An Overnight at Jackson Island With Goats

 

We have been meaning to go to Jackson Lake Island for several months. It's only a half-hour north of us in Millbrook, AL. We finally made it. We had perfect spring weather and lots of goats. Goats, especially kid goats was the attraction for us.

They have some unappealing hookup sites that are occupied by long-termers. We found a place on a bluff with no one around, but goats. There are quite a few baby goats and one was born the day before.

The island is privately owned and has the set from the 2003 “Big Fish” movie in fairly good dilapidated shape. The movie gets an 8 from imdb, we will have to watch it.

We had a wonderful Happy Hour sitting in a beautiful setting of trees with Spanish moss hanging down overlooking the water. It was so nice that a whole bottle of wine got consumed :)  

In the morning we saw the goats walking to our site.  There is a gully by us that goes down to the lake where the goats like to play. I decided that maybe I could get one to come to me if I fed it, so took out some bread. At first, they were skittish but when they realized there was food, I was surrounded. Two even put their front paws on me. You can tell they are tame because they very gently took the bread from my hand. One did lightly nip me when she decided she needed to be fed more.  The $20 was the best entertainment money around and a fantastic place to camp in the Spring or Fall.

To watch a clip humping the place, click below

Visit the Abandoned ‘Big Fish’ Movie Set of Spectre in Alabama

The goats

Our spot

Is Spring Coming or Not?

 I am somewhere on the depression scale. January and February have always been dismal months for me. Often too cold to be outside and I have many projects to do outside. So I am anxious about not being able to do them. This puts me in a mood, without even taking into account social isolation and the political crap. It would be nice to have someone to have a beer with. I have had exactly 12 beers in 18 months. I'll bet most of you are feeling about the same to one degree or another.

All these brought me to reflect on a dear friend I lost in November. We went back to our 20's together. He loved music. He played a Les Paul, not all that well, but enough to amuse himself. We spent many nights together listening to music while smoking some weed. [His wife always carried a Mason jar of all buds in her purse]

Tom was losing kidney function and refused dialysis. If he could not have a transplant he was resigned to die. He refused contact with all of his many friends. Even his sister was mostly excluded. The last time he would take my calls or acknowledge an email was six months before he died.

Tom was always quick with a laugh and a solid friend. If he had an enemy, I never knew it.

I not only miss our sharing of music but our conversations. I miss Tom.

In the end, all we have are memories. I treasure them.