Black Creek Park's Rails to Trails Now Complete

If you're familiar with this blog, then over the last couple of weeks, you've likely become familiar a new trail system in the North Jefferson County area. The City of Fultondale has undertaken a Rails-to-Trails project, whereby a former railroad line was been converted into a trail for walkers, runners, and bicyclers (motorized vehicles are prohibited).

The trail begins at Black Creek Park in Fultondale and runs about 3.5 miles to Shady Grove Road. There are markers every half mile and will be benches placed at those markers as well. Over the last several weeks, I've been on the trail either walking, running, or hiking, about a half-dozen times, and I couldn't be more excited about this development, so close to home. Darby's pretty excited too.

Foggy Panoramic Vista in Jefferson County, Alabama

Foggy Panoramic Vista near Brookside, Jefferson County, Alabama

Fog-Laden Valleys in Western Jefferson County

Foggy Valleys near Brookside, Jefferson County, Alabama :: Canon T2i, EF 24-105 f/4 L

Colorful Characters at Jefferson County Courthouse

Colorful Characters at the Jefferson County Courthouse, Birmingham, Alabama :: iPhone4s

Cast of Characters at the Courthouse, Birmingham

Waiting in Line for Tags :: Jefferson County Courthouse, Birmingham, Alabama :: iPhone4s

Golden Hour at the Jefferson County Courthouse

Awaiting the Opening of the Courthouse Doors on a Crisp November Morning
Jefferson County Courthouse, Birmingham, Alabama :: iPhone 4s

Bent Boards and Rusted Roofs :: Rural Farmstead in a Sub-Urban Setting

Because of the urban sprawl that is the Birmingham area, with its large hinterlands, northern Jefferson County is a not incongruous melding of sub-urban and rural settings. In many instances, it's as though neighborhoods sprung, unwittingly, amongst farmsteads. This property is such a place, hosting a modern home in addition to dilapidated barns and outbuildings.

Canon Rebel T2i, EF 24-105mm f/4 L @ 50mm, 1/200s @ f/4, ISO 200

I hesitate to mention the exact location of these photographs since I did not have permission to be on the premises photographing the buildings. I went with the intention of getting permission, but the landowners weren't home, and my feet carried me across the field nevertheless.

Sun-Baked Landscape in Jefferson County, Alabama

Somewhere is Jefferson County is this sun-baked landscape. I know it looks like this was taken in hardened desert lands out West, but that's just not the case. For the first person who can tell me pretty specifically where this photo was taken, I will send a free 8x10 of your choosing, from any of the photos available on my website. If you'd like to hazard a guess, just leave your best offering as a comment below, but be sure to include your email address (which it won't show), else I won't know how to get in touch.

On Friday morning, I will post another photo or two showing a broader vista and telling the location of the original. I will also announce a winner, assuming there is one.

So without further ado...

A Demonstration to Save Cooper Green Hospital

In downtown Birmingham, in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse, there is an on-again-off-again demonstrator, who sets up his numerous signs, his baby carriages full of baby dolls, dons his snazzy get-up, and sings for hours on end. And despite Birmingham's many social problems, he isn't protesting any of them. His song isn't a call to action for upheaval. His is an entreaty to God and the Jefferson County Commission to save Cooper Green Hospital. His song of choice, Give Me That Old Time Religion, which he was crooning at the time I arrived at the courthouse and was still going strong with it two hours later, when I left.

"Save Cooper Green Hospital"

I have wanted to take this fellows photo for some time now, but until Friday, either I didn't have a camera when I was at the courthouse, or he wasn't present when I was armed with one.