening we all have dinner at the Airbnb.
Day 11, Wednesday, August 6
Bob and Shirley drive to the library, then walk in the nearby neighborhood, seeing flowers, birds, insects, gardens and more.
Day 12, Thursday, August 7
Shirley and Bob go to library and check out books (Bob gets Robert Crais novel The First Rule). We then walk in a nearby neighborhood. Then we go back and meet with David and all walk together with Sheriff. After Gillian gets home we all go for a late dinner at Freddy's, then return to David and Gillian's to watch "Wednesday" on Netflix.
Day 13, Friday, August 8
Bob and Shirley go for a walk in a neighborhood north of Crestwood. We meet Vicky Longlady - a true hippy anarchist. And also a gardener who was out in front lawn gardening. David and Gillian are at hospital for Gillian's surgery. Surgery goes well. In the evening everyone comes to our house for dinner - Gillian and David walk over. After dinner we drive to their house and watch another episode of "Wednesday".
Day 14, Saturday, August 9
All five of us get together (Clyde stays home) and drive to the Farmer's Market (Bob gets a cherry dessert). We also visit a nearby art store. Then we go to the many acres 16th Street Plaza and walk around. There is a band playing with many dancers. And a pond with turtles.
Day 15, Sunday, August 10
David, Gillian, Bob and Sherriff hike in the Turkey Creek Nature Park, while Shirley stays home managing Community Garden issues that have arisen back in California and works on art. After returning from the Nature Park and getting together with Shirley, we all eat lunch/dinner at an Indian restaurant Taj India, then return to David and Gillian's and watch the last released episode of the Netflix show Wednesday.
Day 16, Monday, August 11
It's our last day before flying home to California. We visit the library in the morning to return books, visit David and Gillian and, of course, walk Sheriff. The walking is done at dusk, so Sheriff gets to wear lights. Bob takes blurry pictures.
Day 17, Tuesday, August 12
Our flight to California leaves in the early afternoon, so we have a chance to visit David before heading to the airport. Gillian is already at work. We drop our car off at the Enterprise shop right next to the airport, then walk over, check-in, and wander around the airport for a bit, getting Chick-Filet sandwiches to eat. The flight is mostly smooth, with a few weather bumps taking off and when we are over the Sierras. The pictures below were taken within a minute of each other. I've been unable to identify what I think is a lake in the first picture.
We arrive at SFO airport early enough to catch a bus to Santa Rosa Park and Ride and arrive before midnight. Our neighborhood friend Reenie is at the bus stop and gives us a ride home. Thank you Reenie!
